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Have a question about the California Community Foundation? The following is a list of our most frequently asked questions.
The questions are divided into three categories: General Info, Grantmaking and Scholarships.
If you still have a question after reviewing these FAQs, you are welcome to contact the community foundation at (213) 413-4130 or info@ccf-la.org for additional assistance.
General Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the California Community Foundation?
- Is a community foundation a new kind of charity?
- Who sets up funds at the California Community Foundation?
- What are the advantages of donating to the California Community Foundation?
- What is the difference between setting up a private foundation and creating a donor advised fund at the California Community Foundation?
- What is the difference between setting up a gift fund through my investment firm and establishing a fund at the California Community Foundation?
- What kinds of assets can be used to set up a fund at the community foundation?
CCF Grantmaking Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Foundation fund?
- How do I apply?
- What happens after I submit a Letter of Intent?
- How much can I apply for? Does the foundation award multi-year grants?
- What is the deadline for submitting a letter of intent? What if I have an urgent request?
- My organization’s mission fits with more than one of the Foundations’ core program areas. What should I do?
- My organization does not have tax-exempt status. Can I still apply?
- My agency submitted a Letter of Intent and has not heard back from the foundation. How can I check the status of my agency’s request?
- My agency received a past grant from the California Community Foundation. Is my agency eligible to apply again for funding?
- How often can my agency apply for a grant?
- I still have more questions regarding the application process. How can I seek additional assistance?
Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I apply for a scholarship at the California Community Foundation?
- How do I receive my scholarship award?
- How do I renew my scholarship?
- When submitting my Scholarship Renewal Form, can I send unofficial transcripts?
- What if I do not meet the requirements to renew my award?
- I’m concerned that the school’s financial aid department will take away funds from my financial aid package because of my scholarship.
- How quickly will my scholarship award be processed and sent to my school financial aid office or bookstore?
- I was not able to return the acceptance/renewal form by the deadline. Can I still receive my award?
- What if my scholarship is awarded after school has started?
- Who do I contact if the financial aid office or bookstore cannot find my scholarship award check?
- I decided not to attend University A and instead will be enrolling at University B. Can I get my scholarship back from University A so that I can use it at University B?
- Will I have to pay taxes on this scholarship award?
- What does full-time status mean?
- What if I do not know what my Student Identification Number is yet?
- What if I do not know what my dorm/school address is yet?
General Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the California Community Foundation?
The California Community Foundation is a philanthropic endowment that makes grants from many individual funds to nonprofit organizations and individuals (usually through scholarships) in Los Angeles County and beyond. With its hundreds of philanthropic partners, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations and public institutions with funds for health and human services, affordable housing, early childhood education, community arts and culture and other areas of need.
The community foundation provides you with a simple, convenient and flexible way to make a positive difference, now and far into the future. The charitable funds we manage for more than 1,400 individuals, families and corporations together constitute an endowment of more than $800 million. A gift through the community foundation receives maximum tax deductions, outstanding investment management and very low administrative costs — typically around one and a half percent of assets.
2. Is a community foundation a new kind of charity?
No ? but you might think so, because of its growing popularity in recent years. In fact, the first community foundation was established in Cleveland in 1914. The California Community Foundation was next, in 1915. Today there are nearly 700 community foundations across the United States, with combined assets of approximately $35 billion.
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3. Who sets up funds at the California Community Foundation?
Most funds managed at the California Community Foundation are set up by individuals, some wealthy, others of more modest means. What these people have in common is a desire to give back to their community ? whether it’s protecting the environment, honoring the memory of someone they loved, setting up a scholarship fund to help students in need, supporting local arts organizations, or funding any other charitable cause imaginable.
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4. What are the advantages of donating to the California Community Foundation?
The California Community Foundation allows individuals and families to establish a customized charitable fund without being burdened by the tax liabilities and administrative hassles associated with setting up a private foundation. Everyone who creates a fund can personalize their giving. At the same time, funds are pooled for investment management purposes to minimize costs and achieve a greater return, making it possible for a smaller individual fund to enjoy the same economies of scale as a large independent foundation.
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5. What is the difference between setting up a private foundation and creating a donor advised fund at the California Community Foundation?
Creating a private foundation subjects you to a number of regulatory requirements, such as undertaking an exemption application to the IRS, as well as ongoing administrative and fiduciary responsibilities, reduced charitable deductions and a lack of privacy. The California Community Foundation, on the other hand, makes the practice of philanthropy easy. We are a public charity ? the regulations, taxes and administrative requirements required to establish and manage a private foundation do not apply to us. To learn more about the advantages of a donor advised fund at the community foundation, please contact our philanthropic services department at (213) 413-4130.
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6. What is the difference between setting up a gift fund through my investment firm and establishing a fund at the California Community Foundation?
At the California Community Foundation, we provide much more than the check writing services of a gift fund at a brokerage house. One of the most significant advantages to setting up a fund with us is our donor services department, which provides custom research on a nonprofit organization or issue area at your request. Our donor services staff will also meet with you individually to help develop a strategic approach to grantmaking. If you are interested in learning more about these personalized services, please call our philanthropic services department at (213) 413-4130.
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7. What kinds of assets can be used to set up a fund at the community foundation?
One of the distinct advantages of working with a community foundation is our flexibility. As a general rule, a community foundation can accept any type of asset as long it is marketable and is not encumbered by an unusual liability. Most often, funds are started through a gift of cash, real estate or closely held stock ? but we have accepted gifts of artwork, intellectual property and other personal assets.
There are also several convenient financial vehicles for setting up a fund at the community foundation, with different benefits. We offer charitable remainder and lead trusts, gift annuities and several ways to use retirement funds to reduce estate taxes, provide for income to heirs and establish a charitable legacy. Our philanthropic services staff are experts in planned giving options, and can help you identify the one that best suits your needs.
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CCF Grantmaking Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the Foundation fund?
The California Community Foundation makes discretionary grants in four main areas: arts and human development, education, health care and neighborhood revitalization. Click on one of the program areas for more information on the foundation’s specific grantmaking goals, objectives and priorities. The foundation also works with several special grant programs created to meet the interests of donors or partner foundations. Each of these grant programs has its own guidelines, application and review process. Click here to learn more about the foundation’s special grant programs.
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2. How do I apply?
All agencies are required to submit a letter of intent (LOI) to the foundation prior to applying for a grant. All prospective grantees are required to submit an LOI, regardless of the request amount. Please click here for more information on the LOI submission process.
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3. What happens after I submit a Letter of Intent?
Letters of intent (LOIs) are reviewed and evaluated by foundation staff within four to six weeks of receipt. Following the evaluation process, applicants will receive written notification that either invites or discourages the submission of a full application. Click here for more information on the LOI review process.
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4. How much can I apply for? Does the foundation award multi-year grants?
The average grant awarded by the California Community Foundation ranges between $75,000 and $100,000 over two years. This is an average range only, and the foundation makes grants of lesser and greater amounts, on a case by case basis. Click here for a searchable database of the foundation’s grant awards over the past five years.
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5. What is the deadline for submitting a letter of intent? What if I have an urgent request?
The foundation accepts letters of intent on a continual basis. Letters of intent are reviewed year-round, which is meant to accommodate urgent requests as well. Invitations to submit full applications are timed to fit within three cycles that follow the foundation’s board of directors meeting schedule. Click here to see the general review timeline for letters of intent and grant applications.
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6. My organization’s mission fits with more than one of the Foundations’ core program areas. What should I do?
The foundation will accept letters of intent (LOIs) from multi-service nonprofit agencies whose agency activities fit the foundation’s grant making goals, objectives and priorities. These LOIs and grant applications will be reviewed under the same competitive process and criteria as those from single-purpose agencies by the program officers responsible for the program areas covered by agency’s activities.
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7. My organization does not have tax-exempt status. Can I still apply?
The foundation funds nonprofit agencies with evidence of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and not classified as a private foundation. The foundation also accepts letters of intent from agencies that operate under a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. In these cases, the fiscal sponsor would submit the letter of intent and provide its 501(c)(3) determination letter. Click here for additional information on eligibility criteria and request limitations for agencies interested in submitting a request for funding.
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8. My agency submitted a Letter of Intent and has not heard back from the foundation. How can I check the status of my agency’s request?
Letters of intent are usually reviewed and evaluated by foundation staff within four to six weeks of receipt. If you have submitted a letter of intent more than six weeks ago and have not yet received a response, feel free to contact the foundation’s grantmaking staff at (213) 413-4130.
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9. My agency received a past grant from the California Community Foundation. Is my agency eligible to apply again for funding?
If your agency received a past grant from the California Community Foundation, you may submit a letter of intent for consideration of a new grant if your agency has completed the requirements of all previous grants from the California Community Foundation, including the submission of a final grant report. Also, please check the foundation’s current grant guidelines to make sure that your agency and its activities still fit within the foundation’s current grant making goals, objectives and priorities.
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10. How often can my agency apply for a grant?
The foundation prefers not to consider LOIs from any agency more frequently than once every twelve months. In addition, it prefers not to consider LOIs from any agency receiving a multiyear grant until all the terms and conditions of and payments on that grant have been fulfilled.
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11. I still have more questions regarding the application process. How can I seek additional assistance?
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Inquiries regarding the foundation’s grant application process may be directed to the Grants Specialist at (213) 413-4130 or by clicking here to send an email.
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Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I apply for a scholarship at the California Community Foundation?
The foundation administers more than 150 scholarship funds dedicated to students pursuing higher education. However, we do not directly coordinate the application and selection process. External committees not affiliated with CCF administer the process. Scholarship donor funds are housed at the foundation and scholarship payments are disbursed to scholars selected by external committees not affiliated with CCF. Students can only apply for our scholarships through high school guidance counselor offices, colleges or universities. Consult with your school and local public library to identify scholarships you may be eligible for.
Following are online resources that will facilitate your search:
FinAid www.finaid.com
College Board www.collegeboard.com
FastWeb.com www.fastweb.com
Collegenet.com www.collegenet.com
Scholarships.com www.scholarships.com
Sallie Mae Fund www.thesalliemaefund.com
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2. How do I receive my scholarship award?
Download the Scholarship Acceptance/Renewal Form on our Web site at http://calfund.org/receive/scholarships.php. Complete and return the form to our office with your contact information, and we will send a scholarship check to your school’s financial aid office or bookstore on your behalf in late summer, before the start of the fall semester.
Scholarship awards sent to the financial aid office will be applied to your school account to cover tuition and other related school expenses. If you choose to have the award paid to the campus bookstore, an account in your name will be established. You can use the bookstore account to purchase books and other school materials. You must confirm with your college or university that a bookstore account under your name can be opened with your scholarship award. If a bookstore account cannot be opened, the award will automatically go to the financial aid office. Scholarships cannot be made payable to individuals.
The award is intended to cover the entire academic year, unless otherwise specified. When your scholarship funds are disbursed, you will be notified by mail with a copy of the letter sent to the financial aid office or the bookstore. You may then go to the financial aid office or bookstore to claim your scholarship award. Every college financial aid office has a different distribution policy for scholarships. Consult your financial aid officer regarding any questions you may have about your scholarship distribution. To ensure your scholarship award is sent to your school before the beginning of the fall semester, send all requested materials to CCF by July 10th.
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3. How do I renew my scholarship?
Not all scholarships administered by CCF are renewable; however, if you received a scholarship award that is renewable for one or more years, your notification letter will indicate it as such. Unless otherwise specified in the letter, you will receive materials in the mail every year about how to renew your scholarship.
To renew your scholarship, download the Scholarship Renewal Form on our Web site at http://calfund.org/receive/scholarships.php. You must complete the form annually and send us a copy of your most recent transcripts at the end of each school year. Your transcripts will verify that you maintained your enrollment and met all requirements relevant to your scholarship. Renewal Forms submitted without all requested materials will not be processed. Scholarship Renewal Forms and all requested materials are due to CCF by July 10th.
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4. When submitting my Scholarship Renewal Form, can I send unofficial transcripts?
Yes, unofficial college transcripts are acceptable. Transcripts need to include the student’s name and/or Student Identification Number. If only the Student’s Identification Number is printed, you must submit a copy of your current student identification card that clearly states your name and identification number.
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5. What if I do not meet the requirements to renew my award?
Complete the Renewal Form and submit all requested materials anyway. Upon receipt, staff will contact you with further details.
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6. I’m concerned that the school’s financial aid department will take away funds from my financial aid package because of my scholarship.
We communicate with your college or university specifically regarding this issue, and instruct the financial aid office to apply your scholarship funds to the “self-help” portion of your financial aid package, rather than reduce the aid already granted. The following is an excerpt from the instructions we give schools:
“Grant aid previously offered to the student should not be reduced unless federal or state law requires the reduction. The timing of the scholarship’s application to the student’s account may be flexible to best accommodate the student’s financial needs. If the student’s account is paid in full, the scholarship may be refunded to the student for other cost of attendance expenses.”
Alternatively, some students choose to create a bookstore account to prevent their scholarship from affecting their financial aid package. Confirm with your school that a bookstore account under your name can be opened with your scholarship award. If your college or university does not allow scholarship awards to be applied to a bookstore account, the award will go to the financial aid office.
Contact CCF if you encounter problems working with your financial aid office regarding your scholarship. We will be happy to assist you.
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7. How quickly will my scholarship award be processed and sent to my school financial aid office or bookstore?
Once you have completed and returned the Scholarship Acceptance/Renewal Form with proper contact information, CCF will send a scholarship check to your school’s financial aid office or bookstore on your behalf in late summer before the start of the fall semester. Awards take up to three weeks to process, and may take longer during the summer months.
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8. I was not able to return the acceptance/renewal form by the deadline. Can I still receive my award?
Yes, but you should send the form to CCF as soon as possible. The quicker you return the completed form, the quicker your scholarship award will be processed and sent to your school. CCF will process all forms in a timely manner so your award is distributed before the fall semester begins and payments are due. Please note that it takes time for the foundation and your school’s financial aid office or bookstore to process all requests and checks received in the mail, especially during the summer months and at the beginning of the fall semester. It may take at least a month to disburse scholarship awards to student accounts.
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9. What if my scholarship is awarded after school has started?
Most scholars are notified in late spring if they are selected for an award, prior to the start of the fall semester. If you are selected for a scholarship at a different time of the year, submit your Scholarship Acceptance/Renewal Form as soon as possible so we can process your scholarship award and send it to your school. It takes approximately three weeks to process an award once we have received your completed form. Regardless of the month you are selected, all scholarship payments will be made directly to your school’s financial aid office or bookstore.
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10. Who do I contact if the financial aid office or bookstore cannot find my scholarship award check?
It takes time for your school’s financial aid office or bookstore to process all scholarship checks, especially at the beginning of the semester. If three weeks have passed after receiving your copy of the disbursement letter, call your college or university first and confirm if they have received your scholarship award. They may have received it but not yet processed it. If your award has not been processed after a month, contact CCF Scholarship Administrator Raissa Cuarto at (213) 413-4130.
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11. I decided not to attend University A and instead will be enrolling at University B. Can I get my scholarship back from University A so that I can use it at University B?
Yes, contact University A’s financial aid office and request that they refund the money in full to CCF as soon as possible. The university usually does this automatically but receiving a call from you may expedite the process. We cannot re-issue the scholarship to your new school until the funds to the old school are returned. Since processing refunds at schools could take long, your scholarship may not be sent to your new school as quickly as you would like. Once the refund is processed, contact CCF and provide us with your new school’s information. We will send you a copy of the disbursement letter to notify you when the disbursement to the new school has been made.
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12. Will I have to pay taxes on this scholarship award?
If your scholarship is used for tuition, fees, books, supplies and/or equipment required for enrollment or class attendance, the award is not taxable. However, if you use your scholarship for educational expenses that are not considered tax-exempt, we suggest that you obtain professional tax advice. A good resource on this topic can be found at www.irs.gov/faqs. CCF does not provide tax advice.
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13. What does full-time status mean?
Full-time status means that you are enrolled in a course load that is greater than that of a part-time students. Each school will have a different unit minimum, and full-time status typically involves at least three to four courses. For example, full-time status at a community college is equivalent to a course load of 12 units. It is your responsibility to check with your college or university to ensure that you are meeting the minimum requirement(s) applicable to your award.
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14. What if I do not know what my Student Identification Number is yet?
Colleges and universities need the Student Identification Number to process scholarship awards when there is more than one student with the same name. If you do not know your Student Identification Number yet, contact your school. If you are still unable to obtain your Student Identification Number, list the last four digits of your Social Security Number in your form.
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15. What if I do not know what my dorm/school address is yet?
Leave this section blank or write “not yet known,” and contact CCF once you do know your school address. We need this information so we can contact you during the school year. It is your responsibility to ensure that CCF has your current contact information on file. Contact CCF scholarship staff anytime throughout the year to update your contact information.
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