What We Support

Eligibility

Grants are made only to nonprofit, tax exempt organizations. To be eligible, an organization must have received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service indicating that it is an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code. We do not give grants directly to individuals.

Fields of Interest

Rockwell Fund’s special emphases are:

• Public education: charter schools with a record of accomplishment; early childhood programs; literacy; math/science; rural libraries; education reform initiatives; continuing education and enrichment for teachers
• Human services: social purpose ministries and social service agencies; emergency services; financial literacy and asset building; youth and children; prevention programs
• Community health: neighborhood clinics; mental health; telemedicine

To a lesser extent, we also support:

• Advocacy
• Art/museums. Note: Grants in this category are made to pre-selected organizations.
• Environment and Parks
• Historic Preservation

Types of Support

Grants are made for the following purposes:

• Operating support
• Program or project support
• External evaluations
• Matching or challenge grants
• Capacity building projects
• Program Related Investments
• We are open to allocating a portion of a program or project budget to general and administrative expenses.
• Support for capital projects is limited and requests for construction and/or renovation of facilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deadlines

Complete grant proposals will be accepted anytime throughout the year and will be considered at grant decision meetings in March, June, September and December. If an organization has applied for funding in the past the request must be dated at least one year from the previous submission.

What We Look For in Applicants

In the course of the Zip Code Assistance Ministries Organizational Development Pilot Program (now known as the Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries of Greater Houston/ACAM), funders and ministries identified the characteristics of a strong nonprofit organization. Since then, we have adopted these characteristics, known as the “Nine Elements of Organizational Capacity,” in assessing the potential of prospective grantees to carry out their programs.

Click here to download The Nine Elements, which are set forth in expanded form:

1. Effective Board Leadership
2. Effective Executive Director Leadership
3. Sufficient and Sustainable Funding
4. High Quality Service Delivery
5. Skilled Personnel
6. Effective Communication and Information
7. Technology Capacity Commensurate with Need
8. Adequate Physical Space
9. Credibility in the Community.

What We Expect from Grantees

It is important that grantees return a report detailing how grant funds were expended. A Grant Report Form should be submitted no later than one year from the date of our funding a grant.

We understand that your operation may not proceed exactly as you have proposed. If you find this to be the case, please keep us advised of changes you wish to make in your proposal. While we will not unreasonably refuse to approve changes consistent with your proposal, we reserve the right to request the return of monies that will not be spent as intended.

We consent to the listing of our name in publicity materials or memorials or plaques that list other donors as well. However, because we desire that all your resources be dedicated to accomplishing your charitable purposes, please do not recognize us, our trustees or staff with gifts, certificates, plaques, photographs or the like.

Our Restrictions

Geographic Restrictions

Grants are made within the state of Texas, primarily in the Houston area. No grants are made to organizations outside of Texas unless the purpose of the grant is to benefit a Texas project. Limited grants are made outside of Houston, and applications for such grants are discouraged. We will consider capital requests from small and/or rural libraries located in Texas.

Other Restrictions

We typically make grants for a one-year period only. An organization should apply only once during any twelve month period. We do not participate in feasibility studies and generally do not make grants for the following:

• Individuals
• Underwriting for benefits, dinners, galas, golf tournaments or other fundraising or special events
• Direct mail or other mass solicitations
• Annual fund drives
• Medical or scientific research projects or organizations that target a specific disease
• Parochial or private primary and secondary schools
• Construction of houses of worship
• Government agencies
• Grants that impose the exercise of “expenditure responsibility” upon Rockwell Fund, for example, private operating foundations or certain support organizations
• Organizations outside of Texas, including those outside of the United States

How We Respond

Rockwell Fund makes every effort to respond as soon as possible to inquiries and will notify applicants when grant proposals are received. Although requests will ordinarily be considered within three to six months of their submission, a proposal may be considered on a longer time frame if the staff or trustees believe it warrants further study. The staff reviews all proposals to determine whether they fall within our current areas of interest and funding priorities. Denial letters generally are mailed within two weeks after a grant decision meeting.

Successful applicants can expect to receive a grant agreement letter within three weeks following a grant decision meeting. Funding usually occurs within three weeks after our receipt of a signed grant agreement letter.