How to Apply

The Foundation is accepting proposals by invitation only through 2010.

Grants are currently awarded once a year and are mostly in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. We are rarely able to fund organizations with budgets in excess of $1,000,000 per year. The following describes what The Levinson Foundation funds and how to apply for a grant.

Areas of Interest

Our funding is evenly distributed among three categories:

• The Environment: including Protection of Ecosystems and Biological Diversity; Alternative Energy and Conversion from the Oil Economy; Alternative Agriculture and Local Green Economic Development; Breaking the Link Between Resource Extraction, Civil and International Conflict, and Markets; and the Development of Environmental Movements.

• Social: the Promotion of a More Democratic, Equitable, Just and Rewarding Society, including World Peace; Protection of Civil and Human Rights; Citizen Responses to Globalization; Alternative Media and Education; Community-Based Economic Development; Youth Leadership; and Violence Prevention and Response.

• Jewish/Israel: including Jewish Culture, Religion, and Spirituality; Yiddish; Building Jewish Community in the Diaspora; Jewish Organizations for Social Change; and Peace, Social, and Environmental Issues in Israel.

Dates/Deadlines

The deadline to submit proposals for our next grants is will be announced in January of 2009. We acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will be in touch with you if, after review, we are interested in further exploration. Materials sent via fax will not be accepted, unless specifically requested by our office. You should be aware that we are able to fund less than 10% of the proposals we receive. Grants are given out in July.

Exclusions

We do not consider grants for capital programs or traditional charitable programs. We cannot provide on-going support for the basic programs of any single organization. All grants by the Foundation are made consistent with, and where necessary, subject to the restriction and tradition required by the Foundation's federal tax exemption as an educational and charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and its status as a private foundation.

Evaluation of Proposals

Whatever the specific area of interest, we encourage projects that pursue their goals either by developing concrete alternatives to the status quo or by responsibly modifying existing systems, institutions, conditions, and attitudes which block promising innovation.

We seek people and organizations that combine idealism, dedication and genuine concern with rigorous analysis and strategic plans. We accept proposals from any and all locations, but prefer projects with broad implications for society as a whole.

Activities

We consider the following types of activities to implement the goals of the projects:

• Public Education: including Publications; Conferences, Workshops and Seminars; Internet and Project-Related Media.

• Organization Building: including General Support and Overhead; Staffing; Start Up and Strategic Planning; Coalition-Building; and Membership Development.

• Advocacy: including Policy Reform Initiatives; Client Representation; Litigation; and Grassroots Organizing and Campaigns.

Preparation and Content of Proposal

1. Review the above statements and the list of recent grantees as the best indicators of the kind of activities we are likely to fund.

2. To submit a proposal, write to us, either by mail or online email form. Two to six pages is generally sufficient. Tell us:

a) What is the problem or opportunity you are seeking to address--scope, significance, impact, etc?

b) Relevant to the above problem or opportunity, what specific changes are you seeking to bring about?

c) What are the activities you wish to carry out for which you are
seeking funding?

d) Why do you believe your efforts in "c" (above), if successful, will achieve the changes outlined in "b" (above)?

e) What criteria would you use to evaluate the extent to which you have achieved your goals?

Please also fill out the Application Form, which may be submitted online, or print it out and mail it to us along with your proposal. Attach your organizational and project budgets, including expenditures and income from current and anticipated sources. Include relevant information about your organization’s key individuals, and your federal tax status, including a copy of the 501(c)3 letter for your organization, if you have one.

If submitting proposal by mail, send application form and attachments to:

Charlotte Levinson Talberth, President
The Max and Anna Levinson Foundation
P.O. Box 6309
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502

(No Federal Express, Express Mail, or other overnight mail).