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The Official Site of the San Jose Sharks

Community Assist Grants

The 2019-20 Community Assist Grant Cycle Is Now Closed

Each cycle the Sharks Foundation accepts applications for program OR project funding in one of its focal areas of giving: Healthy Living, Hockey Fights Cancer, Season of Giving, Heroes Appreciation, Education, Hockey Is For Everyone, and Environmental Awareness.

The Sharks Foundation will only accept online applications until the cycle closes. The Sharks Foundation will not fund any organization for more than three (3) consecutive years. If your group has been selected for a grant for each of the past three seasons, you must wait one year before reapplying. Each organization may only submit one (1) grant application per season.

Grant Application Instructions:

  • Step 1: Determine if you are applying for funding for a program OR project
  • Step 2: Review the Program Grant Cycle Packet OR Project Grant Cycle Packet
  • Step 3: Complete the Program Worksheet OR Project Worksheet
  • Step 4: Submit your Community Assist Grant Application - once you begin the online application your work cannot be saved; do not skip steps 2 & 3

Funding Priorities:

The Sharks Foundation provides grants to organizations that support youth and families, with special emphasis on at-risk and underserved populations.

The Sharks Foundation will NOT support:

  • General operating deficits
  • Administrative staff costs (i.e. administrative salaries, training events, etc.)
  • Sponsorships or fundraisers of any kind
  • Recreational group outings or trips (i.e. sporting events, museums, amusement parks, etc.)
  • Capital campaigns
  • Endowments or reserve funds
  • Grants to individuals, athletic teams or schools or any associated 501(c)(3) organizations (i.e. PTAs, booster clubs, etc.)
  • Organizations outside the San Francisco Bay Area

Organization Eligibility - to qualify for a grant an organization must:

  • Be a public 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service for a minimum of five (5) years
  • Provide services to children in need within the San Francisco Bay Area
  • Be available for a site visit if selected as a beneficiary
  • Adhere to all deadlines and application requirements
  • A program must be in existence for a minimum of three (3) years

Grant Eligibility - to qualify for a grant an application must:

  • Fall under one of the focus areas: Healthy Living, Hockey Fights Cancer, Season of Giving, Heroes Appreciation, Education, Hockey Is For Everyone, and Environmental Awareness
  • 100% of grant monies received from the Sharks Foundation are used for the exclusive benefit of youth or youth and their families
  • 51% of the funding received must directly benefit youth/families in Santa Clara county
  • Funding must be applied to the costs associated with a specific programming element of the applying organization
  • Funding must be used by July 31, 2020

Process:

Timeline:

  • June 14, 2019: Deadline to submit 2019-20 application
  • June 15-August 2019: Review process
  • September 2019: Beneficiaries announced, all applicants notified of status
  • September 2019-April 2020: Funds dispersed, site visits & projects break ground/completed
  • April/May 2020: 2020-21 Community Assist Grant Cycle opens

An application will be deemed ineligible if it is incomplete, incorrectly formatted, not submitted by the deadline, submitted by an organization that does not meet the stated criteria or if the purpose for funding falls outside of the stated priorities. 

Programs:

Annually run and have set parameters; usually a subdivision of a non-profit, a service they provide. Programs (examples, not limited to): afterschool services, mentorship programs, reading assistance, backpack or clothing distribution, environmental sustainability, etc. 

For programs, the Sharks Foundation will either provide a grant up to $50,000 OR make a non-profit the beneficiary of one of the Foundation's 50/50 Raffles. Proceeds from a 50/50 Raffle can range anywhere from $5,000-$30,000+. If you are chosen as a 50/50 Raffle beneficiary, the raffle will take place at a Sharks home game during the month for which focus area you are applying for (ie: if you apply under the Hockey Fights Cancer focus, your organization would be the beneficiary of one of the raffles taking place in November).

If you apply for funding for a program, there must be an activation component within the campaign month* between your organization and the Sharks Foundation. An activation component can include, but is not limited to, an onsite check presentation, a volunteer opportunity for Sharks employees, etc.

Projects:

Typically, a one-time execution and one-time cost. Projects (examples, not limited to): beautification, upgrade to existing structure, an installation, street hockey court, playground, bike build, mobile van clinic, etc.

The Sharks Foundation will fund projects up to $200,000. If you apply for funding for a project, as part of the grant application you will need to provide a budget and timeline. The groundbreaking date OR project completion date must fall during the campaign month* for which focus area you are applying under.

*Campaign Months:

  • October: Healthy Living
    • Fitness, wellness, medical (non-cancer) and mental health
  • November: Hockey Fights Cancer
    • Cancer-related patient care, support services, survivor programs
  • December: Season of Giving
    • Basic human services, food, clothing, shelter, holiday events
  • January: Heroes Appreciation
    • Military, police, fire, EMT, doctor/nurse, inspirational youth, outstanding community members
  • February: Education
    • Pre-K thru college, literacy, STEM, music/arts, programs outside school
  • March: Hockey Is For Everyone
    • Character development, diversity, inclusion, mentorship, anti-bullying, leadership, moral character
  • April: Environmental Awareness
    • Beautification, sustainability, recycling, science, world heath