How do we know whether we should apply to Threshold for a grant?
For the 2010-2011 grantmaking year, Threshold will only accept Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) by invitation. An open LOI submission process for the core grantmaking committees will be re-assessed during this year for future grantmaking cycles. Invitations to submit an LOI for the 2010-2011 core committee grantmaking cycle will be sent directly to organizations in early October. Invited organizations will be asked to submit an online LOI form to one of Threshold's two core grantmaking committees: the Sustainable Planet Committee or the Justice and Democracy Committee. Instructions for submitting the LOI form will be included in the invitation.

Why is the grants cycle so long?
The Threshold Foundation’s Grant Cycle also functions as a school of philanthropy for those members that volunteer to participate on the committees. 

Do you fund internationally?
Yes, we have funded a number of international organizations in the past. For the 2010-2011 cycle, the Justice and Democracy Committee will only fund work inside the US, while the Sustainable Planet Committee will fund internationally in two of its focus areas, Ecological Hotspots and Climate Change.

How large are your grants?
Grant amounts have historically ranged between $1,000 and $100,000. The typical grant is between $15,000 and $30,000.

What is an appropriate amount to ask for?
When committee members are reviewing your request for funding the formula they use to analyze the requested amount is 5/50. That is, the amount you request should not be less then 5% of your total budget or more than 50% of your total budget.

Does Threshold commit to repeat or multi-year funding?
Yes. However, since members contribute grantmaking funds annually, Threshold can only commit a limited amount of funds to repeat or multi-year funding for grantees. Many projects or organizations have been funded over multiple years, after being re-evaluated on their own merits each year. 

We have missed the deadline for your annual grants program, do you have discretionary or emergency funds we can apply for?
No. Threshold has one annual grants cycle and does not provide discretionary of emergency funds.

How do I meet a Threshold member? Can you give me their contact information?
We do not match grantseekers with Threshold members, and do not share our membership list.

The Executive Director of our organization will be in town on “x” date and would like to schedule a meeting with you and/or a Threshold member. When are you available?
Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to meet with grantseekers. In addition, staff’s role is to facilitate the grants administration. We do not play a role in the decision-making process for funding.

I hear you have an upcoming conference. Can you give me the address so I can mail materials about my organization to the meeting?
Unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to display organizations’ resources, unless a Threshold member brings them in.

What is a funding circle?
A Funding Circle, as we have interpreted it, is a naturally occurring and impermanent Threshold-based interest group, which convenes when there is both member interest in a particular area and an urgent need in the non-profit field to address it. Whereas our two standing committees are the more permanent, institutional fixtures in Threshold's philanthropic constellation, Funding Circles are authorized in a yearly charter process.