2008 Unrestricted Grant Criteria
"For Good...For Ever...For Orange County"

Orange County organizations and agencies that are tax-exempt according to Section 501 (c) (3) of
the Internal Revenue CODE and for-profit entities funding to charitable not-for-profit programs are
eligible upon review and determination by the OCCF Grants Committee. Population served by the
program must be only within Orange County.

Types of Funds:

Funding sources for OCCF grants are obtained from the interest drawn on its invested
endowments; the principal is never spent.  Sources can come from unrestricted funds or from
sources designated by the donor.  In addition, OCCF may reserve some portion of revenue in its
unrestricted funds for innovative projects which are developed in response to unforeseen needs,
even if they do not fall within the annual priorities and granting cycles.  The OCCF Board of
Directors may also select a broad-based program area that may initiate “Requests for
Proposals.”

Policies and Restrictions:

Priorities

The Foundation gives higher priority to programs which:

  • ·        reach as many people as possible

  • ·        service Orange County as a whole (added this)

  • ·        are preventative rather than remedial

  • ·        increase individual access to community resources

  • ·        promote independence (took personal achievement)

  • ·        examine and address the underlying causes of local problems

  • ·        attract volunteer resources and support

  • ·        strengthen the private, non-profit sector

  • ·        encourage collaboration with other organizations

  • ·        build the capacity of the applying organizations

  • ·        offer services not already provided in the community

Lower Priority Funding

In order to maximize the use of the funds, OCCF gives a lower priority to the following:

  • new or routine maintenance construction projects (except projects that assist the
    organization in serving the needs of the community including adjustments of the facility
    OR improvements that will enable the organization to provide more services and are
    relevant to the purpose of the project) Annual giving or capital campaigns
  • normal operating expenses (except start-up)
  • a non denominational RELIGIOUS program (unless a NONSECTARIAN community need
    is met, as determined by the grants committee)
  • computer hardware equipment
  • multi-year funding to organizations that have received an OCCF grant in the last year.
    However, the grants committee reserves the right to fund the program multiple times in a
    year if, upon evaluation, committee members feel strongly about the value of the program
    in assisting the population of Orange County
  • organizations with an existing tax-base of support


Not Funded
These are absolutely not funded:
  • advocacy or political purposes
  • religious or sectarian purposes (promoting the teachings of a particular church,
    denomination, OR RELIGION)
  • loans
  • general group or individual travel expenses
  • individuals, except in the conformance with the purposes of the Foundation as set forth in
    the Articles of Incorporation
  • re-granting  (funds earmarked to grant to another organization)


If an organization received a previous grant, a final evaluation report must be submitted and
reviewed by OCCF Program Staff prior to requesting another grant.

  • ARTS AND CULTURAL
    ACTIVITIES

  • CIVIC AND HISTORICAL
    AFFAIRS

  • EDUCATION

  • RECREATION

  • HEALTH AND HUMAN
    SERVICES

  • COMMUNITY
    DEVELOPMENT

  • YOUTH
Primary consideration is given
to those projects and program
that improve the quality of life of
citizens of Orange County.  
Projects will generally fall
within these categories:
APPLICATION
Click here to review our grant
application

Click here to review our
grant application