FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
We highly recommend that you read the eligibility requirements very carefully and be sure you meet all the Sebastopol West 100 (SW100) eligibility criteria. For instance:
- Please be sure you are current in your IRS and California State Registry of Charitable Trust accounts. (Or that your Fiscal Sponsor is, if you are fiscally sponsored.)
- Also, it’s very important that you clarify how the funds will be used to benefit those in our service area: Sebastopol, Graton, Forestville, Occidental and/or Freestone.
Applications are confidential. Only the SW100 reviewers and Board members will have access to your application.
Other questions that might arise:
Eligibility:
1If we are not based in the SW100 service Area, can we still apply?
Yes, as long as it’s for services in our service area.
2If we are applying for general funding, but our service area is larger than the SW100 service area, can we apply?
Yes. You will be well-served if you can describe how our funds will be spent to cover services only for our service area communities.
3If we are not officially a non-profit ourselves, but have a fiscal sponsor, can we apply?
Yes. We will need information about your Fiscal Sponsor and some documentation from them concerning your arrangement. More will be explained in the application.
4Can our fiscal sponsor be the 501(c)3 listed on more than one application?
No. While we realize fiscal sponsors may support more than one organization, and may want to apply themselves, we can only accept one application for each 501(c)3.
5If we are not a non-profit, but a government entity, can we apply?
Yes, but only if you partner with a 501(c)3 organization which needs to be the applicant submitting the grant. We encourage collaboration. We may need to ask to see documentation confirming the terms of your agreement to work together. We will reach out if we have questions.
Types of Activities Funded:
1What do you mean by “recreation”?
Leisure activities for any age group.
2Are animal welfare and environmental activities eligible?
Yes. These activities improve quality of life in our communities.
Application Software:
1Can I save my entries and return later to finish another day?
Yes. Until you hit the “Submit Application” button, your application as it is thusfar is saved and can be revisited for further posting. It must be submitted by the deadline, however, August 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
2Can I change my application once it’s been submitted?
Not directly. As long as it’s before the deadline (5:00 pm Thursday August 21, 2025), you can request that Community Foundation reset the application to “Draft” mode. At that point, you can make your changes and then submit. Alternatively, you can open a new application and complete it anew. Just inform Community Foundation which one you want to keep. The Community Foundation contact for software issues is Annette Williams (awilliams@sonomacf.org).
3Can I get a list of application questions to review offline?
Yes. You can download the 2025 Question List as a pdf
4Can I turn in my application by email?
No. We are only accepting applications online through our grants portal.
5Where can I learn more about the software?
Further software FAQs are available through Community Foundation’s FAQ page.
Awarding the Grants:
1How do you decide who will receive the awards?
After reviewing all applications, a ballot will be created with two choices for the $100,000 award; four choices for the two $50,000 awards, four choices for the two $25,000 awards and six choices for the three $15,000. On September 29, 2025 a link to an online ballot will be emailed out to our giving circle members who have donated at least $1300 to Sebastopol West 100 by September 1, 2025. Member votes will be tallied after voting closes October 11, 2025. The winners will be publicly announced at our event October 25, 2025.
2How do reviewers rate the applications for deciding which organizations are on the ballot?
Each application will be assessed for the significance of the need; how effective the proposal appears to be for addressing the need; how well-defined the activities are; how accurately the intended measures will reflect success; how qualified the team appears to be; how realistic the budget and timeline are; plus any other factors explained by the applicant that might help strengthen their proposal. There will be a review of applicant finances to assess their ability to manage the money well, within the understanding that these are tight economic times and non-profits are under fiscal duress. In addition to the above, the reviewers will assess the list of finalists for the ballot based on presenting a spectrum of options: making sure all of our communities are served, and that there is a wide range of beneficiaries across a wide range of activities. Applications that do not meet all the eligibility criteria, or that are incomplete, will not be considered for an award at this time.
Sebastopol West 100 retains the discretion to adjust the number and amount of grant awards.
Funding:
1Can we apply for more than one level of funding?
No. You must pick one level and submit a single grant for that amount.
2Is there anything available for “Runners-Up” (those on the ballot that do not gain a majority of the votes)?
Not in terms of dollars. However, the Community Foundation has resources to assist with further funding opportunities. Plus, non-profits that make it to the ballot will benefit by the increased exposure they received to the generous members of our giving circle.
3Is it possible to get partial funding?
We do not plan to award partial grants, however the Board retains the discretion to adjust the number and the amount of grant awards.
4When will the funds be available?
The Community Foundation, our fiscal sponsor, will make the money available in November/December 2025.
Please send any questions you have to grant@sw100.org between now and August 21, 2025.