Orfalea Foundations Frequently Asked Questions
Please scroll through the list below or choose from one of the following topic areas to read answers to frequently asked questions about the Orfalea Foundations:
BackgroundWhat We Support
Potential Grantee Eligibility
Letters of Inquiry
The Online Application and Evaluation Reports
Santa Barbara Foundation Collaboration
General
Background
Q: What is the difference between the Orfalea Family Foundation and the Orfalea Fund? How do I know which to apply to?
A: The Orfalea Family Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation that reflects the personal interest areas of the Orfalea family. The Orfalea Fund is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and a supporting organization of the Santa Barbara Foundation, a community foundation and publicly supported charity. Our staff routes applications submitted electronically through this website to the appropriate foundation.
Q: How are the Orfalea Foundations related to FedEx Kinko’s?
A: Paul Orfalea founded Kinko’s Inc. in 1970. To learn more about Kinko’s today, visit www.FedExKinkos.com. For historical information about Paul, please visit www.PaulOrfalea.com.
Q: I have heard your Foundations are supportive of single mothers. Could you please elaborate?
A: The Orfalea Foundations are empathetic to single parents and working parents struggling to balance their busy lives and raise their children. We advocate for improving work/life policies and support early care programs. We do not make grants to individuals.
Q: I met Paul Orfalea and I want him to personally review my application.
A: Every request must go through the same Letter of Inquiry and online application submission process, outlined in the Before You Apply section of our website. Grants to eligible tax-exempt organizations are awarded on objective criteria and not on the basis of personal relationships or contacts. Final granting is at the sole discretion of each Board of Directors.
Q: Are the Orfalea Family Foundation and Orfalea Fund 990 Forms available for public viewing?
A: Yes, we suggest visiting http://www.GuideStar.Org or the Office of the Attorney General State of California Department of Justice website at http://caag.state.ca.us/charities.
What We Support
Q: The project our organization proposes falls somewhat outside the mission statements of the Orfalea Foundations. Is it still worth sending a Letter of Inquiry?
A: Our mission statements and areas of concentration are provided as strong guidelines to give applicants a good sense of the kinds of projects which are most likely to be funded. However, innovative and creative programs that fall slightly outside of these areas, but which reflect the overall spirit of our missions, will certainly receive due consideration through our Letter of Inquiry process.
Q: Do the Orfalea Foundations contribute to capital campaigns or endowments?
A: We rarely support capital campaigns or establishing endowments. We prefer to grant to specific programs and projects.
Q: I've heard you help childcare centers. We need a new facility. Does this fall within your area of granting?
A: No, the foundations do not typically grant funds for new buildings or construction.
Q: We have a fundraising event coming up and want to invite the Orfaleas to sponsor a table. Do we have to fill out a grant application?
A: The Orfalea Foundations rarely sponsor events or fundraising galas of any sort. Funds are granted to projects and programs through our Letter of Inquiry and application process.
Q: I see that the Orfalea Fund's fields of interest include programs serving Santa Barbara County. Do you make grants to organizations and programs in other states?
A: The Orfalea Foundations prioritize our reactive granting to programs in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties. However, we have also been proactive in initiating partnerships and funding opportunities with several statewide and national programs.
Q: Several other nonprofit organizations in the area sponsor projects similar to the one we are seeking funding for. Does this affect our chances of receiving a grant?
A: Part of the application asks you to differentiate your agency from similar organizations. We seek to avoid duplication of services in the community and promote cooperation and collaboration between groups offering similar services.
Potential Grantee Eligibility
Q: I run a small, private daycare facility. We oversee approximately 15 children (infants through age 5). Do I qualify for submitting a grant application?
A: Probably not. Applicants must be able to present documentation of federal tax-exempt status in accordance with IRS 501(c)(3). Applicants must submit a copy of their IRS letter of determination. The Foundations will verify the status of each applicant prior to awarding grants and periodically throughout the grant period. The Foundations also seek to serve a large population whenever possible.
Q: A couple of years ago, we received a grant from you. We were preparing to reapply and saw your notices that grantees need to be approved before applying. What do we do?
A: Please review our current mission, areas of focus, and Before You Apply section of our website. If your organization believes it has a project that matches our areas of focus, please email a Letter of Inquiry to lauran@orfalea.org.
Letters of Inquiry
Q: My organization has two different programs we’d like to request funding for. May we submit more than one letter of inquiry? Will a separate application be required for each?
A: Yes, you may request funds for more than one program in one letter of inquiry. If approved, we will let you know whether each project requires a separate application. It is important that any organization submitting applications for more than one project (usually larger organizations) make a careful determination that the projects are indeed separate. Two elements of one undertaking, for example, funds for preschool curriculum enhancement and funds for additional resources to implement the additional curriculum, would be considered the same project.
Q: I’m not sure how much money it would be reasonable to apply for. Can you give me a ballpark figure?
A: Application budgets are assessed carefully. In order to present your program and organization in the best light, construct a reasonable, sound budget appropriate to your specific project. We recommend that first-time applicants submit more modest proposals based on your highest priority needs.
Q: We have a proposal and would like to schedule a call before submitting it to help plan our Letter of Inquiry and application.
A: Based on your unique knowledge of your organization’s strengths and the needs of your constituency, you should be able to compose a Letter of Inquiry outlining your grant request without foundation staff input. However, if you have a specific question, you are welcome to email the appropriate foundation staff contact.
Q: When will we hear whether or not our Letter of Inquiry was approved or denied?
A: You will be notified of the decision within 2 weeks of the Letter of Inquiry deadline. Letters of Inquiry are due January 10th for the Spring grant cycle, or July 10th for the Fall grant cycle.
Q: May we schedule a presentation meeting with Foundation staff or the Board in order to best represent our organization and project?
A: We rarely hold meetings for this purpose prior to an approved Letter of Inquiry and invitation to submit a grant application. However, during the application review process, we do contact many organizations with further questions, or to schedule a site visit or meeting.
The Online Application and Evaluation Reports
Q: How will we know that you received our electronic application? Should we send you a print-out of the completed application form, just to be sure?
A: A message will appear on-screen at the end of your application session telling you that your application has been successfully submitted. Sending a hard copy of the application is not necessary. You may want to keep a print out for your own records. We will contact you if we need further information.
Q: What happens after I submit my application?
A: Foundation staff process all electronic applications along with the supplemental materials sent by U.S. mail. Foundation team members conduct fact-checking research and sometimes schedule meetings or site visits in preparation for review by the Boards of Directors. The directors review grant application summaries and award grants to those organizations that meet eligibility criteria and whose projects and programs meet the funding criteria of the Orfalea Family Foundation or Orfalea Fund. The decision to award or not award grants to specific applicants is at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of each foundation.
Q: Question 2 under Background on the online application asks that we select a category to characterize our organization. Our organization does not fit neatly into the categories provided.
A: Some of the best organizations and projects do not fit neatly into a particular category! Please be assured that every application is carefully read in its entirety, so that the overall project, as well as the details you provide, are taken into account. Please select the closest description to your mission.
Q: I am trying to submit the evaluation report, but I lost the password I received when I originally submitted the online grant application.
A: As outlined in your grant agreement, evaluation reports are completed through the Orfalea Foundations’ online tracking system located at: http://www.orfaleafoundations.org/reporting.htm. For user name, enter: grantee, and for password, enter: eetnarg. Please note that the password to access our evaluation reporting system is different from the individual login ID and password you received to complete the online application.
Q: When will we hear whether we have received a grant?
A: Approximately 10-12 weeks after the grant application deadline.
Q: After I submit a report, what happens to it?
A: Evaluation report submissions are tracked by date of receipt. Every report is reviewed by the appropriate staff contact, who may follow up with comments or questions. The evaluation is kept in the grantee’s file and reviewed upon each future funding request made by the grantee.
Santa Barbara Foundation Collaboration
Please click here for details regarding the Orfalea Foundations' collaboration with the Santa Barbara Foundation.
General
Q: How do the Orfalea Foundations evaluate projects that have received grants?
A: Organizations that receive grants submit a mid-term progress report and final evaluation report through our online evaluation system to share progress and ensure that the conditions of the Grant Agreement have been met. Grant funds and the purpose of each grant are specific to each organization's program and are designed to ensure appropriate use and accountability of charitable funds. The evaluations are kept on file and referred to when considering future granting. Grantees not submitting such reports on time will be disqualified from future funding requests.
Q: I know someone who received a scholarship connected with your foundation. How can I learn more or apply?
A: The Orfalea Fund and the Orfalea Family Foundation work with several scholarship programs. Please refer to our partner links for more information.