Venable Foundation Grant

The Venable Foundation, Inc., established in 1983, is the philanthropic arm of the law firm Venable LLP. Its mission is to promote the health and well-being of the communities where Venable professionals and clients live and work. The foundation is funded annually by contributions from Venable’s equity partners, underscoring its commitment to making a positive social impact beyond the firm’s business operations. The foundation supports a diverse array of nonprofit initiatives focused on civic, cultural, charitable, public interest law, and legal education endeavors. Priority is given to programs that provide accessible and impactful services to individuals of all ages, particularly those from low-income and underrepresented communities. These programs span a wide range of areas including out-of-school activities, arts and academic enrichment, legal and health services, LGBTQ+ and immigration support, workforce development, and transitional housing, among others. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations based in or serving the geographic areas where Venable maintains major offices: Washington, DC; Northern Virginia (including Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church); Baltimore City and County; New York City; Los Angeles; San Francisco Bay Area; Chicago; Miami; and Denver. The foundation does not support faith-based proselytizing initiatives, discriminatory practices, or sponsorships for events and fundraisers. The Venable Foundation operates a competitive application process three times per year with deadlines on February 1, June 1, and September 1. Recent or invited grantees must submit a full application, while all others must first submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) for consideration. LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted through the foundation’s online portal. New users must register in the portal before applying. Each application is reviewed by location-specific committees and applicants must select a single geographic area for their proposal. Organizations may apply for either general operating support or project-specific funding. The foundation also hosts applicant Q&A webinars one month prior to each application deadline to clarify funding priorities and answer questions. The next such webinars are scheduled for May 14 and 15 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Grants typically average $10,000, with first-time grantees usually receiving smaller amounts. The foundation prioritizes projects that align with its funding areas: Human Services, Legal Services, Education, Workforce Development, Youth Impact, Health, Environment, and Arts and Culture. Decisions are made approximately four months after each application deadline.