Rockwell Fund, Inc.

Our Grant Program

Rockwell Fund has adopted the following grantmaking fields of interest, categorized as Special Initiatives, Issue Areas and Supporting Organizations. We have transitioned from a very broad-based, multi-issue funder to now honing in on specific areas to achieve clearly defined goals in a way that best fits our foundation's size, scope and opportunity for impact.

Special Initiatives

Over the years, Rockwell Fund has developed long-term relationships with key grantees. We believe that we can best support these nonprofits by coupling our grants with strategic, hands-on support. As such, we practice a form of high engagement philanthropy with our Special Initiative grantees, which we define as working in partnership to provide not only financial support, but also adequate levels of networking, problem solving, planning and evaluation support. Our current Special Initiatives are:

  • Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries
  • Community Clinics Initiative
  • South Texas College of Law's General Civil Clinic

Issue Areas

Our general grantmaking priorities continue to reflect our belief that we should tackle issues in a comprehensive and coordinated manner to provide the best outcomes for low-income individuals, families and communities. Our current Issue Areas are:

  • Community Health: Health issues that affect the broader community, including mental and behavioral health.
  • Education: Dropout prevention strategies that target the intermediate and middle school years.
  • Employment: Job training/placement and jobs creation/enterprise development opportunities.
  • Supportive Housing: Affordable housing coupled with onsite support services needed to achieve self-sufficiency.

Supporting Strategies

Supporting Strategies are those that may not result in direct client services, but that strengthen the work of grantees within our Special Initiatives and Issue Areas or further our broader goals, which include activities such as:

  • Advocacy and Public Policy: Programs and organizations that strengthen the work of grantees within our Special Initiatives and Issue Areas through research, advocacy or policy work.
  • Capacity Building:  Capacity building grants do not necessarily have to align with our stated areas of interest, but should further the nonprofit sector as a whole, rather than only one nonprofit. 

What We Look For in Applicants

Alignment with Grantmaking Philosophy

We review potential applicants with an eye toward how well they align with Rockwell's grantmaking philosophy through one or more of the following approaches:

  • Innovation
  • Influence
  • Leverage
  • Impact

Organizational Capacity

We assess the potential of prospective grantees to carry out their programs through the following organizational capacity framework:

  1. Effective Board Leadership
  2. Effective Executive Director Leadership
  3. Skilled Personnel
  4. Sufficient and Sustainable Funding
  5. High Quality Service Delivery
  6. Effective Communication and Credibility
  7. Effective Financial Management
  8. Technology Capacity
  9. Adequate Physical Space

Download the full version of the “Nine Elements of Organizational Capacity" framework.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must first complete an Inquiry Form. After review of the Inquiry, applicants will then be notified as to whether or not Rockwell is interested in receiving a full grant application packet. Please visit our How to Apply page for details.

How We Respond

Rockwell Fund makes every effort to respond promptly to Inquiries and Grant Applications.

For Inquiries

A committee represented by Trustees and Staff reviews all Inquiries to determine whether they fall within our current areas of interest and funding priorities. Invitations for submission of a full grant application or inquiry declinations will be emailed to applicants within one month.

For Grant Applications

The Staff reviews all Grant Applications for presentation to the board at the quarterly Trustee Meetings. Please visit our How to Apply page for a schedule of quarterly meetings for 2011. Declination letters are generally mailed within one week of the Trustee Meeting during which the application was reviewed. Successful applicants can expect to receive a grant agreement letter within two weeks following a grant decision. Funding usually occurs within three weeks after our receipt of a signed grant agreement letter.

 

What We Expect from Grantees

Organizations receiving a grant from Rockwell Fund will be subject to interim visits and annual grant reports. We will only accept subsequent applications from an organization if its reporting is up-to-date.

We understand that your grant may not operate 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

Eligibility

We do not give grants directly to individuals. 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); or
  • be a church or political subdivision that is not required to obtain a Section 501(c)(3) designation in order to be a permitted donee of a private foundation.

Geographic Restrictions

While Rockwell Fund has no legal restrictions against making grants outside of the Houston area, as a matter of policy our Trustees have elected not to do so, except in cases where the purpose of the grant is to benefit a Houston cause.

Frequency of Applications

An organization should apply only once during any twelve month period.

Project and Program Restrictions

We do not participate in feasibility studies and generally do not make grants for the following:

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