Eligibility varies by program area.
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Marine Conservation funds both U.S.-based public charities and fiscally-sponsored projects, as well as international 501(c)3-equivalent organizations.
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Performing Arts funds public charities and fiscally-sponsored projects that uplift artists and arts organizations, create performances, and/or support the arts ecosystem.
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Social Impact funds public charities and fiscally-sponsored projects in the Chicagoland area and also supports some IL-statewide or national organizations whose work complements, supports, or amplifies our work in Chicago.

Our program areas are Marine Conservation, Performing Arts, and Social Impact.

Only our Marine Conservation program area funds international 501(c)(3)-equivalent organizations. All three of our program areas fund U.S.-based public charities and fiscally-sponsored projects.

We utilize a third party, NGOSource, to work with applicants to complete an equivalency determination in order to comply with U.S.-regulations for private foundations. An international organization that is invited to submit a proposal will be contacted by our Grants Management team with details about the process and information that the applicant will need to provide. We cover the costs associated with equivalency determination.

We support U.S.-based public charities and fiscally-sponsored projects. Our Marine Conservation program also funds international 501(c)(3)-equivalent organizations.

If you are working with a fiscal sponsor, you are eligible to apply if the fiscal sponsor is a 501(c)(3) public charity and can provide a written fiscal sponsorship contract. Grant applications for a fiscally-sponsored project must be submitted by the sponsoring organization.

Please contact our Grants Management team at grants@paulangell.org for more details on how a fiscal sponsor needs to complete our grant application.

We do not fund individuals or provide scholarships directly to individuals.

We do not currently exercise expenditure responsibility. At this time, we are only able to fund U.S.-based public charities and fiscally sponsored projects, as well as international 501(c)(3)-equivalent organizations.

Unsolicited proposals are only accepted for a select few funding opportunities. For more detailed guidance, please see our Grantmaking Guidelines by program area above.

Generally, we accept new grant applications by invitation only. Previous Performing Arts and Social Impact grantee partners who received funding within the past two years may apply without an invitation if you are applying for funding for the same purpose. Applying for a new purpose would require a new grant application and is considered by invitation only.

Our grant process is managed entirely in our online portal, Foundant GLM. Upon logging in, navigate to the “Apply” page, where you’ll be asked to specify whether you’re a new or returning grantee partner. If you’re eligible, you’ll be directed to the Application. 

For more detailed guidance, please see our Application Guide.

Awards are announced three times per year in May, September, and November.

Yes. We have three grantmaking cycles each year, aligned with our April, August, and November board meetings. Deadlines vary by cycle. Please view our Grantmaking Guidelines above to learn about our open grantmaking cycles and the deadlines for each.

We provide general operating and project funding.

General operating grants provide the greatest flexibility and can be applied to any expense related to the operations of your organization. 

Project grants are more targeted. We’ll ask you to submit a specific budget and narrative to support your application.

Yes! We strive to offer multiyear funding so grantee partners have the time and resources to spark lasting change.

Funding can be renewed. However, you will need to apply again. 

Marine Conservation accepts applications from returning grantees by invitation only.

Performing Arts does not require an invitation as long as you've received a grant within the last two years.

Social Impact does not require an invitation as long as you've received a grant within the last two years.

Any change to a grant’s terms must be approved and processed as a grant amendment. Grant terms include the grant’s purpose, grant period, or special conditions. Please contact your Program Officer to find out what information must be provided to consider a grant amendment, including no-cost extensions.

We require a report annually for all program areas. For one-year grants, only a final report is needed. For multiyear grants, we require a progress report once a year and a final report at the end of the grant period.