The Foundation principally supports projects and initiatives located in the greater Washington, D.C. region (DC/MD/VA) by funding human services, health care initiatives, and programs furthering the cause of education with measurable and tangible objectives. Grants will only be provided to entities organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes which have qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Foundation does not support basic research, scholarships, publications, films, construction, acquisition of buildings, special events, fundraising, sectarian religious activities, political lobbying or legislative activities. We also tend not to support capital improvement and challenge grant requests.
The Jones Foundation distributes grant checks in December to be used in the following calendar year.
Submission of Applications
NOTE: The application deadline is May 15th each year. All applications must be physically IN our P.O. Box no later than May 15th. We do not consider the postmarked date. If the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday, the deadline is the Friday BEFORE the 15th. Also, the US Post Office does not accept UPS or FedEx deliveries. In addition, The Foundation does not accept hand-delivered or electronic submissions. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
If an application is received in our P.O. Box AFTER the deadline, it will not be considered for the current grant cycle. The applicant is invited to apply again the following year.
All applications must be sent in hard copy (on the application form provided on our website) to the P.O. Box address listed on the application/website. No hand-delivered or electronic submissions will be accepted.
The Foundation only accepts grants that are completed on our Grant Application form. No reproductions or modified forms will be accepted. Choose between two versions of the application:
→ A traditional form
that you print out and then fill out by hand and mail.
→ An interactive form that can be filled out electronically before printing and mailing.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE FORMS HAVE BEEN UPDATED FOR 2025. PLEASE DO NOT USE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THESE FORMS FOR 2025 GRANT (2026 PROGRAM) FUNDING REQUESTS.
Regardless of which version you choose, the complete application, including required supplemental information, must be mailed to our P.O. Box in Annapolis, MD.
Required Supplemental Information
- An itemized, projected Program Budget for the upcoming calendar year
- A list of the current Board of Directors including each person’s business address and occupation
- An IRS 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination which must exactly match your organization’s name and Tax ID No. on page 1 on your application. (The Foundation only considers applications from non-profit organizations as defined under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations. The applicant must have obtained such letter prior to submitting an application and must include a copy with this application.)
- Do NOT send any non-requested information with your application, including tax returns, brochures and miscellaneous information about your organization.
The Review Process
- The first step in the grant request process is to submit a fully-completed Grant Application with required supplemental information.
- Applications are reviewed to determine if they fall within the Foundation’s mission, guidelines, priorities and current financial resources.
- The Board of Directors may request more information from your organization and may also consult with persons knowledgeable about the proposed activities. This request should not be interpreted as an indication of support.
- The Board of Directors makes funding decisions in the fall after which applicants will receive notification regarding their decisions. Solicitation of individual members of the Board by potential recipients is forbidden.
- If your organization is approved for a grant, you will be required to sign and return a Grant Agreement specifying reporting requirements. Funds will be dispersed by December 31st.
- Even though a project meets established criteria, it may not be funded because of limited resources or other priorities. Due to the large volume of applications we receive, The Jones Foundation is unable to give specific feedback regarding any denied grants.