Gratis Foundation Grant Program

The Gratis Foundation is a private philanthropic entity administered through Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services. Its mission is to support programs that demonstrate excellence, achievement, leadership, or significance in the fields of education, health care and medical research, humanitarian services, child welfare, and support for U.S. military personnel and their families. The foundation reflects a commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals in need and recognizing impactful work across these diverse programmatic areas. The foundation’s grant cycle operates year-round with a rotating schedule of application periods aligned to specific focus areas. From October 1 through January 31, the foundation accepts proposals related to churches and religion, health care and medical research, including specific conditions such as children’s medical needs, heart disease, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. From February 1 through May 31, the focus shifts to supporting at-risk youth and families, addressing the needs of abused, neglected, and disadvantaged children, adoption and foster care services, victims of domestic abuse, homelessness, and institutional, need-based scholarships awarded through colleges and universities. Between June 1 and September 30, the foundation funds programs in animal welfare and advocacy, food pantries and feeding programs, and support services for U.S. military personnel and their families. Eligibility is limited to organizations that qualify as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation explicitly does not fund projects that benefit specific individuals. There are also geographic limitations: only organizations operating in Boston and Cape Cod, Massachusetts; the Washington, D.C. Metro area; and Palm Beach County, Florida are eligible. This geographic targeting suggests an intent to focus philanthropic efforts on areas where the foundation has strong community ties or longstanding presence. The foundation reviews applications on a quarterly basis, with key submission deadlines being January 31 for consideration in April, May 31 for the July review, and September 30 for the November review. Applications must be submitted online, and once received, an automated email confirmation is sent. While no specific application questions or document requirements are listed in the source material, grantees may be required to submit periodic progress and final reports. These follow-up reports help the foundation monitor the outcomes and effectiveness of the funded projects. Applicants and organizations seeking more information or experiencing technical issues may contact Wells Fargo’s grant administration team via phone at 1-888-235-4351 or by email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. Additional details about Wells Fargo’s broader philanthropic activities can be found through its dedicated community impact web page. Scholarship-seeking individuals are directed instead to a different platform, csascholars.org, emphasizing the foundation’s exclusive focus on organizational rather than individual support. Given the structured annual cycle, thematic focus per quarter, and geographically restricted funding area, organizations considering an application should carefully align their program goals and operational geography with the foundation’s priorities. Close attention to the grant schedule is essential to ensure timely submission during the correct application window.