Our Grant Programs

This is entirely up to you. As a policy of our awarding, we do not issue grants that would account for more than 10% of an organization’s operating expenses. Unsurprisingly, the more you request, the more competitive that funding will be.

We don’t issue awards that are greater than 10% of an organization’s annual operating expenses. To calculate expenses, we average your last year’s actual expenses with your current year’s budgeted/anticipated expenses, as submitted to us in your application.

Learn more about this calculation process here.

To ensure that all eligible organizations have an opportunity to pursue funding with us — and to position Foundation staff to evaluate each funding proposal submitted — we implemented an applicant queue. The queue only applies to Rose and Daffodil Grants. Applicants can pursue Sunflower Grants at any time.

The process varies depending on the grant, but generally all applications require a one- or two-part application. After your submit, you will be asked to meet or communicate with a Program Officer, who will ask clarifying questions and answer any questions you may have about the next steps.

Learn more about the process for each grant here.

Yes, absolutely! You cannot, however, remain on the waitlist if you elect to submit a Sunflower Grant application — no matter your ‘place in line.’

You can review our application questions and document requirements here.

Flowers mean a lot to Marie’s family, and we use them to recognize the generations of women who have inspired, informed, and led the Foundation over time.

Marie, for example, famously grew yellow roses in her front yard and they became a reminder of her memory and legacy. Zinnias were the favorite flower of Marie’s daughter, Gert, who left much of her estate to the foundation after her passing in 2019. Daffodils are the favorite flower of our co-founder and Marie’s grand-daughter, Sally. And sunflowers are the favorites of Sally’s daughters and fellow Board members, Rachael and Annie.

These flowers remind us of generations passed and those to come, and how each has informed who we are as a Foundation.

The Zinnia Grant is highly competitive. We encourage finalists to join our general funding waitlist. If selected as a Zinnia finalist, you will be removed from the waitlist at that time. If not selected as a Zinnia finalist, you will be invited to remain on the waitlist in your current placement.

The Zinnia Grant self-nomination instructions will be posted on our website in early January 2024; self-nomination is reasonably brief, though encouraged most for those partners with whom we have a reasonable funding history (2-3+ years).