Spruce Foundation Opens up 2015 Grant Making

The millennial-led Spruce Foundation, whose mission is to cultivate ‘next-generation’ philanthropists through community giving and grantmaking, is now accepting applications from youth-serving nonprofits in the Philadelphia area.

The Foundation will make $5,000 grants in each of its focus areas — health and wellness, education, LGBTQ, and the arts. Previous grantees include Girls on the Run, iPraxis, The Attic Youth Center and Asian Arts Initiative.

“We’re looking for emerging, impactful nonprofits that may not get the recognition, but are doing great work with Philadelphia youth 18 and under,” said Matt Kurilla, president of the Spruce Foundation.

New this year is an evaluation rubric that matches the updated grant application. The application was developed with guidance from The Center for High Impact Philanthropy, a University of Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that helps donors make informed philanthropic decisions.

Another change is that selected organizations with operating budgets under $300,000 will receive unrestricted support. Nonprofits operating over that threshold will be awarded program-based grants.

The new approach is “not set in stone, but instead is a way for us to explore the most effective ways to provide support through our funding,” said John Mauricio Lyons, a chair of the Foundation’s ten-member grantmaking committee, in an email.

“Funding can be so critical for these newer organizations, as well as new programs within already established agencies, and we want to be able to give support that is appropriate to their needs.”

The Foundation is seeking nonprofits that are able to engage its network of young professionals by offering skilled volunteer and other opportunities.

“We’re looking for organizations that want a real partnership,” Kurilla noted.

The online application is open until January 23, 2015. Questions about the grantmaking process can be directed to grants@sprucefoundation.org.

Image c/o the Spruce Foundation