France-Merrick Foundation Grant

The France-Merrick Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Baltimore, Maryland, committed to supporting projects that enhance the quality of life in the region. With a long-standing history rooted in civic involvement, the Foundation funds a variety of programs aligned with its mission to support transformative work that contributes to a more vibrant and sustainable community. It prioritizes funding efforts in six key areas: Civic & Culture, Community & Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health & Human Services, and Historic Preservation. To initiate the application process, prospective grantees must first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The LOI should be between one to three pages, submitted on the organization’s official letterhead, and signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Executive Director. This letter must include essential information such as the legal name and address of the applicant organization or fiscal sponsor, the organization’s 501(c)(3) tax ID number, and contact details of the person best suited to answer inquiries. It should also briefly outline the organization's mission, activities, budget, the proposed project, total cost, committed funds, fundraising gap, requested amount, and the project’s timeline. LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis, especially for funding requests under $50,000. In such cases, decisions are typically communicated monthly, with proposals due about one month after an LOI is accepted and grant decisions following roughly one month after proposal submission. For larger requests exceeding $50,000, the Foundation follows a fixed schedule of review dates. In 2025, LOI deadlines include May 30, August 22, and December 5, with proposal and decision timelines spaced over the following months. A fourth review cycle occurs in 2026, with an LOI deadline on February 6. Applicants selected to proceed will receive proposal guidelines and are given approximately one month to submit a full proposal. Required documents typically include the project and organizational budgets, board list, and recent audits. The Foundation is flexible in format and accepts proposals created for other funders as long as they address all questions posed. Each proposal is assigned a program officer, and the process may include a site visit for further assessment. Proposals over $50,000 are reviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which convenes quarterly. Grants awarded by the Foundation are formalized through an agreement outlining payment and reporting terms. Payments are issued within one month of agreement execution. Final reports are due one year following the final payment. Organizations must wait two years after the final payment of a previous grant before reapplying for new funding. For grantees who wish to publicly recognize the Foundation’s support, proper crediting must refer to the organization as the “France-Merrick Foundation.” Logos are available for use upon request, and any permanent or public usage requires prior approval. For technical support or crediting questions, contacts include Grants Administrator Nate Kalb at nkalb@france-merrickfdn.org and Nichele Belton at nbelton@france-merrickfdn.org.

The Foundation is flexible with proposal format and accepts proposals written for other funders, as long as all required questions are addressed.