Multi-Year Grant Opportunity: Supporting Strategic Plan Implementation
Overview
The Charles Hayden Foundation is launching a Multi-Year Grant Opportunity to help strengthen organizations and improve outcomes for young people in New York City and Boston. Through this opportunity, the Foundation anticipates inviting up to 10 organizations to receive multi-year project grants over a two- to three-year period to support strategic initiatives identified as priorities in their current strategic plans.
Proposed initiatives may build upon or enhance an existing Charles Hayden Foundation-supported program, such as hiring additional program staff to expand or strengthen services, or focus on an organizational capacity-building effort, such as implementing a new data and evaluation system.
Organizations selected for a Multi-Year Grant will receive a two- to three-year award that will replace their annual Charles Hayden Foundation grant for the duration of the grant period. Current annual grant funding will continue as part of the multi-year award, along with additional funding awarded to support the proposed strategic initiative. Organizations that are not selected will remain eligible to apply through the Foundation’s annual grantmaking process.
General Eligibility Considerations
The Multi-Year Grant Opportunity is intended to support organizations with a demonstrated track record of success that are prepared to make strategic investments in their long-term growth and impact. Organizations invited to apply are generally expected to meet the following criteria:
Geographic Focus
· Serve young people in New York City, Boston and/or Newark.
Organizational Maturity
· Have a minimum of three years of operating history.
· Demonstrate stable senior leadership and an active, engaged governing board.
· Exhibit sound financial management, with no material audit findings or significant financial concerns.
Programmatic Strength
· Have a clear youth development mission aligned with the Foundation’s funding priorities.
· Deliver evidence-based or evidence-informed programs.
· Demonstrate the ability to measure, communicate, and learn from program outcomes and impact.
Strategic Readiness
· Have a board-approved strategic plan, initiative, or organizational growth plan that directly informs the proposed multi-year project.
· Clearly explain why multi-year funding, rather than annual support, is necessary to achieve the proposed objectives.
· Identify measurable milestones and indicators of progress over the grant period.
Organizational Capacity
· Have effective financial management and reporting systems in place.
· Demonstrate the organizational capacity to successfully implement and sustain a multi-year initiative.
· Have a history of meeting grant reporting requirements and maintaining strong stewardship and compliance.
Relationship with the Charles Hayden Foundation
· Have received Charles Hayden Foundation funding in at least three of the past five years.
· Demonstrate a strong history of performance, communication, and partnership with the Foundation.
Project Criteria
Proposed projects should represent strategic investments that strengthen an organization’s ability to serve young people over the long term. Examples of eligible projects include:
· Hiring key leadership or program staff
· Expanding or enhancing existing programs
· Strengthening organizational capacity
· Building evaluation, learning, or data systems
· Technology or infrastructure improvements
· Other strategic initiatives identified in the organization’s strategic plan
The Foundation anticipates providing partial support for proposed initiatives and generally will not fund the full cost of a project. Award amounts will be determined based on the scope of the proposed initiative and the resources required for successful implementation. Because these grants support strategic initiatives over a two-to-three-year period, the Foundation anticipates that most requests will exceed an organization’s current annual Charles Hayden Foundation grant.
Application Process
The Charles Hayden Foundation’s Multi-Year Grant Opportunity is offered through a competitive, invitation-only process.
Step 1: Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
Organizations interested in being considered should submit a brief online Letter of Inquiry (LOI) describing their proposed strategic project. The LOI is used to assess alignment with the goals of the Multi-Year Grant Opportunity. Please note: All Letters of Inquiry will be reviewed as the first step in the Foundation’s selection process. Submission of a Letter of Inquiry does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full proposal or the award of a multi-year grant.
Step 2: Staff Review & Initial Discussion w/ Grantee Partners
Foundation staff will review all Letters of Inquiry and invite organizations whose proposed initiatives most closely align with the Foundation’s priorities to participate in an initial discussion. These conversations will provide an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s strategic plan, the proposed initiative, and the organization’s readiness to successfully implement the work.
Step 3: Invitation to Submit a Full Proposal
Following these discussions, a limited number of organizations will be invited to submit a full multi-year grant application. Invitations will be based on the proposed initiative’s alignment with the Foundation’s priorities, the organization’s readiness to implement the work, and the overall fit for this funding opportunity.
Step 4: Board Review & Award Decisions
Foundation staff will present funding recommendations to the Board of Trustees for consideration. Organizations approved for funding will receive two-to-three-year project grants, with annual grant payments contingent upon satisfactory progress toward project goals and the timely submission of required reports.
Application Timeline
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Frequently Asked Questions
Before submitting your LOI, please review the Frequently Asked Questions, which will be updated regularly as new questions are received. If you have additional questions that are not addressed, please contact your Program Manager directly.