Activation Fund

The Activation Fund provides support for discrete, one-year projects designed to help organizations move to the next level of capacity and effectiveness.

This may involve one or more of the following: 

Guidelines & Application Process

Requests for Activation Fund grants are typically considered annually, and the grant period is 12 months in duration, beginning July 1 and ending the following June 30. The Foundation publicizes details related to available grant opportunities and deadlines for consideration each January. The 2025 Activation Fund grants have been announced, and there are no open Activation Fund grant opportunities at this time. Key dates will be updated on the Foundation’s website for each active grant cycle.  For a list of projects selected for funding in previous grant cycles, please click here. 

Applicant & Grantee Guide

We recognize that applying for a grant is a significant investment of time and effort for any organization, especially for smaller and newer organizations. Our goal is to decrease the administrative burden on applicants and grantees when possible. To that end, we have prepared an Activation Fund Applicant & Grantee Guide that is intended to demystify the application process with tips for preparing materials at each stage and additional resources available for technical assistance, answers to frequently asked questions, and insights into why we ask certain questions and how we assess requests received. 

In general, grants are limited to a 12-month duration for projects that will have continued impact beyond the end of the grant period. Request amounts should range between $50,000 – $125,000. Examples of the types of funding requests considered include but are not limited to: discrete capital projects/equipment and technology purchases; one-time, train-the-trainer professional development activities; and program planning or bridge funding for initial implementation costs of new programs or service areas, provided funding is identified for sustainability beyond the grant period. 

Organizations should prioritize needs internally and submit only one request per grant cycle. While there is no required waiting period between application submissions, the Foundation aims to support as many different organizations as possible; therefore, preference may be given to organizations that have not received Foundation funding within the last 12 months. 

STEPS TO APPLY 

The Activation Fund has a two-step application process. At each phase, the required materials should be sent via email to info@thfcm.org by the posted deadlines. 

Phase I: 

Interested applicants should download and complete the Phase I AF Cover Sheet below, and submit it, along with a one-to-two page Concept Paper outlining the proposed project and grant amount requested, and a list of Board members with affiliations (for nonprofit organizations) or a list of senior leaders/staff (for government/quasi-government agencies).  There is no set format for the concept papers, but they should include the following:  

• Brief summary of the organization’s mission, core programs/services, and geographic service area  
• Project description and its anticipated impact on organizational capacity (e.g., numbers served)  
• Estimated costs (if known), request amount, and other sources of support (if any) 

Checklist for Phase I submission: 

• Phase I AF Cover Sheet 
• Concept paper (1-2 pages) 
• Board list or list of senior leadership (for government/quasi government agencies) 

Phase II: 

Invited applicants may download and submit the Phase II AF Cover Sheet, Phase II AF Application Form and AF Project Budget Form linked below along with the attachments listed on the cover sheet. Required financials include the IRS Form 990 or financial statements (audited, if available) for the most recent fiscal year. Groups applying under a fiscal sponsor are asked to download and submit the Fiscal Sponsor Commitment Form with your other materials. 

Checklist for Phase II submission: 

• Phase II AF Cover Sheet 
• Phase II AF Application Form 
• AF Project Budget Form 
• Financials (most recent IRS Form 990 or financial statements, audited if available) 
• Fiscal Sponsor Commitment Form (if applicable) 
• Letters of Support (if applicable) 
• Quotes or Estimates (if applicable)