SBC FOUNDATION GUIDELINES
The SBC Foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars through grants and employee outreach efforts since its founding in 1984. As the philanthropic arm of SBC Communications Inc., the Foundation is a private foundation, funded by SBC and its family of companies. The Foundation concentrates its funding in the states where SBC has a substantial business presence: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. Through its headquarters, the Foundation funds projects that are regional or national in scope.
Application materials should be sent to your local external affairs contact listed within this package. For regional or national grants, send to: The SBC Foundation, 130 E. Travis,
Suite 350, San Antonio, Texas78205.
Requests are evaluated year-round. For more information, call 1-800-591-9663, visit the Foundation web site at or contact your local external affairs representative.
Guiding Principles
- Grants range from $1,000 to significant gifts; most are under $25,000.
- One-time grants are the norm. Multi-year awards require special circumstances.
- Groups receiving a grant for the first time should not assume continued support.
- Priority is given to organizations with active, diverse boards, effective leadership, clear objectives, sound financial practices, and multiple sources of support.
- Grant decisions are based on the merits of each project and the organization seeking
funds.
- Preference is given to goal-driven, project-specific proposals that address needs directly and stimulate community partnerships. Technology-related grants are a priority.
- Project evaluation procedures and project promotion plans are required.
SBC FOUNDATION FUNDING PRIORITIES
Education
- Higher education programs that develop the highly-skilled technology workforce (e.g. Information Technology, Computer Science, Math, Science and Engineering).
- Higher education-related initiatives that work to develop a diverse technology workforce (e.g. racial and ethnic minority scholarship programs).
- Programs that effectively integrate technology into instruction and administration in K-12 and higher education.
- Initiatives that develop and deliver technology curriculum, particularly to underserved communities (e.g. community college and vocational school technology-related certificate programs).
SBC FOUNDATION GUIDELINES
SBC FUNDING PRIORITIES (continued)
Community Development
- Technology education initiatives that develop basic and intermediate technology workforce skills (e.g. technology job training programs).
- Programs that strengthen nonprofits through effective integration of technology.
- Initiatives that integrate technology to improve community infrastructure.
- Programs that provide technology access and basic technology instruction, particularly to underserved communities (e.g. community technology centers and other public technology access programs).
- Initiatives that expand and develop supplier diversity.
- Leadership development programs, particularly those that focus on under-represented minorities.
Health and Human Services
The United Way is our primary vehicle for supporting health and human services in communities in our service regions. We also consider assistance in times of natural disasters. We work with our local external affairs managers to assess needs and act swiftly to provide whatever aid we can. Limited funding is considered for compelling technology initiatives.
Arts & Culture
Low priority program area. Consideration is given to projects that integrate technology into the arts experience.
The Foundation does not make grants to:
- Individuals or organizations without 501( c )(3) tax-exempt status or private foundations. We do consider groups that qualify as a government instrumentality.
- Groups that discriminate by race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin.
- Major operating funds for United Way agencies since we give to the United Way directly.
- Most hospital operating or capital funds, medical clinics, and medical research.
- Disease-specific organizations except under special circumstances.
- Capital campaigns or endowment funds, except under special circumstances.
- Political activities or organizations.
- Religious groups for sectarian purposes or religious schools which restrict entry to those of a certain faith or those who belong to a specific denomination or sect.
- Fraternal, veterans or labor groups, when serving only their membership.
- Individual public and private K-12 schools or districts or school-system foundations.
- Goodwill ads, ticket/dinner purchases, sports programs/events, cause-related marketing.
- Donation of products or services.
SBC FOUNDATION GUIDELINES
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Grant Application Form
To expedite review of each proposal, the application form should be filled out completely including:
- Signature of the organization's executive director/CEO. (Item 4)
- Indication of how the project links with the Foundation's priorities. (Item 8)
- Total project cost and amount requested from the Foundation. (Items 9 & 10)
- Statement of project goals, including issue the program will address, clients served, timetable and expected results. If project is a collaborative effort, describe what other organizations are involved and how. (Item 11)
- Brief details of overall fund-raising plans, including funding sources, amounts requested and existing commitments. (Item 12)
- Plans to sustain program after conclusion of Foundation support, if appropriate. (Item 13)
- Brief statement of the organization's mission. (Item 14)
- Breakdown of clients served. (Item 16)
EACH REQUEST MUST ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ATTACHMENTS:
(Item 15)
- Copy of IRS determination letter, confirming the organization’s current 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status or proof of government instrumentality.
- Line item budget for project.
- List of board members with affiations.
- Publicity plan to promote the project and the Foundation's involvement.
- Project evaluation plan.
Foundation staff may request additional documents such as the organization's operating budget showing all income sources and expenditures. (Item 15A)
Note: A grant evaluation report is required for all grants $100,000 and above and annually on multi-year grants. Subsequent funding for the same or another project will not be considered without this evaluation.
The Foundation normally responds to all requests within eight weeks after receipt. If additional information is needed, the Foundation will contact the requesting organization.
SBC FOUNDATION GRANT APPLICATION
Form is to be used for grant requests to the SBC Foundation.
1) Organization Name: / 6) 501 (c) (3)OR
2) Address: / Phone: / Gov. Instr.
3) City, State, Zip: / Fax: / 7) Funded by United Way?
Y / N
4) Exec. Director/CEO: / Signature:
5) Title: / Phone: / Fax:
8) PROJECT LINKS TO SBC FOUNDATION PRIORITIES: (Please check the primary area that applies to grant request and corresponding funding priority). Education and Community Development are our primary focus. Arts & Culture and Health & Human Services are secondary program areas with limited funding.
Education
(Primary Program Area)
(Select One) / Community Development
(Primary Program Area)
(Select One) / Arts & Culture
(Secondary Program Area with limited funding.)
Higher education technology workforce development (e.g. Computer Science, Information Technology, Math, Science & Engineering.) / Basic and intermediate technology workforce skills development
Technology integration to strengthen
non-profits / Initiatives that integrate technology into the arts experience
Initiatives to develop a diverse technology workforce
Technology integration in K-16 instruction and administration / Technology for community
infrastructure improvement
Technology access/instruction for the underserved / Health & Human Services (Secondary Program Area with limited funding.)
Technology curriculum development and
delivery / Supplier diversity initiatives
Leadership development programs / Initiatives that integrate technology into service delivery
9) Total Project Cost: / 10) Amount Requested:
11) Project Description: (Goals, issues program will address, clients, expected results, timeline) What other organizations are involved and how?
12) Other funding sources and amounts, pending and committed:
13) Plans to sustain project beyond the term of this request:
14) Mission of organization: / SCOPE
Local
State
National
15) Required documents: (Grant requests without these documents will not be processed.) / 16) Clients served by the project: (Please provide the
- IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Determination Letter or Proof of Government Instrumentality
- List of Board Members with organizational affiliations
- Project Evaluation Plan
- Publicity Plan
- Line Item Budget for Project
15A) Requests $50,000 and above require the following additional documents: / %Asian-American / %White
- Audited financials for your organization for the preceding three years, detailing revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and overhead (fundraising, administrative and facility costs)
Other documents may be requested by Foundation staff
17) Contact: / Title: / Date: / Phone:
Submit SBC Foundation grant applications based on the geographic scope of your project to the appropriate local contact indicated below. For questions, you may contact us at 1-800-591-9663.
Local or statewide for ArkansasSBC External Affairs1111 W. Capitol, Room 1070
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 /
Local for Orange Co. California
SBC External Affairs1442 Edinger Ave.
Tustin, California92780 / Local or statewide for Oklahoma
SBC External Affairs
800 North Harvey, Room 380
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma73102 / Local for San Antonio/
South Texas
SBC External Affairs
175 East Houston, 10-Q-60
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Statewide for California
SBC External Affairs140 New Montgomery,
Room 1318
San Francisco, California94105 /
Local for Los Angeles
SBC External Affairs1010 Wilshire Blvd.,
Room 1672
Los Angeles, California 90017 /
Local or statewide for Nevada
SBC External Affairs645 E. Plumb Lane, C-142
P.O. Box 11010
Reno, Nevada 89520 /
Local for Rio GrandeValley
SBC External Affairs721 Beech Ave., Floor 1
McAllen, Texas 78501
Local for SouthBay Area
SBC External Affairs100 Park Center Plaza,
Suite 325
San Jose, California 95113 / Local for Sacramento/
Northern California
SBC External Affairs
P.O. Box 15038
2700 Watt Avenue, Room 2278
Sacramento, California 95851 / Statewide for Texas and Local for Austin-Central Texas
SBC External Affairs
1616 Guadalupe, Room 634
Austin, Texas 78701 /
Local or statewide for Ohio
SBC External Affairs45 Erieview Plaza, Room 1600
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Local for E. Bay Area – Alameda and ContraCostaCounties
SBC External Affairs
2150 Webster St., Room 1030
Oakland, California 94612 / Local for San Diego – CaliforniaSBC External Affairs
101 W. Broadway, Suite 1440
San Diego, California 92101 /
Local for Dallas/North Texas
SBC External Affairs308 S. Akard, Room 1100
Dallas, Texas 75202 /
Local or statewide for Indiana
SBC External Affairs240 N. Meridian Street,
Room 1827
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Local for WestBay Area –
San Francisco, Marin,
San Mateo
SBC External Affairs
140 New Montgomery,
Room 2244
San Francisco, California94105 / Local or statewide for Connecticut
SBC External Affairs
310 Orange Street, Room 911
New Haven, Connecticut06510 /
Local for El Paso/West Texas
SBC External Affairs500 Texas, Room 312
El Paso, Texas 79901 / Local or statewide for MichiganSBC External Affairs
444 Michigan Avenue,
Room 1700
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Local for Central California
SBC External Affairs5555 East Olive, Room B162
Fresno, California 93762 /
Local or statewide for Kansas
SBC External Affairs220 East 6th Street, Room 505
Topeka, Kansas 66603 / Local for Fort Worth/
North Texas
SBC External Affairs
1116 Houston, Room 104
Fort Worth, Texas 76102 /
Local or statewide for Illinois
SBC External Affairs225 W. Randolph, Room 27C
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Local or statewide for Missouri
SBC External AffairsOne SBCCenter,
Room 41-L-01
St. Louis, Missouri 63101 / Local for Houston/East TexasSBC External Affairs
6500 W. Loop S., Room 5100
Bellaire, Texas 77401 / Local or statewide for Wisconsin
SBC External Affairs
722 N. Broadway, 18th Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202