Funding priorities:

The William G. Irwin Charity Foundation makes capital grants in California and Hawaii.

 Application Process

The foundation accepts applications exclusively through an online application process. Applications for the upcoming funding cycle will be accepted online between Monday, January 20, 2025 (applications open at 9:00 a.m PST.) and Friday, January 31, 2025 (application deadline is 5:00 p.m. PST).

• You will not be able to start a new application in the grants portal until the submission window has opened. Download the application overview here. Note revised application overview uploaded July 24, 2024. 
• Download the online application instructions here.
• Access the online application here: https://pfs.smartsimple.us/welcome/irwin.

Please note, the foundation requires awarded grantees to wait three  years (from the last decision date) before reapplying. If your application is denied, we ask that you wait one year before reapplying and that your next application is for a different project from the one previously denied.

The foundation board meets four times per year. The timeline for the next grantmaking cycle will be announced after the board meeting.

• Please note that most grants are given to organizations serving the Greater Bay Area and Hawaii. The Foundation rarely funds in Southern California.
• Please note that the Foundation prefers for lawsuits to be resolved prior to approving funding and may decide not to move your application forward until the lawsuits have been resolved.
• The foundation primarily funds organizations serving basic needs (shelter, food etc), medical facilities and schools.
• Organizations need to raise 75% of project funds prior to applying. However, if the applicant believes they will reach that mark by the time the board meets or soon after, they may go ahead and apply. Additionally, if the applicant is asking for the full cost of the project to be funded OR if the request will help them reach the final cost of the project, then the 75% requirement does not apply.
•  Board members review all applications. If the application is moved to the next phase, a board member will reach out directly to schedule a phone call or site visit to further discuss the project.
• Grant requests should generally fall under $200,000, in particular if the organization has never received a grant from the foundation.

Reporting Process

If you have an active grant with the foundation, please submit your final reports by the date listed in the grant agreement via SmartSimple: https://pfs.smartsimple.us/welcome/irwin.