The SBC Foundation supports organizations and programs that enrich and strengthen diverse communities across the United States, with emphasis in the following areas:

• Education
• Community Development
• Health and Human Services
• Arts and Culture

In 2004, the SBC Foundation will invest the majority of its grantmaking activity into special grants programs such as SBC Excelerator. As each special grants program is announced, requests for presentation (RFPs) will be made available on this Web site. Note the RFP process is invitational for some special grants programs and an open, competitive process for other programs.

Funding Restrictions

The SBC Foundation prefers to work with 501(c) (3) organizations that have clearly stated objectives, long-range planning, active participation of the governing board and strategies that incorporate diversified sources of support. We also consider grants to organizations that qualify as government instrumentalities.

The SBC Foundation cannot consider grants to the following:

• Individuals
• Political activities or organizations
• Individual public or private K-12 schools or districts or school-system foundations, except under specially approved competitive grants programs
• Religious organizations for sectarian purposes; schools organized for religious training; or religious schools that restrict entry to those of a certain faith or those belonging to a specific denomination or sect
• Fraternal, veteran or labor groups, when only serving their membership
• Special goodwill advertising or ticket/dinner purchases
• Sports programs or events
• Donation of products or services
• Activities that do not fit with the SBC Foundation program areas
• Operating expenses for organizations supported by the United Way since the SBC Foundation gives directly to the United Way
• Hospital operating or capital funds except under special circumstances
• Disease-specific groups or research, except under special circumstances
• Hospital or city projects, except under special circumstances
• Capital or endowment funds, except under special circumstances
• Sponsorships, fundraising events, banquets, galas or community festivals, except under special circumstances