Arts Grants for Nonprofits

NOTE: There is no deadline for applications, although proposals to be considered for the following year’s Foundation budget must be received by the deadline above. 

Background

Established in 1955, the A. O. Smith Foundation has been supported by donations from the profits of A. O. Smith Corporation. The Foundation has provided over $40 million in financial support for worthwhile community organizations, institutions and programs. 

In 1985, the Foundation established a Matching Gift Program to encourage employees of the corporation to financially support education. The Foundation believes education to be one of the most important investments individuals can make in the future. Under the terms of the program, the Foundation matches dollar for dollar, up to a maximum of $3,000 per year, all employee contributions to qualified colleges, universities and high schools. 

The Foundation also supports a worldwide Scholarship Program to assist employees’ children who plan to continue education in college or vocational-technical school. Renewable scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.

Our Mission

The A. O. Smith Foundation is committed to making our communities a better place to live and work. We achieve this by partnering with and supporting education, arts and culture, health, and human services in the communities in which we operate. At the same time, the Foundation encourages A. O. Smith employees around the world to live the Company’s values through volunteerism and community involvement.

About The Chatlos Foundation

The Chatlos Foundation proclaims the Glory of God by funding nonprofit organizations doing work in the United States and around the globe. Support is provided to organizations currently exempt by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

Philosophy of Giving

Placement of an organization within our categories is determined by the organization’s overall mission rather than the project under consideration.

The Foundation’s areas of interest are:

Bible Colleges/Seminaries

Grants to Bible colleges and seminaries total 33% of Foundation distribution. History has shown grants in this category range in size from $5,000 to $20,000. To assure the Foundation that the philosophy of the institution is consistent with that of the Foundation, potential recipients are asked to sign our Statement of Faith.

Religious Causes

Grants to religious organizations total 30% of Foundation distribution. History has shown that grants in this category range in size from $5,000 to $15,000.

Liberal Arts Colleges

Grants to liberal arts colleges total 7% of Foundation distribution. History has shown that grants in this category range in size from $2,500 to $7,500. Priority consideration is given to private colleges.

Medical Concerns

Grants to medical organizations total 26% of Foundation distribution. History has shown that grants in this category range in size from $5,000 to $15,000.

Social Concerns

Grants to organizations involved in social concerns total 4% of distribution. History has shown that grants in this category range in size from $2,000 to $5,000. This category encompasses secular community programs which provide direct services such as child welfare, vocational training, prison alternatives, concerns for the aged and disabled, and men, women and families in crisis.

Giving Information

Program support remains a current priority for the Foundation.

On an initial basis, the Foundation tends to fund requests for amounts less than $10,000. 

It is important to note that it is not our intention to become a part of an annual budget. We expect the projects we fund to become independent of The Chatlos Foundation. 

Many organizations are worthy of funding, however, our funding is limited. Applicants should understand that rejection of the proposal in no way signals rejection of the proposer. 

The large number of requests we receive causes us to decline many proposals which are worthy of attention and funding. 

Our Story

F.Y. Eye came to be during bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Major Deegan en route to a Yankees-Mets baseball game. As we inched along the Expressway, we noticed a series of billboards advertising things that we did not need or want. With nothing to do but feel some sense of road rage, we reflected on how beneficial it would be to have a billboard that promoted public service announcements (PSAs).

The idea of having one billboard transformed into a network of hundreds of digital screens and partnerships with storefronts, community centers and online and in-print advertising slots that provide extensive coverage of PSAs throughout the five boroughs of NYC and beyond.

That night, not only did the idea behind F.Y. Eye hatch, but also, in case you were wondering, the Mets won.

About Us

F.Y. Eye is a nonprofit advertising organization that works with other nonprofits, government agencies and community based organizations to communicate important mission-driven messages to your target audiences regardless of budget.

F.Y. Eye helps clients build stronger brand awareness, implement free and low-cost outreach campaigns, and facilitate effective engagement with its constituents. We offer strategic message distribution and effective, affordable content development to ensure that no good community program, service or announcement is lost in the shadows.

Since 2005, our clients have entrusted F.Y. Eye to develop, enhance and distribute their communication campaigns. Our vast network of partners throughout NYC coupled with our strong grasp of the New York market enable us to position your important public service announcements strategically, creatively and affordably.

PSA Network Criteria

F.Y. Eye promotes social impact messages that aim to protect or empower a vulnerable population, a community-driven effort, an environmental resource and/or our democracy. We do not communicate commercial or fundraising messages for free on the PSA Network. Peruse our PSA Gallery to get a sense of the types of nonprofit messages we publicize.

PSA Distribution Overview

F.Y. Eye will distribute your PSA to all nonprofit partners in the PSA Network. Our nonprofit partners have the right to refuse any message that they do not believe is relevant to their audience or conflicts with their interests or values. While we encourage our nonprofit partners to display all F.Y. Eye messages, we cannot guarantee distribution in any one location.

Create Your Campaign

Advertising is an art and a science. We will work with you to craft a high-impact message that will result in direct action, behavior change or a meaningful shift in perception.

Need creative support? F.Y. Eye works with talented impact artists that can help turn your idea into a reality at a rate you can afford. If you are producing the campaign independently, contact us for details on design guidelines, creative specifications and formatting.

Consider reaching more people by translating your campaign into different languages! F.Y. Eye also provides translation services in Korean, Chinese and Spanish for free through our partnership with the Asian/American Center at CUNY Queens College.

Hearst Foundations' Mission

The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.

Hearst Foundations' Goals

The Foundations seek to achieve their mission by funding approaches that result in:

• Improved health and quality of life
• Access to high quality educational options to promote increased academic achievement
• Arts and sciences serving as a cornerstone of society
• Sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults
• Stabilizing and supporting families

Funding Priorities

The Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of interests – culture, education, health and social service – and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Culture

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those which enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Education

The Hearst Foundations fund educational institutions demonstrating uncommon success in preparing students to thrive in a global society. The Foundations’ focus is largely on higher education, but they also fund innovative models of early childhood and K-12 education, as well as professional development.

Types of Support: Program, scholarship, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Health

The Hearst Foundations assist leading regional hospitals, medical centers and specialized medical institutions providing access to high-quality healthcare for low-income populations. In response to the shortage of healthcare professionals necessary to meet the country’s evolving needs, the Foundations also fund programs designed to enhance skills and increase the number of practitioners and educators across roles in healthcare. Because the Foundations seek to use their funds to create a broad and enduring impact on the nation’s health, support for medical research and the development of young investigators is also considered.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, endowment support

Social Service

The Hearst Foundations fund direct-service organizations that tackle the roots of chronic poverty by applying effective solutions to the most challenging social and economic problems. The Foundations prioritize supporting programs that have proven successful in facilitating economic independence and in strengthening families. Preference is also given to programs with the potential to scale productive practices in order to reach more people in need.

Types of Support: Program, capital and general support

Philanthropy

In 1906, when Leo Samuel founded the company that would become The Standard, he had two radical — at least for the time — ideas for business: it should provide local services for customers and it should contribute to the well-being of the community. Our company has grown considerably since those early days — we have customers and offices around the country. Our dual focus on exceptional customer service and supporting the places we live and work continues to guide The Standard today

Corporate Giving

At The Standard, our business purpose is to help people achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. This focus means that our company exists to help people. Our more than 3,000 employees are a huge part of that culture of caring. Not surprisingly, our corporate giving reflects that culture of caring. We work with employees to find ways to make a difference and support our communities through corporate giving and grants. The philosophy behind our charitable giving is shaped by the same attributes that help make us a leading provider of financial services: integrity, commitment and doing things differently. Through our corporate giving program, we support organizations that align with our four focus areas: Healthy Communities, Disability and Empowerment, Cultural Development, and Education and Advancement.

The Standard Charitable Foundation

In 2006 we celebrated our 100th anniversary, and to mark the occasion — and properly honor our rich legacy of philanthropy — we launched The Standard Charitable Foundation.

The mission of The Standard Charitable Foundation is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve by supporting community development, education and disability organizations. While the foundation has a broad goal of making a positive difference in our communities, we place special emphasis on helping individuals and families who have experienced a major disability or the loss of a loved one.

Organizations We Support

Healthy Communities

Strong, vibrant communities are a critical source of security for all residents. We fund organizations that provide support, training and rehabilitation to individuals and families facing significant challenges. We also fund programs that help individuals and families develop capabilities to increase self-sufficiency.

Disability and Empowerment

Our business is about helping people overcome hardships and empowering success. We support organizations that help people with disabilities thrive independently and overcome barriers to social and economic success. We also support programs that provide relief during transitions to independent living.

Cultural Development

Arts and cultural organizations play a major role in vibrant communities. We support organizations that offer multicultural art programs and provide enhanced access for the under-served. Specifically, we encourage programs that build audiences and promote the arts through education, interactive media and artistic excellence.

Education and Advancement

The future health and well-being of our communities is in the hands of children, who are the workers, innovators, leaders and artists of the future. We fund organizations that foster strategic learning initiatives to better prepare children for success. We emphasize programs that strengthen the quality of education, early childhood education and workforce development.

Funding Guidelines for The Standard's Corporate Giving Program

Types of Support

• General operating support
• Program support
• Capital support
• Event sponsorship
• Exhibitions
• Performance/Productions

Range of Support: $500 to $25,000. The average gift is $3,000.

Focus Areas 

• Healthy Communities
• Disability and Empowerment
• Cultural Development
• Education and Advancement

Funding Guidelines for The Standard Charitable Foundation

Types of Support 

• General operating support
• Program support
• Capital support

Range of Support: $5,000 to $25,000. The average gift is $10,000.

Focus Areas

• Healthy Communities
• Disability and Empowerment
• Education and Advancement

NOTE: The Olive Tree Foundation begins accepting grant applications in the first quarter of each year. The increased number of applications we receive each continually exceeds expectations. To ensure our small staff can effectively and fairly review the requests, we decreased the number accepted in 2022 to 50.

About the Foundation

The Olive Tree Foundation, Inc., is an independent philanthropy established in the United States in 1997.

Our mission: The Olive Tree Foundation strives to support U.S.-based nonprofits that provide food, shelter, medical care and education for those in need; make arts and culture more accessible and equitable; invest in community and youth and adult development; and protect the environment.

Grantmaking

Organizations eligible to apply for grants from The Olive Tree Foundation focus on:

• Basic necessities: We support nonprofits that provide food for the hungry, shelter the indigent and infirm and provide medical (physical and emotional) care to those in need.
• Youth education and development: OTF support nonprofits that develop the academic skills of youth. Key objectives should include character-building; fostering ethics, teamwork, self-esteem and self-confidence; broadening horizons and aspirations; strengthening unique abilities and talents; developing community awareness and involvement; improving academic, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Adult education and development: We support nonprofits that promote literacy and workforce development through various programs that empower adults to become self-sufficient and self-sustaining.
• Community development: We support nonprofits involved in the protection of civil rights and the creation of environmental infrastructures that enhance quality of life in the communities they serve.
• Arts and Culture: We support nonprofits that improve the quality of life in communities through arts and cultural enrichment and/or renovate structures that preserve a historical heritage.