Apply Here: Orange County, CA Community Grants

1/31/2024 - Requests are now submitted via email and reviewed on a rolling basis. Please see below for updated guidelines.

THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS OC, CALIFORNIA ORGANIZATIONS WITH INNOVATIVE STEAM PROJECTS FOR YOUTHS AGES 17 YEARS AND YOUNGER

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation’s Local Community Support Grants support organizations with innovative STEM/STEAM activities within the Orange County, California area.

Local Community Support Grants are awarded for community-based projects, activities or events that align with the Foundation’s aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries.”

Examples of past and current local community support by the Foundation include:

• Kids at Science – STEM teacher training initiative
• Orange County Science & Engineering Fair – Special awards and support to the fair
• Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Festival-style science entertainment for all ages
• See the full list here

PROPOSALS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY A U.S. NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION

All proposals must be submitted by a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3), or equivalent, organization serving Orange County, California either exclusively or as a large part of the proposed effort.

• As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not provide grants to non-U.S. organizations or institutions.
• Proposals for collaborative projects are acceptable, but a lead organization that meets the criteria must be specified.

AN ORGANIZATION MAY APPLY UNDER A FISCAL SPONSOR HOLDING 501(C)(3) STATUS

Proposal submissions are accepted from organizations using a fiscal sponsor; the following terms/conditions apply:

• The fiscal sponsor must hold 501(c)(3) status.
• The fiscal sponsor does not need to be located in Orange County, CA.
• The fiscal sponsor does not need to serve the Orange County, CA area/audience.
• Grant funds will be paid to the 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, rather than the applicant.
• Overhead must be disclosed; AMBF is not responsible for administrative fees or processing fees related to the grant.
• For any organization applying under a fiscal sponsor, a letter is required from the sponsor stating that they are aware of the proposal and acknowledging that AMBF will not provide funding for administrative fees or processing fees.
• Other program terms/conditions remain unchanged for the applicant organization.

PROPOSALS FOR PROJECTS BASED WITHIN OC HIGH SCHOOLS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE INSPIRED TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation and Inspire Philanthropy Fund have partnered with the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) and the Inspired Teacher Grant Program to provide funding for High School STEM requests.

• Proposals for projects based within Orange County high schools should be directed to the Inspired Teacher Grant Program and NOT the OC Beckman Community Support Grants Program.
• Questions? Contact Leslie Prado, Sr. Director of Community Impact, OCCF. 949-553-4202 | [email protected].

PROPOSALS SHOULD ALIGN WITH ONE OF AMBF'S CURRENT FUNDING PRIORITIES

Proposed projects should be aligned with the Foundation’s aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries” and oriented toward achieving positive outcomes in at least one of the Foundation’s current funding priorities:

• Engaging youth in hands-on science and math activities to encourage curiosity and student-driven exploration and learning
• Using technology to engage youth in STEAM
• Discovering Orange County – looking closer at the science behind seismology, robotics, space, sustainability, or agriculture
• Promoting the Beckmans’ legacy of technology innovation and leadership in Orange County

PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO INNOVATIVE PROJECT PROPOSALS THAT BUILD CAPACITY WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION

A project proposal should consider more than just alignment with funding priorities. To fully prepare, consider how your proposal will address each of the following:

• Who the team members are that will be involved with the project, including any special training or qualifications
• How the funding will be used to support the project
• The area(s) in Orange County, California which will be served by the project
• The target audience which will be served by the project
• What makes the STEM/STEAM project innovative
• How the project aligns with the Foundation’s aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries”
• How the project will be implemented and evaluated, including how it will lead to positive outcomes related to the selected funding priority
• How long it will take to complete the project (projects are typically completed within a year of funding)

Preference will be given to projects that build capacity within an organization or provide seed funding to develop new programs, rather than ongoing support to existing programs.

NOTE: The amount of the funding requested should be justified by the scope of the project. Projects must be located within Orange County, California. Mid- and post-project reporting will be required.

APPLY TO THIS PROGRAM USING OUR CHECKLIST TO CREATE YOUR 2-PAGE SUBMISSION LETTER

• To apply to this program, proposal submissions must follow formatting requirements: Use this checklist as a guide for preparing your submission.
• Proposal should be formatted as a 2-page letter and saved as a pdf.
• Attach the pdf and submit the request by email. 
• Requests are accepted on a rolling basis.
• They must be submitted at least 3 months prior to the planned start date of the project.
• Proposals must include all requested items in the checklist to be "complete."
• Proposals must include a contact name, email and phone number, as well as the organization name, Federal Tax ID Number, IRS designation, and website.

PROPOSALS ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS, MUST BE SUBMITTED 3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE

Requests are accepted on a rolling basis but must be submitted at least 3 months prior to the planned start date of the project.

Once a submission is received, it goes through an administrative review. This first step checks for eligibility and makes sure that all necessary materials have been included.

• If additional information is needed to proceed with a full review of the request, the applicant will be contacted by email so they can provide the necessary materials.
• If the submission appears complete, the request will advance to a full review.
• For both situations, the applicant will be notified of the outcome of the review as soon as a decision is available. Notification will be provided by email.
• Funding decisions are typically made twice per year, depending on the number of applications received and funding.

NOTE: If awarded, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation logo should be included on all publicity related to the project. Press releases, announcements, and social media related to the project must include the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation as Project Sponsor. The benefiting organization should make reasonable efforts to recognize the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation and provide participatory opportunities for Foundation staff.

GENERATIVE AI AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT or AI, are evolving into essential software in the researcher’s toolkit. Just as graphing and statistical software aid in data analysis and presentation, AI tools can assist authors in their work. The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation supports the use of these tools as supplementary resources when used in an ethical and responsible manner. Accountability lies with the human authors, who remain responsible for the proper application of AI and the critical review and reporting of its output. All awardees and applicants are expected to comply with best practice in research and publishing ethics, take full responsibility for any errors made by an AI tool, and are expected to cooperate with questions relating to the accuracy or integrity of any part of their work, including data analyses and representation.