What type of projects is the Kellogg Foundation interested in funding in Latin America and the Caribbean?
The Foundation’s activities are organized around two major strategies:
Strategy 1 – Promote Regional Development
To promote regional development by supporting comprehensive clusters of projects that have the potential to break the cycle of poverty in selected micro-regions.
Strategy 2 – Programmatic Approach
To develop and apply knowledge to foster sustainable systematic change in priority areas selected by the Foundation. The approaches are: Leadership Development, Social Responsibility, Institution-Building, Strategic Alliances, and Access to Information Technology.
Aside from these two principal strategies, part of the funds are reserved for general grantmaking, which is provided for exploring new themes and trends or for continuing and disseminating the results already achieved from previously funded programs.
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Which geographic areas does the Foundation prioritize for its operations in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Strategy 1 (Promote Regional Development) is geared towards three geographic areas where there is a high concentration of poverty: southern Mexico, Central America and Dominican Republic and Haiti in the Caribbean; northeastern Brazil; and the Andean zone of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.
For the Foundation’s Programmatic Approach strategy and its General Programming, applications are welcome from institutions from any country in Latin America and the Caribbean that have projects that fall within our established guidelines.top |
If I submit my request to you on the Internet, will it be reviewed quicker than if I send it through the mail?
All requests are reviewed in the order in which they are received. No priority is given to requests that are submitted electronically over those that are received through the mail or via fax.top |
Why don’t you fund individuals?
Because we are a private foundation, we are guided by IRS regulations that preclude us from providing assistance to individuals. In the past, we have requested and been provided with special rulings from the IRS allowing us to make fellowship grants to individuals. The Foundation has decided not to operate fellowship programs at this time. However, fellowships will be considered as part of a programmatic approach for specific grants that fall within our programming priorities.top |
If my request is declined, will you provide a critique of what we could do better?
Many worthwhile proposals are declined because they do not fall within the Foundation’s current guidelines or priorities. Our inability to provide assistance does not reflect on the merits of proposals; rather, it exemplifies the limitations of our grant resources which make it necessary to establish priorities and guidelines for our programming areas. Given the volume of requests we receive, we are not able to provide evaluative remarks to organizations whose request has been declined.top |
What legal status must my organization have to be eligible for a grant?
In the United States, private Foundations are directed by specific legislation of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make grants only to type 501(c) 3, 509(a) organizations. Follow this link to the IRS. For grants made to non-US organizations (that do not possess a 501(c) 3 IRS ruling or determination letter), the Foundation’s Grant Tax Eligibility department must analyze an organization’s founding documents (such as bylaws, constitutions, regulations, etc.), financial reports, and affidavit to determine if the organization is functioning as a public charity and deriving its income from humanitarian purpose, inline with IRS standards.
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When must equivalence as a tax-exempt charity be determined?
If the Foundation decides to review the preproposal of the project in more depth, we will send your organization a list of documents to be submitted. Normally, the analysis of these documents is quick and enables us to determine whether your organization is eligible for a grant. However, it is not necessary to submit bylaws, financial reports, etc. during the initial stage; wait for a request from the Foundation.
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Where can I go to get help with developing my budget?
Please review our Budget Development and Financial Guidelines available in PDF format.top |
How do I apply for a Kellogg Foundation grant?
Our preferred method to submit a request for Kellogg Foundation support is to use the Apply Online feature on our Web site. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may mail a hard copy of your request. Prior to submitting a request, we strongly advise you to read the "Grantseeking Overview" and "How to Apply For a Grant" sections of our Web site.
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If I submit a request online through your Web site, do I need to mail a hard copy of the request as well?
Please only send a hard copy of the request if you are requested to do so. Sending a duplicate request may cause delays in processing.top |
Is there a specific format to use for hard copy request submissions?
Although the Kellogg Foundation prefers you use on online submission process, please use the following information for hard copy requests: (Please use a maximum of five 8-1/2" x 11" sheets of light colored paper)
- Contact name
- Legal organization name (please spell out acronyms where possible)
- Complete street and mailing address
- Phone numbers and e-mail address (where possible)
- Grant purpose statement (40-50 words maximum)
- Total dollar amount requested
- Project activities and objectives
- Targeted audience(s)
- Operational procedures
- Project start and end dates
- Anticipated outcomes and impacts
- Personnel and financial resources available and needed
- Sustainability plan
- Other funding sources (pending and/or confirmed)
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May I submit attachments with my request?
Due to the large volume of materials received, please do not send or electronically attach the following unless specifically requested to do so:
- Invoices
- IRS Information
- Board of Directors or Staff Lists/Job Descriptions
- Resumes or Staff Bios
- Annual Reports/Publications
- Letters of Support
- News Articles
- Photographs
- Videos, Cassettes, or CDs
- Return Envelopes
- Books, Magazines, or Newsletters
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What are your deadlines for request submission?
The Kellogg Foundation does not have specific deadlines. We accept proposals on an ongoing basis, and they are reviewed by staff members as they are received.top |
How long does it take to review a proposal?
Please allow up to three months for the initial review of your request. We will contact you as soon as the review process has been completed.top |
When does your Board meet?
Our Board of Trustees meets on a regular basis. Proposals are initially reviewed by staff members to determine to what extent the proposed idea falls within our funding areas and interests.top |
Could I set up an appointment to discuss my project idea?
Personal visits to the Foundation during the initial review process are generally discouraged.top |
How do we check on the status of our request?
The majority of requests are reviewed and responded to within three months from the date they are received. When we anticipate the review of the request might be delayed, we send an acknowledgement letter to the contact person indicated in the request; requests submitted through our Web site are automatically acknowledged. You may call our office at 269-968-1611 at any time to determine the status of your request; however, please allow several weeks for the initial handling of your request.top |
What are your program areas?
The Kellogg Foundation is in the midst of a multi-year transition period. We have recently announced a new mission, vision and program focus. Our former program areas (Health; Youth and Education; Food Systems and Rural Development; and Philanthropy and Volunteerism) are no longer accepting proposals. Many of these Kellogg-funded projects and grantees are continuing their work. We will continue to share highlights and stories about these projects within these web pages. Learn more about what’s happening at the Kellogg Foundation during this transition, building on the remarkable programs of our grantees, and connecting our legacy to the future, to improve the lives of vulnerable children.top |
Are there areas that you do not fund?
Although we would like to respond affirmatively to all requests coming to the Foundation, we receive far more than can possibly be funded. Therefore, we find it necessary to establish priorities and guidelines for the use of our relatively limited resources.
We suggest that you review our Grantseeking Overview and How to Apply for a Grant sections.
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Do you have geographic restrictions?
Most W.K. Kellogg Foundation grants are awarded in:
- the United States;
- Latin America and the Caribbean; and
- seven southern African countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
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With regard to the list of items you generally do not fund, what is an "integral phase" of a project?
We consider an "integral phase" of a project to be an activity or process that is absolutely critical in order to meet the outcome(s) of the project. See the list of items we generally do not fund, in our programming guidelines.
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With regard to budget development, do you cover in-kind and/or overhead support?
The Foundation is committed to paying all costs associated with its grants. Overhead costs are limited but can be discussed with programming staff, who will work directly with grantees regarding budget development options.top |
What IRS designation does my organization need to be eligible for a grant?
Private foundations are directed by the Internal Revenue Service to make grants only to type 501(c) 3, 509(a) organizations. Follow this link to the IRS.
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What is the maximum/minimum (or average) grant amount that you fund?
We have not established (nor do we track) maximum or minimum dollar amounts, but rather look at the amount needed for each specific project based on scope of work and expected outcomes.
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Do you provide scholarship assistance?
The Kellogg Foundation does not provide scholarship assistance.top |
If I have submitted a request and been declined, can I resubmit?
Requests are kept on file for one year following the date of the decline. Occasionally, staff will reconsider requests that have been declined previously; however, this doesn’t happen very often.top |
What other foundations can I contact with regard to my request?
Please see our Grantseeking Tips page for information on nationally and internationally recognized funding organizations.top |