Fletcher Jones Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Fletcher Jones Foundation supports higher education and general education in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California.
IP TAKE: This is an education-focused funder that gives regularly to well-established organizations in the Los Angeles area, and it may consider more than just education causes, too. It’s grantmaking is purposefully broad in order to consider a wide range of projects. While this is not a traditionally acessible funder, it does invite phone calls to “discuss proposal ideas and determine suitability of the request, the Foundation will consider proposals for academic purposes which represent a high priority for the institution.” If the discussion proves fruitful, the foundation may ask you for the description portion of it’s grant application and go from there. Their process is a bit drawn out and burecreatic, but at least it offers opportunities to put yourself on their radar. Only grantseekers that have never received a FLF grant before must write an LOI. This is a multi-year funder, so it’s space is somewhat dedicated to previous grantees, shrinking it’s potential for new grantseekers.
This funder has a large board of trustees for it’s small size, and staff of two. The trustees determine how funds get dispersed. Their site explicitly states not to network directly with the trustees, but then acknowledges that some of it’s grantseekers may have “professional and personal relationships.”
The Fletcher Jones Foundation, despite it’s small-size and low-key profile, makes sizeable grants in it’s areas of interest, so this is a funder to keep in mind.
PROFILE: Established in 1969, the Fletcher Jones Foundation (FJF) is an independent foundation based in Pasadena, California, which is in the Los Angeles area. Fletcher Jones lived from 1931 to 1972 and was the co-founder of Computer Sciences Corporation. He was a pioneer in the developing field of computer science and was more focused on business than charitable activities during his lifetime. The foundation trustees centered FJF’s giving on private colleges and universities after Jones’ death. Today, FJF funds local efforts for education and especially higher education.
Grants for Higher Education and K-12
The Fletcher Jones Foundation has a charter that gives the trustees broad discretion with FJF grantmaking. This means that the foundation can award grants to various kinds of charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes. However, the current policy of FJF is to support private colleges and universities within the state for academic purposes. Educational grants go towards general operating support, research endowments, scholarships, specific programs and special events. Past grants have gone not only to universities, but also to high schools, charter schools, music education organizations and education foundations. At times, the trustees support other types of nonprofits due to special interests and on an invitation-only basis.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range between about $5,000 and $1 million. FJF has been awarding over $7 million in annual grants lately. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking often focuses on the Los Angeles area and Southern California. However, funding extends to other parts of California as well. Past local grantees include the Library Foundation of LA, New Village Charter School and Mount Saint Mary’s University.
This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from organizations, but it does welcome contact from potential applicants to discuss proposal ideas. Letters of inquiry are required for institutions that have never received a FJF grant in the past. The board of trustees meet on a quarterly basis to review new grant proposals; however, there are no specific deadlines to apply for grants. Direct general questions to the foundation’s executive director, Mary Spellman, at mary@fletcherjonesfdn.org or 626-204-4011.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
