Non-Profit Grant Program

GRANT GUIDELINES

Mildred’s Dream Foundation (MDF) provides grants to community-based non-profit organizations, across priority focus areas that help us meet our mission. All grant requests must align with at least one (1) of these key areas:

1. Education (with a focus on access, diversity and/or inclusion for children) 
2. Domestic Violence (including Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Stalking, Abuse Prevention and Survivor Support)
3. Physical and/or Mental Health Challenges
   
   

Our Grant Committee is responsible for the review of grant applications and the decisions regarding the award and distribution of funds. Up to $25,000 will be provided per grant and amounts funded are based on the organization’s budgetary needs, strength of application, and close alignment with our mission and areas of giving. Please note, most grant awards from MDF average between $5,000 and $10,000.

MDF provides grants which fund specific programs or projects, including both direct service and projects that further MDF’s mission. Up to 20% of the grant request submitted can be used for general operating costs, excluding rent, utilities, office supplies, taxes and insurance. Staff salary can be considered if necessary for program delivery, implementation or expansion of the project.

*Deadline for 2025 MDF Grants is by no later than Tuesday, July 15th, 2025,

(timestamped by 11:59PM EST on July 15th, proposals WILL NOT be accepted on or after 7/16/2025).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

For an organization to be eligible to receive a grant from MDF, it must:

• Be designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit under 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code.
• Provide direct services, programming and/or advocacy in one (1) of the focus areas listed above.
  
  

Also, any organization which received a grant in 2024 MUST submit the required Impact/Progress Report to kpine@mildredsdream.wpenginepowered.com no later than June 30th in order to be eligible for grant award consideration in 2025.

MDF does not provide grants to the following institutions or organizations:

• Colleges and universities or programs directly connected to such educational institutions;
• Hospitals and medical facilities, or programs directly connected to such facilities;
• Politically affiliated organizations or groups;
• Religious institutions and facilities, or primary and secondary schools which exclude students based on religious affiliation, or because of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation or gender Identity;
• Private schools which do not provide access to underserved populations;
• Any organization that limits their program or activities based on protected status, unless the program Is designed to serve the specific service-based needs of a population;
• Any organization with current unrestricted funding which can be used to cover the program costs, or a portion of the costs, requested;
• Organizations with an endowment which can be used to cover the program costs, or a portion of the costs requested; – AND / OR –
• Organizations that currently have in their reserves less than 3 months and more than 9 months of an operating budget to sustain existing programing (NOTE: A most-recent balance sheet is required with your submission to demonstrate this).
  
  

MDF does not provide funding for the following activities or purposes:

• Scholarships for individuals for any purpose;
• Lobbying and legislative efforts;
• Capital projects, including the purchase of land, a building, renovations of a building, equipment, or furniture; – AND / OR –
• Endowments.
  
  

NOTE: Beginning in the 2026 grant cycle, any organization that has received three (3) consecutive years of funding in the areas of Education or Health will be required to take a year off from applying for funding.

 *** TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS WE SUPPORT, PLEASE WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO BELOW TO SEE HOW MILDRED’S DREAM FOUNDATION IS MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Beginning In the 2026 grant cycle, any organization that has received three (3) consecutive years of funding in the areas of education or health will be required to take one full year off from applying for funding.

MDF’s will only fund the following initiatives within each of our focus areas for 2025:

HOW TO APPLY:

Deadline for 2025 MDF Grants is July 15th, 2025 by 11:59PM EST.

1. Link to SurveyMonkey Apply platform to access the 2025 MDF Grant Application:  2025 MDF Grant Application 
2. Upload MDF Required Budget Workbook and balance sheet.  Use link to access a copy to download to your computer, rename the file, complete the spreadsheet, save your work, and then upload to SurveyMonkey Apply platform.  Link:  2025 MDF Budget Workbook
   
   

Instructions on completing the application can be found on the online application itself, when you log on and create your account profile for the first time, using SurveyMonkey Apply. Because members of the MDF Grant Committee come from diverse professional backgrounds, please be sure to clearly explain all key terms, programs and initiatives, without the assumption of knowledge of the organization’s focus area.  All questions on the application are required and word count limitations must be followed. 

All organizations are REQUIRED to submit three (3) documents in addition to their Grant Application:

1. The REQUIRED MDF Budget Workbook (forecasting 2026 operational costs for the program);
   *** NOTE:  Only use our Budget Workbook, no other formats or versions will be accepted.
2. A current balance sheet of the organization’s existing budget;
3. A copy of the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter.
   
   

The Grant Committee will begin the application review and evaluation process after the online submission to the portal.  All applicants will receive notification from MDF via SurveyMonkey Apply and via e-mail by October 1, 2025. Should any applicant like feedback on their grant proposal, whether it was funded or not, they may reach out to info@mildredsdream.wpenginepowered.com for additional information or assistance.

Funds will be distributed before January 1, 2026. All approved grant proposals will be required to submit an impact/progress report to MDF within 6 months of receiving funding (e.g., prior to July 1, 2026) to your MDF account profile created on SurveyMonkey Apply.  Failure to submit the required Impact Report onto this platform by the noted deadline will prohibit future funding.

If you have questions about the grant process or application, please email:  kpine@mildredsdream.wpenginepowered.com.  All questions must be submitted in a timely manner, so that the submittal deadline may be met.

To learn more about recent specific grants awarded by MDF, please refer to our website at:  https://mildredsdreamfoundation.org/grant-program/ 

If you have any questions about our MDF Non-Profit Grant Program, please contact via e-mail at: info@mildredsdream.wpenginepowered.com.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MILDRED’S DREAM FOUNDATION!