CHARIS FUND
https://WWW.CHARISFUND.ORG
$5.5M
Total Assets (2023)
$398K
Total Giving (2023)
76
Grants on File (2023–2023)
$5K
Avg Grant Size
Focus Areas
Application Information
Accepts Unsolicited Proposals
Unknown
Contact Person
CHARIS FUND
Phone
5037818224
Deadlines
MID-JANUARY, MID-JULY (EXACT DATES AND TIMES TO BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE WWW.CHARISFUND.ORG).
How to Apply
THE CHARIS FUND IS A SMALL PRIVATE FOUNDATION WITH 11 VOLUNTEER TRUSTEES. WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ANNUAL FUNDING AND IN RECENT YEARS HAVE SEEN REQUESTS FOR GRANTS INCREASE FAR BEYOND OUR FUNDING CAPABILITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DOLLARS GIVEN DO NOT GO AS FAR AS THEY USED TO. BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS, THE CHARIS FUND LIMITS THE NUMBER OF GRANT REQUESTS CONSIDERED TO 50 IN SPRING AND 50 IN FALL. IN THE HOPES OF A MORE EQUITABLE PROCESS, WE HAVE SET-UP A 2-PART PROCESS. FIRST PHASE IS SUBMISSION OF A SINGLE PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR REQUESTING A GRANT: O ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKED TO PREPARE A SINGLE PAGE PDF REQUEST WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: O NAME, ADDRESS AND WEBSITE OF ORGANIZATION O AMOUNT OF FUNDING REQUESTED (NOT MORE THAN 7,500) O A SHORT, 2-3 PARAGRAPH EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PROJECT OR PROGRAM FOR WHICH FUNDING IS REQUESTED. O YOUR ORGANIZATION'S NAME MUST BE ON THE SUMMARY AND IN THE NAME OF THE P
Restrictions
THE GOAL OF THE CHARIS FUND IS TO GIVE "SEED MONEY" TO HELP INITIATE OR EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT, ONCE ESTABLISHED, WILL DEVELOP ONGOING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SUPPORT RATHER THAN PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT TO ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS AND CHARITIES. WE PREFER TO SUPPORT NOVEL PROGRAMS AIMED AT THE CAUSE OF A PROBLEM RATHER THAN "TREATING THE SYMPTOMS." LARGE ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELCOME TO REQUEST A GRANT AND ARE OFTEN FUNDED, BUT WE OFTEN GIVE PREFERENCE TO SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE OUR MODEST GRANTS MIGHT MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT. CHARIS FUND DOES NOT GIVE TO "THE ARTS," NOR TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHOSE ALUMNI/AE CAN PROVIDE NEEDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT. CHARIS IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM GIVING TO POLITICAL OR LOBBYING ORGANIZATIONS OR TO ONLY PRE-SELECTED CHARITIES. IT IS ALSO PROHIBITED FROM PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS OR SPONSORING INDIVIDUALS. CHARIS GRANTS TYPICALLY FALL IN THE 3,000-6,000 RANGE, SELDOM EXCEEDING 10,000. GRANTS ARE SOMETIMES MADE FOR LESSER AMOUNTS THAN REQUESTED. EACH GROUP T
Grant Size Distribution
Min: $2K
Median: $5K
Avg: $5K
Max: $8K
Geographic Distribution
Key Personnel
| Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| DIANA SEDER | PRESIDENT | — |
| PETER DOBBINS | VICE PRESIDE | — |
| MICHAEL CHAPPELLE | SECRETARY | — |
| DEBORAH DOBBINS WARNER | TREASURER | — |
| DAVID CHAPPELLE | TRUSTEE | — |
| ANDREA D'ANNEO ARDZROONI | TRUSTEE | — |
| JOHN D'ANNEO | TRUSTEE | — |
| GALEN DOBBINS | TRUSTEE | — |
| LEWIS DOBBINS | TRUSTEE | — |
| TIM KNUTH | TRUSTEE | — |
| JANET SIMMONDS POLLAK | TRUSTEE | — |
Grants Awarded (76 total)
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZGIRLS FOUNDATION | BELLEVUE, WA | $7,500 | ZGIRLS CONFIDENCE PROGRAM | 2023 |
| REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK | SANTA ROSA, CA | $7,500 | GROCERIES TO GO PROGRAM | 2023 |
| BERKELEY FOOD HOUSING PROJECT | BERKELEY, CA | $7,500 | SUPPORT FOR FOOD PROGRAM | 2023 |
| WHITE PONY EXPRESS | PLEASANT HILL, CA | $7,500 | FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM | 2023 |
| GEEKING OUT KIDS OF COLOR | SEATTLE, WA | $7,500 | AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AT WHITE CENTER | 2023 |
| ANGEL FLIGHT WEST | SANTA MONICA, CA | $7,500 | FREE AIR TRANSPORT FOR MEDICAL CARE | 2023 |
| LEADERSHIP LAUNCH | EVERETT, WA | $7,500 | YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | 2023 |
| OPERATION DIGNITY | OAKLAND, CA | $7,500 | COMMUNITY CABINS | 2023 |
| WHATCOM CENTER FOR EARLY LEARNING | BELLINGHAM, WA | $7,500 | MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT | 2023 |
| NAMI SANTA CLARA COUNTY | SAN JOSE, CA | $7,500 | ENDING THE SILENCE PROGRAM | 2023 |
| YAKIMA NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES | YAKIMA, WA | $6,200 | HANDHELD VISION SCREENING DEVICE | 2023 |
| KINDRED PARTNERS | BEAVERTON, OR | $6,009 | SAFE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM | 2023 |
| BRIGHT FUTURES FOR YOUTH | GRASS VALLEY, CA | $6,000 | HUNGER RELIEF | 2023 |
| THE SOPHIA WAY | BELLEVUE, WA | $6,000 | WASHER AND DRYERS FOR SHELTER | 2023 |
| WINTER NIGHTS FAMILY SHELTER | PLEASANT HILL, CA | $6,000 | EMERGENCY FUND FOR SHELTER RESIDENTS | 2023 |
| WOMEN'S CANCER RESOURCE CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $6,000 | SUPPORT FOR FREE THERAPY AND GROUPS | 2023 |
| VILLAGES OF SAN MATEO COUNTY | SAN CARLOS, CA | $6,000 | SOCIAL PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS | 2023 |
| PROJECT LIFELONG | NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA | $6,000 | YOUTH ADVOCATE AFTER SCHOOL SKATE | 2023 |
| KINSHIP HOUSE | PORTLAND, OR | $6,000 | MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY - FOSTER YOUTH | 2023 |
| GOOD SHEPHARD GRACENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,500 | BEDS AND UTILITIES | 2023 |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF BEND | BEND, OR | $5,000 | FOOD INSECURITY PROGRAM | 2023 |
| ALS ASSOCIATION | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000 | OREGON ALS FAMILY SUPPORT | 2023 |
| ASSIST | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000 | HELPING DISABLED TO ACCESS SSI/SSD | 2023 |
| DAVID'S HARP | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000 | COMMUNITY GARDEN | 2023 |
| COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | CP-FIT YOUTH VIOLENCE INTERVENTION | 2023 |