Our Grantmaking Practices
Walder Foundation’s grantmaking is primarily by invitation only. We fund organizations identified by staff that align with the strategies defined in our program areas. Unfortunately, we are unable to review unsolicited proposals at this time. If the Foundation has open opportunities for funding, they will be announced on our website.
OUR FUNDING AREAS
The Foundation supports projects and organizations that align with our strategies in the following program areas:
Migration and Immigrant Communities
OUR FUNDING GOALS
Across all of our program areas, the Walder Foundation supports organizations that:
Align with our mission.
Focus on results-oriented outcomes.
Embrace collaboration.
Demonstrate creativity and innovation.
Leverage partners and resources to maximize impact.
Work to advance racial and gender equity.
Examples of what we fund
Programs or project-based work
Capacity building
Direct services
Technical assistance
General operating
Examples of what we don’t fund
Lobbying groups or political campaigns
Individuals
Fundraising activities
Scholarships or tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate studies
OUR PROCESS
Application review and due diligence
Sometimes, the Foundation requires a two-step application process: a letter of inquiry and a full proposal. Funds are typically awarded 5-6 months after receiving an LOI or proposal.
Invited applicants must complete an online application. Note that some applications, such as research, require information not shown in the standard application. View a sample of our standard application.
Letters of inquiry are reviewed by the program officer for the related funding area. If you are invited to submit a proposal, it will be reviewed by the program officer, the chief financial officer, and the Foundation’s CEO. In some cases, proposals may be reviewed by external subject matter experts or advisors. Final approvals for grants are at the discretion of the Foundation’s CEO.
As part of Walder Foundation’s due diligence, organizations invited to submit a proposal may also be asked to host a site visit or participate in an interview the Foundation’s CEO. Site visits and interviews are used to better understand the organization, including its financial health, governance, key program staff, and board leadership. The Foundation seeks to learn about the various organizations in the sectors we support as we continue to evolve our interests and strategies. An invitation to apply for a grant (or participate in site visits or interviews) is not a guarantee of funding. While every effort is made to minimize the amount of time that applicants spend in the application process, we hope a more extensive engagement with grantees and potential grantees will lead to more impactful grantmaking.
About the information we collect in grant applications
Walder Foundation is committed to addressing disparities and advancing the values of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. These values are reflected in our mission to address the critical issues impacting our world and are embedded across our work. In support of this commitment, the Foundation may request demographic information. View a sample demographics form.
We take care to protect personal or identifiable information. Please read our privacy policy for information on how we store and distribute demographic information.
Grant renewals
A majority of our grants are project-based and not typically considered for renewal. Similarly, the Foundation may participate in collaborative funds or initiatives with one-time contributions. Multi-year grants are not available in all program areas. Grants approved for renewal may still require full applications, interviews, or site visits.
As we refine our strategies and get to know the organizations in the sectors we support, our grantmaking practices may evolve accordingly. Any changes to our grantmaking practices will be shared on our website.
UPDATED: NOVEMBER 2021