SMCF awards grants to a wide variety of non-profit organizations who provide a benefit to San Marcos residents.

Board members are appointed to a two-year term by the San Marcos City Council.

The Mini-Grant ::

Mini Grants  are for those agencies interested in applying for a grant of $1,500 or less.

The Mini Grant will have a monthly deadline on the first Wednesday of each month (applications must be received by 5:30 p.m.).

To request a Mini Grant, the applicant must provide the following:

- A one page Letter of Intent (LOI)
- A completed San Diego Common Grant Application
- Copy of the Federal determination letters indicating 501(c)3 tax-exempt   status
- Copy of the State determination letters indicating 23701d tax-exempt status

Agencies will be notified within thirty (30) days of the review of the award status.

All materials must be sent to the SMCF through regular mail.  Faxes and e-mails are not accepted.  Agencies requesting Mini Grants are limited to two (2) grant awards per calendar year.  An Agency may not apply for a Mini Grant during the same quarter that it is applying for a Regular Grant.  However, no matching funds are required for Mini Grants.

Records/Receipts must be submitted to the SMCF no later than six (6) months from approval of the funding request unless otherwise approved by the Grant Funding Committee.  Failure to comply with the deadline will result in the grant monies (partial or full) being returned to the SMCF immediately and may impact future awards.

A short report, one page, should accompany the receipts providing feedback to the Grant Funding Committee regarding when, how, etc. the money was spent as well as a self-evaluation of the project or program effectiveness.  The Chief Officer of the agency should sign this report.

The Regular Grant ::
Regular Grants are for those agencies interested in applying for a grant of $1,500 to $10,000.

A Quarterly deadline for the Regular Grants has been established for the first Wednesday of the months of January, April, July and October (applications must be received by 5:30 p.m.).

To request a Regular Grant, the applicant must provide the following:
- A completed San Diego Common Grant Application
- Two page proposal statement including the following:
         - A brief statement of the organization’s purpose and objectives
         - Expanded description of the use to which grant funds will be used
         - Expanded description of the need within the community
         - Plan for evaluating the project performance, should it be funded
- Copy of the Federal determination letters indicating 501(c)3 tax-exempt   status
- Copy of the State determination letters indicating 23701d tax-exempt status

- A list of Board of Directors names and addresses
- First two pages only of the most recent Federal and State tax return

Upon review of the application, the Grant Funding Committee will determine if additional information is needed and whether or not an agency visit is warranted.  The applicant may also be requested to present its proposal to the full Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting as determined by the Grant Funding Committee.

Agencies will be notified within thirty (30) days of the quarterly Board meeting of the award status.

All materials must be sent to the SMCF through regular mail.  Faxes and e-mails are not accepted.  Agencies requesting Regular Grants are limited to two (2) grant awards per calendar year.  An Agency may not apply for a Regular Grant during the same quarter that it is applying for a Mini Grant.  Whether or not matching funds are required for a Regular Grant is at the discretion of the Board depending upon the specifics of the request.

At the time of the funding, the Board will establish the timing of the reporting process.  All records/receipts must be submitted to the SMCF no later than the timeframe established by the Board.  Failure to comply with the deadline will result in the grant monies (partial or full) being returned to the SMCF immediately and may impact future awards.

A detailed report (two pages) should accompany the receipts providing feedback to the Board regarding when, how, etc. the money was spent as well as a self-evaluation of the project or program effectiveness.  The Chief Officer of the agency should sign this report.

San Marcos Community Foundation
City of San Marcos
1 Civic Center Drive
San Marcos, CA 92069
760.744.1050

Top Photo: Twin Oaks Valley Road Walking Trail, San Marcos, California by Barbara Thompson

original website designed and donated by Barbara Thompson