The Eulalie Bloedel Schneider Foundation is a small family foundation, founded in 1996 through the legacy of Prentice Bloedel. Its mission is to support secular grassroots programs that enhance individual and family self-sufficiency and economic stability.

We are interested in programs that provide job-related educational and skill building opportunities, and those seeking to build character and develop self-reliance and accountability. We also support artistic and cultural skill-building programs for youth and families that can enhance educational and future career opportunities.

We particularly encourage requests from organizations creating opportunities for our region’s immigrant communities.

THE FOUNDATION WILL SUPPORT

• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) groups in the Puget Sound area that meet the above criteria.

• General operating expenses or special projects for community-based programs.

• Technical assistance requests for board and staff training (up to $600).

• Groups that are rooted in a community, member-controlled, continue to attract new members, and have an ongoing method for developing new leadership.

THE FOUNDATION WILL NOT SUPPORT

• Groups outside the Puget Sound area.

• National organizations, even those with projects in the Pacific Northwest.

• Human services or low-income services projects or organizations that are not specifically providing skill-building or training opportunities.

• Programs with a religious or proselytizing approach or mission.

• Educational and outreach programs of large artistic or cultural institutions.

• Museum exhibits or related outreach programs for schools or communities.

• Traditional academic-oriented literacy, tutoring, and mentorship programs.

• Individual requests for research or scholarships.

• Childcare centers, schools, or classroom projects.

• Book, video, film, or home-page productions, unless the expenses occur within the context of a project that fits the foundation's major areas of interest.

• Computer, software, or office equipment purchases unless clearly a component of a project that fits foundation areas of interest.

• Capital campaigns for building construction or renovations.

• Total annual grants: approximately $50,000.

• Average grant size: $2,000. Grants range from $1,000 to $3,500.

• Time Out: After receiving three single-year grants, a group is asked to wait two years before reapplying.

• Multi-Year Grants: Groups who have received at least three years of EBS funding (two consecutively) may apply for a three-year grant ($4,000-$4,000-$3,000). Trustees may select one or two each funding cycle, based on an effective track record and the organization’s commitment to skillbuilding as a major priority. Following completion of third-year funding, multiyear grant recipients must wait a full two years before re-applying. Trustees may make a site visit to each applicant accepted for consideration. A year-end report is required each year. For 2nd and 3rd year funding, a brief update letter and budget summary will substitute for a full proposal. (See How to Apply, below.)

Full Proposals. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, please prepare the following information. (We will also be glad to accept a Common Application Proposal format you may have prepared for another foundation, if it includes all the information we request.)

• Narrative, not to exceed four pages. Clearly describe the strategies your project or organization will use to address community issues — who's doing what, and why. If you're emulating a successful model from else-where, explain why that approach was selected. If innovative, explain your approach. Describe the role of your organization in your community. Discuss how you are connected to other community efforts, as well as your group's unique role. Explain the general work-plan for the one-year grant period, and how you will evaluate the success/effectiveness of your project. (We recognize this is a challenge in four pages — in short, we want to read succinct information about who you are, why you are conducting your project, and how you'll get there.)

• Budget summary. For general operating support, submit an organizational budget (actual & projected sources of income). If you are requesting project support, explain the income/expenses of both the project and the larger organization. (Please do not send large audited financial statements.)

• IRS 501(c)(3) notification letter and Optional additional information: newsletters, press coverage, endorsements or testimonials from past project participants.

Multi-Year Requests.

• Narrative. Not to exceed four pages, describing goals, strategies, and workplan for the three year grant period. Also provide a proposed budget for the three year period, including likely sources of funding. As only one or two groups will be selected, we also want to be clear about your request for single-year funding – therefore please attach a very brief one-page description (bullet-point summary okay) of the amount you would request and how you would use a single-year grant.

• Due-date. Instead of submitting a brief pre-application, full multiyear proposals are due at the pre-application deadline. If your project is not selected for multi-year consideration, the one-page summary of a one-year project will serve as a pre-application letter. All multi-year applicants will automatically be considered for funding when trustees review full proposals.

• Years 2 and 3 requests. Please submit a brief year-end report at the full proposal deadline. Trustees will review this report prior to allocating funding for years two and three.

Technical Assistance Grants These requests may be submitted throughout the year. Please submit a letter describing how a small grant (up to $600) for a targeted consultation or training will move your group to greater financial stability or organizational development.

Contact Information If you have questions about the application process or foundation policies, please contact Therese Ogle, Foundation Advisor, at OgleFounds@aol.com or 206-781-3472.

Materials must be received by the following deadlines, so early mailing is encouraged. Please do not submit materials by e-mail.

Pre-Application & Multiyear Due Date	Full Proposal Due	EBS Decision
3rd Monday of May	2nd Monday of July	2nd Monday of September

Skillbuilding Arts & Culture

Broadway Bound
Seattle
2011 Dream Summer Outreach program: a collaboration with the School District, resulting in a full-scale musical performed for the public. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on skills in the field of theatre.
$2,000

Potlatch Fund
Seattle
2011 InterTribal Canoe Journey: 100% of funds re-granted to the Canoe Journey, hosted by the Swinomish Tribe, involving 100 canoes and 10,000 individuals. An important annual multi-generational event initiated with the 1989 "Paddle to Seattle."
$2,500

Vera Project
Seattle
Education & Participation Programming: an all-ages skillbuilding music program. Includes concert production, visual art shows in their gallery space, classes in studio recording, concert lighting, silk-screening, music-business-related topics, and non-concert events such as fashion shows, films, and dances.
$2,500

Skillbuilding: Youth Programs

Boys & Girls Clubs, King County
Seattle
MicroSociety Program, Skyway Club: youth participants create a city called "Ren-Way" (for Renton/Skyway). The kids run their own government, make their own laws, and run their own businesses. Community leaders come in to hold classes for the kids at RenWay University.
$2,000

Cocoon House
Everett
Education & Life Skills Program for homeless youth residents: goal of the program is to help these youth learn and practice the skills they'll need to succeed in school and in life. They reach about 45 youth each year with one-on-one life skills coaching, educational advocacy, life skills classes, one-on-one tutoring by volunteers and paid tutors.
$2,500

Pacific Northwest Ballet
Seattle
DanceChance program for talented, underserved youth: 1) identify and train talented children for a career in dance, 2) provide an experience that will develop their skills and enrich their lives, whether or not they choose to pursue a career in dance, and 3) present a Company and School that reflect the diverse community served by PNB.
$2,000

Youth in Focus
Seattle
Freelance Project: offered to advanced students to provide entrepreneurial training. Those kids are assigned to photography- documenting events in the community for non-profit clients, and offering affordable portrait services to clients of nonprofit youth and family service agencies. The youth learn customer service, personal presentation, personal responsibility, basic marketing, and teamwork.
$2,500

Skillbuilding: Women and Families

HopeLink
Redmond
Adult Education Program: basic literacy tutoring, high school diploma or GED, English as Second Language, citizenship classes, financial education, and computer education. Up to one in five Eastside families find themselves isolated because they don't speak adequate English; 33% of residents speak another language at home.
$3,000

Mason County Literacy
Shelton
Providing skills and services for non-English speaking residents, school drop-outs, and other adults with low literacy skills - with a focus on helping people find and retain jobs. They teach people how to speak and understand English, how to apply for jobs, have successful interviews, and behave appropriately in a workplace.
$2,500

Multiyear Grant

Solid Ground
Seattle
Operation Frontline: teaching people how to eat smart and stay healthy on a limited budget. They held 37 classes reaching 350 people, in collaboration with 20 partner sites.
(Year Three of a 3-year grant totaling $15,000.)
$5,000