Community Assist Grants

An important note: Due to the large number of grant applications we receive, each non-profit should understand that there is only so much funding the Sharks Foundation has available to allocate and that we cannot fund every request. If your non-profit is not selected it does not mean that you are not doing incredible work in the community, or that we do not value that work you are doing. Quite the contrary! We appreciate and respect all the important work being done to better our community. Additionally, any non-profits that submit an application will be kept on our preferred partner list for FY21 and notified of other opportunities as they arise throughout the year.

The Sharks Foundation accepts applications for program funding and project grants that align with our focal areas of giving: Healthy Living, Hockey Fights Cancer, Holiday Assist, Heroes appreciation, Education, Hockey is For Everyone, and Environmental Awareness. We then dedicate a month of the Sharks regular season to honor and celebrate that focal area through our Annual Giving Campaign. 
 

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: Holiday Assist
  • Basic human services, food, clothing, shelter, holiday programs
• January: Heroes Appreciation
  • Military, police, fire, EMT, doctor, nurses
• 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 health

Difference Between Program Funding and Project Grants...

1.) Program Funding:

Programs are annually run and have set parameters; usually a subdivision of a non-profit, it is a service they provide. Program examples (not limited to):

• Afterschool services 
• Mentorship programs
• Reading assistance 
• Environmental sustainability 

When a non-profit applies for program funding, they are applying to become a 50/50 Raffle beneficiary, Goals for Kids recipient or Sharks Foundation fundraiser beneficiary. The Sharks Foundation will assign the type of funding to a non-profit based on recommendations from the grant review committees and the Foundation's discretion. In an ongoing effort to deepen relationships with our non-profit partners and increase impact, we are no longer providing traditional grats and instead are looking for reciprocal, multifaceted relationships. Non-profits selected for funding will be designated one of three avenues below as determined by the Sharks Foundation:

A.) 50/50 Raffle

• Proceeds from a 50/50 Raffle can range anywhere from $3,500-$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). To receive 50/50 funding, your non-profit organization must have a California chapter and be able to provide 6-12 volunteers to assist our sellers on your assigned game date. Click here to learn more about the 50/50 Raffle. 

B.) Goals for Kids

• Click here to review information on the Goals for Kids program. 

C.) Sharks Fundraisers 

• Specialty Auctions, Mystery Pucks, Beer Booths, partial proceeds from a foundation event, etc. 
• Click here to learn about Sharks Foundation fundraisers. 

Non-profits selected for funding will not be able to choose which avenue of funding they receive. The Sharks Foundation will assign the type of funding to a non-profit based on recommendations from the gran review committees and the Foundation's direction. Please do not request a specific type of funding in your application.

2.) Project Grants:

An activation or project is typically a one-time execution and one-time cost. Examples (not limited to):

• Beautification/clean-up project
• Upgrades to an existing structure or installation of a new structure
• Street hockey court
• Playground
• Bike build
• Educational vehicle retrofitting 
• Home renovation
• Clothing or food packing/distribution

The Sharks Foundation provides project grants up to $200,000. If you apply under this category, you will need to provide a budget and timeline that will become contractually binding if your project is approved. Proposals should offer a volunteer opportunity for Sharks/Sharks partners to be involved. Additionally, the volunteer opportunity, groundbreaking date or project completion date must fall within the campaign month for which focal area you are applying. 

Funding Priorities:

The Sharks Foundation provides funding 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
• Sponsorships of fundraisers of any kind 
• Endowments or reserve funds 
• Grants/scholarships 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 that cannot keep 51% or more of funding in Santa Clara County 

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 5 years
• A program must be in existence for a minimum of 3 years (established in/before April 2017)
• 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

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

• Fall under one of the focus areas: Healthy Living, Hockey Fights Cancer, Holiday Assist, Heroes Appreciation, Education, Hockey Is For Everyone, or Environmental Awareness
• 100% of grant funding 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 or the project you are submitting an application for
• Funding must be used by July 31, 2021

Activation - Provide opportunities/ideas on the partnership:

• The Sharks Foundation is seeking deep, impactful and well-rounded relationships with the organizations we support. As such, there should be an activation component within the campaign month under which you are applying between your organization and the Sharks Foundation.
• An activation component should be well thought out, creative/ unique and multifaceted (ie: more than a check presentation). How can we collaborate to show the community what we have accomplished together? How can we amplify the partnership?
• Non-profits are asked to thoroughly explain their idea(s) in the application narrative. 

Process & Notification:

• April 17: Community Assist Grant cycle opens
• May 17, 12:00 p.m.: Deadline to submit online application
• May 18 - August 31: Review process
• September: Applicants will be notified of status
• October 2020 - April 2021: Funds dispersed, site visits & projects break ground/complete