Raskob Foundation Grants: Eligibility & How to Apply

You’ll discover that the Raskob Foundation offers grants supporting Catholic Church–related projects globally, focusing on areas like education, health, monetary help, and community development.

Their international grants range from $1,000 to $100,000 annually. As you investigate their programs, you’ll find they emphasize transparency and community impact, often partnering with locally funded charities and places of worship that serve as trusted anchors in their communities.

The foundation’s detailed application process includes specific eligibility criteria, which can be essential for securing funding for your project.

Key Takeaways

• The Raskob Foundation supports Catholic-related projects globally.
• Offers Domestic and International grant programs with specific application cycles.
• Requires tax-exempt status and Catholic affiliation for U.S. applicants.
• Grants range from $1,000 to $100,000, with competitive selection.
• Focuses on education, health, and social services projects.

Overview of the Raskob Foundation

The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, founded in 1945, is a private family foundation dedicated to supporting Catholic Church–related projects both in the United States and internationally.

Your involvement with the foundation connects you to a legacy built by John and Helena Raskob, whose vision continues through five generations of family stewardship.

As you assess its impact, you’ll find the foundation’s grants empower education, health, social services, economic development, governance initiatives, support for disabled people, and programs offering essential cash aid to vulnerable communities, all aligned with the Church’s mission.

Governed by over a hundred family members, the foundation blends deep tradition with dynamic, faith-driven philanthropy that shapes communities worldwide.

Types of Grant Programs Offered

The programs align with diverse funding priorities, enhancing community advancement.

Domestic Grant Application Process

As you prepare to apply for a Raskob Foundation domestic grant, you’re entering a process that’s streamlined for efficiency.

You can submit full grant applications twice a year during the Spring and Fall cycles, with no Letters of Intent needed, simplifying grant writing.

Application tips include gathering a complete financial statement, a detailed project budget, a letter from your Ordinary supporting the project, and a completed IRS W9 form.

You may submit multiple applications for different programs.

The Fall application window runs from October 1 to 15, with decisions communicated by March’s end, so plan accordingly to optimize your submission.

International Grant Application Process

While domestic grantseekers engage directly with the Raskob Foundation’s twice-yearly application windows, international applicants face a more selective, multi-phase process distinct in both structure and requirements.

You start by submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) between May 1 and May 15. Only a subset will be invited to submit a full application in early October, with final decisions by March’s end.

Your organization must have non-profit, NGO status equivalent to a public charity, verified by the Ordinary of your Arch/Diocese. You’ll also need to provide English translations of all documents, including the Verification, NGO Status, and Fiscal Agent forms.

Projects incorporating the latest tech, serving vulnerable groups such as seniors, or strengthening community infrastructure stand out more strongly in the review process. Engaging in grant writing and cultivating international partnerships are essential for success.

Eligibility Requirements for U.S. Organizations

You must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization with public charity status to qualify for Raskob Foundation funding in the United States.

Your organization must also be formally affiliated with the Catholic Church, as listed in the P.J. Kenedy Official Catholic Directory or similar official sources.

Additionally, your proposal must clearly align with the Foundation’s mission, demonstrating how your project advances Catholic values and serves the community’s needs.

Tax-Exempt 501(c)(3) Status

To apply for grants from the Raskob Foundation, your organization must have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status with a public charity designation and be officially recognized as a Catholic entity listed in the Official Catholic Directory.

You’ll need to provide documentation, including a completed IRS W9 form, proving your tax-exempt benefits and meeting 501(c)(3) responsibilities.

Additionally, verification of your Catholic affiliation is essential, typically via a letter from the Ordinary acknowledging your project.

Failing to satisfy these tax-exempt and Catholic criteria means your application may be disqualified from consideration.

Meeting these requirements aligns you closely with the foundation’s mission and increases your eligibility.

Catholic Affiliation Required

1. Be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity with public charity status.
2. Demonstrate Catholic affiliation verified by the Ordinary of the Diocese.
3. Provide a letter from the Ordinary acknowledging your project.
4. Guarantee your project is clearly associated with the Catholic Church.

Failure to meet these requirements disqualifies your application.

Mission Alignment Necessary

Eligibility Requirements for International Organizations

When you apply for a grant from the Raskob Foundation as an international organization, you must demonstrate non-profit, non-governmental status equivalent to a U.S. public charity and verify.

Required Documentation for Domestic Grants

You’ll need to submit a complete financial statement to show your organization’s financial health, along with a detailed project budget outlining all estimated costs.

Including a letter from the Ordinary that acknowledges the project—or a copy of your request if the letter hasn’t arrived yet—is also essential.

These documents demonstrate both your fiscal responsibility and official support, which are critical for your domestic grant application.

Financial Statements

1. A recent audited financial statement or Form 990 that accurately represents your fiscal position.
2. An up-to-date document demonstrating your organization’s ability to manage funds responsibly.
3. A detailed project budget outlining estimated costs for your proposed program.
4. Both documents together enable thorough evaluation by the Foundation’s review committees.

Official Correspondence

Although you must submit a complete Financial Statement and a detailed Project Budget for Domestic Grants, you’re also required to provide specific official correspondence. This includes a Letter from the Ordinary, which guarantees the project is acknowledged by the relevant authority, and a U.S. IRS W9 form for tax compliance.

Required Documentation for International Grants

When applying for international grants from the Raskob Foundation, you must prepare and submit the required documentation carefully to guarantee your application is complete and competitive.

Your documentation checklist should include every item the Foundation requests, and following these application tips can help you avoid errors that might delay the review process.

1. Verification Form: Provide a signed form from the Ordinary of the Arch/Diocese confirming your organization’s Catholic affiliation.
2. Fiscal Agent and Affidavit Forms: Submit these forms to validate your organization’s status and fiscal responsibility.
3. NGO Status Documentation: Include official proof that your organization holds non-profit, non-governmental status equivalent to a U.S. public charity.
4. Letter of Intent (LOI): Attach a mandatory LOI in English, clearly outlining your project before you’re invited to submit a full application.

All documents must be submitted in English for clarity and accessibility during the Foundation’s review process.

Submission Timeline and Key Dates

You’ll need to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the International Program between May 1st and 15th, with decisions by late September.

If invited, the full application is due October 1st to 15th, with results by the end of March.

For the Domestic Program, there are two submission cycles—Spring and Fall—both requiring full applications only, no LOIs, and materials must be in English.

Be sure to submit early because the Online Grant Portal gets busy during these key dates.

LOI Submission Period

The Letter of Intent (LOI) submission period for the Raskob Foundation International Program opens annually from May 1st and closes sharply on May 15th.

To optimize your LOI strategies and increase success, keep these submission tips in mind:

1. Submit early to avoid system delays during peak activity on the Online Grant Portal.
2. Prepare all required documents in English, including fiscal agent and verification forms.
3. Await decision notifications by late September to know if you’re invited to submit a full application.
4. If invited, submit the full application between October 1st and 15th promptly.

Follow these steps closely for a competitive LOI.

Domestic Application Cycles

While the Raskob Foundation International Program requires a Letter of Intent, you don’t need to submit an LOI for the Domestic Program. This simplifies your submission strategies, allowing you to focus directly on the full application. You can submit applications during two annual cycles, increasing your chances with multiple distinct program proposals. Use these application tips to plan ahead and guarantee timely submission.

Aim to apply early in each cycle for the best results.

Decision Notification Dates

Although the Raskob Foundation’s submission windows are brief, staying alert to notification dates is critical for timely responses.

Here are key decision timelines to track:

1. Domestic Program: Decisions are communicated in mid-May for spring submissions and mid-December for fall ones.
2. International LOI: Decisions are sent by the end of September.
3. International Full Application: Decisions are announced by the end of March.
4. Notification Method: Grant decisions are communicated via email to the contact associated with the application.

Application Review and Award Selection

Because competition for Raskob Foundation grants is intense, only about one in every four or five applications receives funding as regional committees and the Board of Trustees rigorously review submissions.

Your application is assessed against clear grant evaluation criteria focusing on project impact and alignment with program goals.

For international proposals, you must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) first, with full applications invited selectively.

To boost your chances, guarantee your responses are accurate and complete, and check your email regularly for updates.

Notification comes via email, and you can request feedback if not funded—valuable for your next application.

Typical Grant Sizes and Funding Range

Nearly every grant seeker’s first and most practical question—how much funding can we realistically expect?—finds a clear answer in the Raskob Foundation’s structured but flexible approach.

The average grant size reflects this balance, shaped by specific funding criteria.

1. Domestic program awards typically range from $15,000 to $35,000.
2. International program grants are larger, between $30,000 and $60,000.
3. The foundation’s grant sizes span from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $100,000.
4. Total annual budget for grants is $2 million, with diverse grant sizes reflecting project needs.

This range lets you tailor requests to realistic expectations aligned with program type and funding priorities.

Example Funded Projects

As you investigate the Raskob Foundation’s grants, you’ll find a diverse range of projects that support community development, education, and healthcare globally.

The foundation’s grants reach multiple regions, including rural Alaska, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam, with amounts varying to meet specific needs.

Range of Funded Projects

The Raskob Foundation funds an extensive range of projects addressing critical community needs and social welfare.

If you’re seeking support for vocational training, say, a carpentry program for homeless youth, you’ll find they invest in community development through hands-on skills education.

They also back infrastructure—think pipelines delivering safe drinking water to underserved villages.

Health promotion training equips local leaders with the knowledge and materials to improve wellness where it’s needed most.

Additionally, they fund affordable housing, soup kitchens, and even medical equipment for churches, ensuring holistic support for both immediate needs and long-term growth.

1. Vocational Training Initiatives: Carpentry programs equip homeless boys with tools for future employment and community development.
2. Infrastructure Development: Grants build pipelines and water systems, directly improving daily life in underserved areas.
3. Health Promotion: Training and materials empower health promoters to foster better community health outcomes.
4. Essential Services: Supporting soup kitchens, affordable housing, and church medical facilities, they help guarantee food security, shelter, and care.

Geographic Funding Areas

While focusing on Catholic organizations and their initiatives, the Raskob Foundation extends its grants across multiple continents, including Asia, Africa, America, and Europe.

This geographic diversity emphasizes their funding priorities, targeting underserved communities through projects in health, education, governance, and economic empowerment. For example, they support rural ministries in Alaska, sustainable health in the Dominican Republic, youth leadership in Ecuador, and income generation in Ethiopia.

Their grants often cover operational costs, construction, and renovations, providing essential resources that align with the foundation’s commitment to holistic community advancement worldwide.

Grant Amounts Awarded

Granted resources, whether in Washington State or Zimbabwe, directly fulfill specific needs and catalyze local initiatives as envisioned by the Raskob Foundation. When you receive a grant, you become part of a funding tradition that shapes real change—bridging modest support for local ministries with substantial investments in international development.

Here’s how the grant distribution and funding trends stand out:

1. Average grants for domestic initiatives range from $15,000 to $35,000, reflecting targeted, impactful support for community projects—like vocational training for homeless youth or rural Alaska ministries. Larger international awards, between $30,000 and $60,000, drive sustainable health programs in places like the Dominican Republic.
2. Diversity in amounts means you’ll see some grants top $300,000 for major infrastructure (clean water systems, clinics), while many others—even as small as $1,000—empower grassroots efforts.
3. Annual payout is robust, with millions distributed each year across hundreds of organizations. In 2002, over $4.5 million reached 453 applicants, highlighting both the demand and the foundation’s responsiveness.
4. Direct impact comes through in funded projects: from emergency education for conflict-affected Iraqi children to respite care for family caregivers in California, your support touches lives in concrete, lasting ways.

Transparency and Financial Reporting

Through its publicly available 990-PF tax filings, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of the Raskob Foundation’s financial activities, including detailed breakdowns of total assets and grant distributions.

Each filing reveals grant accountability, cataloging not only the total awarded but also the median and average grant sizes, the number of recipients, and where funds are directed. This level of financial transparency allows you to track the foundation’s yearly trends—from $4.5 million distributed in 2002 to hundreds of awards in recent years—and understand its priorities.

Contact Information for Applicant Support

1. Use email inquiries for detailed questions and application feedback.
2. Access phone support for immediate assistance.
3. Check your email regularly—decisions and updates arrive there.
4. Request feedback on unsuccessful applications to improve future submissions.

Resources and Member Hub Access

How can you maximize your success with the Raskob Foundation’s grant opportunities?

Utilize the Member Hub, which provides you with essential resources to improve your engagement and support throughout the grant process.

You’ll have access to professional research reports that analyze grant data, allowing for informed decisions.

The hub also lets you create personalized Watchlists for grant tracking, receiving updates via email from submission to award.

Additionally, you can email grant details directly from the hub, keeping your records organized and facilitating efficient funding searches through its member hub features like grant tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does the Raskob Foundation Measure the Long-Term Impact of Funded Projects?

You measure the long-term impact of funded projects through rigorous impact evaluation, focusing on whether goals are sustained over time and how interventions adapt to changing conditions, ensuring ongoing project sustainability.

Can Organizations Reapply if a Grant Proposal Is Not Funded Initially?

You can reapply following the Raskob Foundation’s reapplication process, which encourages reviewing feedback guidelines from your previous submission to strengthen your proposal and align closely with their priorities for better chances.

Are There Opportunities for Multi-Year Funding or Only Single-Year Grants?

You can apply for both single-year grants and multi-year funding from the Raskob Foundation, with multi-year grants typically spanning two to three years. This allows you to secure sustained support beyond a single funding cycle.

How Does the Foundation Handle Changes or Delays in the Proposed Project Timeline?

You understand that “plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work,” and should promptly reach out if project timeline adjustments are needed—Raskob Grant extension policies aren’t detailed, so timely communication of delays or major changes proves essential for maintaining trust and flexibility with funders.

Is Collaboration With Other Organizations Encouraged or Required for Grant Applications?

Collaboration with other organizations isn’t required, but you’re encouraged to highlight collaboration benefits and partnership strategies in your application—these can strengthen your proposal by showing broader impact and shared resources for achieving project goals.

Conclusion

As you navigate the Raskob Foundation’s grant process, imagine the needle of opportunity teetering on the edge. With a competitive acceptance rate of 20-25%, each step is vital. Domestic and international projects hang in the balance, awaiting the right combination of transparency and community impact. Will your project be the one to tip the scales? The suspense builds as you submit with precision, hoping to secure funds for your visionary initiatives.