FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When is The Riordan Foundation's grant cycle?
The Riordan Foundation reviews grant proposals year-round. Different grant programs have different grant application periods. Please visit the Grant Initiatives page for more information.

Does The Riordan Foundation fund outside Los Angeles County?
No. The Riordan Foundation has a current emphasis on education initiatives within Los Angeles County.

What are the grade levels The Riordan Foundation typically works with?
The Riordan Foundation supports an array of K-12 initiatives, although most of our funding targets elementary school classrooms. Please click here to see the grant matrix with details.

Are all grants from The Riordan Foundation challenge grants?
Our SMART Classroom Technology grant is a challenge grant, while our Recreational Reading and Charter School Student Outreachgrants are not challenge grants. Agency Grants are considered and awarded on a case-by-case basis, sometimes including a challenge component. Please click here to see the grant matrix for specific details.

Does The Riordan Foundation fund for-profit or private and independent schools?
The Riordan Foundation does not fund non-501(c)(3) or for-profit organizations and/or schools. Non-profit private/independent schools within Los Angeles County are eligible to apply for Recreational Reading Mini-Grants, if they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Does The Riordan Foundation support other education programs, such as parenting education, literacy programs, and various fine arts curricula?
The Riordan Foundation has a current focus on K-12 education in Los Angeles County . Our primary goal is to support organizations that concentrate on children's literacy. Requests for other types of projects will be reviewed. Afavorable decision, however, is less likely.

Does The Riordan Foundation support capital campaigns?
No.

Does The Riordan Foundation award scholarships?
No.

Does The Riordan Foundation supply computers for a general school computer lab?
No. The Riordan Foundation only supplies computers as part of our English Language Development and Waterford grant awards. We do not donate or provide funding for computers intended for general use in a school lab.

What happened to the Computers In the Classroom grant program?
The Riordan Foundation stopped providing computers as a stand-alone grant. We continue to offer computers to schools, but only when coupled with one of the proven curriculum programs we support, such as Waterford and ELD. This giving strategy enables The Riordan Foundation to better measure our grants' effectiveness and to ensure the donated computers are being used in a way to maximize student learning.

What happened to the Writing to Read grant program?
Writing to Read (WTR) grants continue to operate in many labs and classrooms around the U.S. We are proud to have furnished nearly 20,000 WTR computers in over 40 states. As of June 30, 2000, IBM stopped supporting K-12 courseware, including Writing to Read. As a result, The Riordan Foundation no longer provides WTR grants.

How many times can a school or agency apply? Can there be several requests from the same school/agency?
We welcome applications from eligible schools and organizations for appropriate grants. As a general rule of thumb, The Riordan Foundation may award one grant per 12-month period. Schools that are already receiving grant support cannot apply to The Riordan Foundation for additional support until 12 months have passed since the date of their award, with the exception of Recreational Reading Mini-Grants. Recreational Reading Mini-Grants are open to all schools, regardless of current grant awards or pending proposals in other programs. Pending eligibility, schools that have received a declination are able to reapply to The Riordan Foundation at any time during the granting period. Agencies may reapply for grant awards only after one full year (12 months) or more has passed from the date of the grant award and pending the timely receipt of a comprehensive report.

What are the range of awards?
In general, The Riordan Foundation awards school grants within a total grant range of $500-$40,000. The Riordan Foundation typically awards agency grants within a total grant range of $500-$25,000. The average agency grant award is $2,500-$5,000. .

How large of an annual budget does The Riordan Foundation have? How much do they give out each year?
The annual budget of The Riordan Foundation changes year-to-year. In general, the annual giving of The Riordan Foundation, including its Rx for Reading affiliate, is between $2 and $5 million.

How long is the process of applying and notification of an award? When can we expect to hear about our grant proposal?
Applicants will be notified within 90 days of the receipt of a complete application.

How do we find out more about The Riordan Foundation and what they fund? Who do we go to for help and information?
The Riordan Foundation covers all pertinent grant information, plus downloadable applications, on the web. If there are any further inquiries not explained through the website, please email us or call our offices at (310) 472-2020.

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