ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:

Eligibility Requirements*

• Organizations and programs that align with the Foundation’s mission to support and enhance the quality of life of vulnerable and underserved older adults residing in Philadelphia County.
• Organizations that are based outside of Philadelphia County but provide services in Philadelphia County. In this case, grants would be restricted to the organization’s Philadelphia County-based program/s.
• Organizations and programs that reflect the guiding principles of the Foundation.
• Organizations, including newly established organizations, of the following types: 501(c)3 public charities, fiscally sponsored organizations or programs, supporting organizations, other 501(c) organizations (within legal limits).
• Organizations where older adults can receive support through adult day programs, mental health services, care coordination services, caregiver support services, digital literacy services, food security services, homelessness support services, home maintenance services, housing services, information & resource services, legal services, senior center programs, transportation services, or other services that allow older adults to thrive in their home & community.
• There is no operating budget limit for innovative project funding.
• If an organization requests innovative project funding, the project focus must be serving older adults residing in Philadelphia County.

I have read and understand the listed eligibility requirements.

• Yes 
• No

Grant Request Name* 

Please provide a name for this Grant Request using the following as a guide:
[Fiscal Year for which Innovative Project Support is being sought] + “Innovative Project Support” e.g. 2026 Innovative Project Support

Character Limit: 100

Organization History & Mission:* 

Please provide a brief history of the organization including the mission statement if your organization has not previously applied and received support from The Sarah Ralston Foundation.

Character Limit: 1500

Addressing Equity:*

What is your organization doing to explicitly address equity? Please include perspective from both your Board and staff leadership, and any demographic information you have collected about your overall leadership.

Character Limit: 2000

Number of Staff:

How many staff does your organization employ on a full-time and part-time basis?

Number of Full-Time Staff:*

#______

Number of Part-Time Staff:*

#______

Staff Leadership*

Please provide information (Name, Title, Tenure) about your organization’s staff leadership. Include any demographic information you have collected about your overall leadership.*

Character Limit: 1000

The SRF collects demographic information including race ethnicity and gender identity for internal aggregated data for analysis only. Providing demographic information is voluntary and an option exists to select “Prefer not to disclose” for each category. The demographic data collected are confidential and not used for consideration of funding of individual awards. Collecting demographic data provides information for The Sarah Ralston Foundation to better understand its supported Awards program participation.

Staff Demographics (OPTIONAL)

Please provide demographic information about your organization’s staff members who self-identify as part of an underrepresented population (e.g. sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, gender).

Character Limit: 1000

INNOVATIVE PROJECT INFORMATION:

Number of Clients Served by Innovative Project:*

#_____

Percentage of Clients Age 60+ Served by Innovative Project:*

#_____

Description of Population Served:*

Please describe the older adult population your programs serve (community characteristics – e.g. socioeconomic, demographic, age range)

Character Limit: 1500

Proposed Project Primarily Serves Clients From:*

Please select all that apply

Choices
Center City
North Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northwest Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
Southwest Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
Other

Proposed Project Primarily Focus On:*

Please select all that apply

Choices
Adult Day Center Operations
Behavioral & Mental Health Services
Care Coordination Services
Caregiver Support Services
Digital Literacy Services
Food Security Services
Home Maintenance Services
Homelessness Support Services
Housing Services
Information & Resource Services
Legal Services
Senior Center Operations
Transportation Services
Other Services that Allow Older Adults to Thrive in their Home & Community

What Phase of the Innovative Project are you Seeking Support For:*

Please select all that apply.

Choices

Planning Phase
Small-Scale Trial of a New Idea
Significant Program Expansion (New Population Served or Significant Increase in # Served)

Type of Innovative Project Grant:*

What is the type of grant being requested?

• One Time

Description of Project Significance:*

Please provide a brief description of the significance of the Innovative Project.

Character Limit: 3000

Description of Goals and Objectives:*

Please provide the organization’s planned goals and objectives for the Innovative Project.

Character Limit: 1500 

Description of Proposed Activities:*

Please outline the proposed activities of the Innovative Project.

Character Limit: 6000

Intended impact and assessment/evaluation of the Innovative Project:*

What is the intended impact of the Innovative Project and how will it be assessed/evaluated?

Character Limit: 1500

Project Team Qualifications:*

Please provide a a brief description of the qualifications of the team members who will be contributing to the Innovative Project.

Character Limit: 1500

Innovative Project Start Date:*

MM/DD/YYYY

Innovative Project End Date:*

MM/DD/YYYY

Innovative Project Cost/Budget:*

Organization’s budgeted operating expenses for the Innovative Project during the time period for which support is requested.

Dollar Amount

Innovative Project Grant Amount Request (per year):*

Dollar Amount

FOR COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS ONLY:

Collaborative Partners:

Please provide a description of responsibilities in the project for each of the partners.

Character Limit: 2500

Letter of Commitment:

Please describe the commitment of each collaborative partner below AND upload a letter of intent to participate in the project from each collaborative partner.  This response is required for Collaborative Projects.

Character Limit: 2500 | File Size Limit: 5 MB

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Determination Letter:*

Please provide the organization’s 501(c)(3) IRS Determination Letter. If you are a fiscally sponsored organization or a supporting organization, please include the letter for your fiscal sponsor or your supported organization.

File Size Limit: 5 MB

Proposed Project Timeline:*

Please upload a Proposed Project Timeline outlining your project’s key phases, major activities, and milestones, including anticipated start and end dates.

If your project extends beyond 12 months, include the full projected timeline and clearly indicate what will be accomplished with the Foundation’s One Time award. Projects with timelines exceeding 12 months will be required to submit a 2026 Interim Report.

File Size Limit: 15 MB

Organization Budget:*

Please provide a budget (in any format) for the organization’s fiscal year relative to the period for which support is being requested. The organization budget may include a narrative detailing program (for which support is being sought) expenses (administration and program), and revenue (philanthropy, earned revenue, government support and other sources).

File Size Limit: 5 MB

Innovative Project Budget:*

Please provide a budget for the project relative to the period for which support is being requested.

File Size Limit: 5MB

Audited Financials:*

Please provide audited or reviewed financials for the last complete fiscal year. If the organization does not perform an audit or a review, please provide accountant prepared financials including a Profit & Loss Statement and a Balance Sheet for the last complete fiscal year. *Please contact Heather Finnegan (hfinnegan@sarahralstonfoundation.org) if you have any questions.

File Size Limit: 15 MB

 

The Innovative Project Support Committee reviews grant proposals once each year. Proposals are due on or before September 1st.