For Grantseekers

Grant Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in The Christopher Reynolds Foundation grant-making program. Please note the multiple step application process outlined below.

Our Current Focus

The Foundation is currently supporting work relating to climate justice; climate resilience and adaptation; and ecosystem health and integrity in the face of unraveling  global systems.  This includes local and bioregional climate justice and ecosystem resilience efforts as well as relevant linkages, collaborations and networks at the regional and global levels–especially as they look to systems change in fellowship with the natural world.  Issues of equity and agroecology will be paramount.    

Before You Submit an Inquiry

You may feel free to contact our office via telephone, fax or email to introduce yourself and your organization’s program or project. Should your introductory document meet our goals for grant making, we will be happy to talk with you about the application process. Please be advised that the Foundation does not accept full-length proposals that have not been requested by our staff and approved for receipt by the Executive Director. The application process for the Christopher Reynolds Foundation is a two-step process. First, we require a Letter of Inquiry. You may submit a Letter of Inquiry for review by following the instructions on the online application guide. There you will find instructions on registering your organization and how to submit. Once you submit a Letter of Inquiry, the foundation will notify you whether or not you have been approved to submit a full proposal. The Letter of Inquiry should be a brief summary of the project that you are seeking funding for. In the summary, please address the purpose and nature of the proposed work and how the proposed project relates to the mission of the Christopher Reynolds Foundation.

Online Application Guide

Please read all of the Online Application Guide instructions below before clicking the login link and beginning your application. For your convenience, you may download a PDF of the Online Application Guide and print for your reference while completing the application.

STEPS TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION

You will need to supply your contact information and create a password to log in to the system. Be sure to save your password where you can find it again. You will need it to work on proposal drafts and to check the status of your proposal.

  • CLICK APPLY: Once you are in the system, click Apply on the top left side of your screen.
  • CLICK LINK TO OPEN FORM: Click Enter to open the application form. Click on Print Question Legend above your name if you wish to see a list of the proposal questions.
  • DRAFT APPLICATION: Complete your on-line application. Save frequently. If you want to leave your application before it is complete, click on Save as Draft at the bottom of the screen. You can come back later and continue your application by signing in with your password and continuing to work on the application.
  • SUBMIT WHEN COMPLETE: Your application must be submitted when you are done in order to remove it from draft status. After clicking submit, a new screen will appear confirming receipt of your application.
TIPS FOR COMPLETING THE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM

Make a PDF of your proposal. If you would like to print or save a copy of your proposal, use the Application Packet link at the top of the page. This will create a PDF of your proposal.

Uploading? Keep in mind that the upload fields only accept one document. If you upload the wrong document, simply browse and upload the right one to overwrite the incorrect upload. You will know that the upload worked when you see the document link in the field when you save your draft. You will also see it when you use Application Packet to create a PDF of the proposal.

Cutting and pasting is fast. Cutting and pasting directly from your word processor is easy if you keep in mind that 3,200 characters (including spaces) equal approximately one page with four paragraphs in 12 point Forget formatting. The system removes all formatting from your pasted text. It will turn bullets into gibberish. Saving your documents in RTF before you paste will require less clean-up in your proposal.

Did we get it? Once you click submit, your proposal is on its way – you can no longer edit your draft.

Need tech support? Tech support is available between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Call the Grants Manager at GMA Foundations at (617) 391-3085 or email online@gmafoundations.com.

Got suggestions? Write online@gmafoundations.com with comments, tips and ideas that can improve this system. Your feedback helps make improvements.

Additional Questions? Please contact Sarah Kain by email at skain@gmafoundations.com or ( 617)-391-3088.