The Service Family Foundation believes strong communities are built through thoughtful partnerships, shared trust, and a deep commitment to lasting impact. Our grant process is designed to support organizations whose work strengthens connection, opportunity, and resilience across our communities.
We welcome organizations that meet our eligibility requirements to begin the process by submitting a Letter of Inquiry prior to the stated deadline.
Letters of Inquiry should be no more than four pages and include all requested supporting materials. This initial step allows us to better understand your mission, your work, and how it aligns with our shared vision for community building.
Following submission, our team carefully reviews each letter of Inquiry. Organizations selected to move forward will be invited to submit a full grant application. If invited, applicants will have 60 days to complete and submit the formal application provided by the Foundation.
After receiving a full proposal, our staff will connect with you to schedule a site visit. These visits are an important part of our process—they allow us to experience your work firsthand and build meaningful relationships with the people behind it. We ask that key staff responsible for ongoing communication, along with project leaders and directors closely connected to the work, be present during the visit.
We strive to make funding decisions within four months of receiving a completed grant application. For approved grants, initial funding will be distributed in alignment with the first year of support. For multi-year grants, continued funding will be contingent upon the review of annual progress reports.
Shared learning is central to our partnerships. Grantees are required to submit progress reports annually, on or before the anniversary of their award. Reporting guidelines are available on our website. If a report is delayed, we ask that organizations communicate with us in advance. Failure to submit required reports may result in delays or discontinuation of funding. At the conclusion of the grant period, a final close-out report is required. Organizations that do not complete this step will not be eligible for future funding.
We are continually inspired by the work happening across the Pacific Northwest and may request a final site visit to celebrate and better understand the outcomes of our shared investment. As part of our commitment to uplifting community-driven impact, the Foundation may also highlight funded projects in our communications. Sharing these stories helps amplify the important work of our partners and demonstrates the power of philanthropy in action.