Thank you for your interest in applying to the Philip L. Graham Fund. Each cycle, the Fund receives more grant requests than it is able to support. Please review the application guidelines below, as well as the Fund’s Focus Areas and Frequently Asked Questions to ensure your organization and request align with the Fund’s grantmaking requirements.

The Philip L. Graham Fund’s next Letter of Inquiry application deadline is December 4, 2023. Please click here to access the application.

Requirements

To be considered for a grant, an organization must:

  • Be a 501(c)(3) public charity

  • Serve residents of one or more of the jurisdictions in the Fund's giving footprint, which includes:

    Washington, D.C.
    Maryland: Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties
    Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park

    The Fund no longer accepts proposals from organizations located in or primarily serving residents of Calvert, St. Mary's, or Stafford counties.

  • Align with the Fund's giving priorities and provide services that fit into one or more of its Focus Areas

  • Meet the eligibility requirements for past applicants and grantees. Eligible organizations will have:

    • Not received a grant from the Fund in the previous twenty-four months;
    • Not had a funding request declined by the Fund in the previous twelve months; and
    • Submitted a Final Grant Report for any previously awarded grants

Organizations Not Considered

The Fund does not consider organizations that are undergoing an executive leadership change. The Fund also does not consider requests from:

  • Individuals

  • Government agencies

  • Membership organizations

  • Individual public, nonpublic or private schools and universities

  • Parent Teacher Associations

  • National or international organizations or concerns

  • Hospitals or hospital foundations

  • Organizations significantly involved in advocacy, litigation, or efforts to change public policy

Requests Not Considered

The Fund does not consider requests for:

  • Advocacy, litigation, or efforts to change public policy

  • Research

  • Endowments

  • Special events, conferences, workshops, or seminars

  • Travel expenses

  • Annual giving campaigns, benefits, or sponsorships

  • Courtesy advertising

  • Production of films or publications

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for additional information, or contact the Fund at plgfund@ghco.com.