FAQs

2021 Submission Timeline:

	March 2021 Cycle*	June 2021 Cycle	Sept. 2021 Cycle
Grant Cycle Open	Mon., November 16, 2020	Mon. February 1, 2021	Fri., April 30, 2021
Pre-Grant Calls	November 9, 2020 – December 11, 2020	January 25, 2021 –  February 26, 2021	April 26, 2021 – May 28, 2021
Pre-App Questions Due	Please submit pre-app questions at least two business days before your scheduled call with a Program Officer
Grant Cycle Close	Fri., January 8, 2021; 5PM	Mon., March 15, 2021; 5PM	Tue., June 15, 2021; 5PM
Notice of Grant Decision	Early March, 2021	Early June, 2021	Early September, 2021

 

*Please note: This is an extra cycle being added in 2021 to respond to the unique circumstances posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Only non-profits that DID NOT receive grant funding in Robins Foundation’s June or September 2020 cycles are eligible to apply for the March 2021 cycle. Organizations that applied in ANY 2020 cycle and were declined are eligible for this March 2021 cycle. Organizations that DID receive grant funding must wait until their corresponding cycle in 2021 to apply (e.g. a Sept. 2020 grantee must apply in the Sept. 2021 cycle).

 

Please note that each year, these dates may vary slightly based on holidays and weekends. We are committed to keeping grants open for at least 30 days and would never open or close a call on a weekend.

In order to learn about new grant opportunities, you must register with our online grants management system, SmartSimple. As long as you are registered, you will receive an automated email the moment an application is available.

NOTE: Please make sure your information in SmartSimple is up-to-date. If it is not, you will not received automated emails with grant cycle information.

NOTE: Receiving an email does not constitute eligibility for available opportunity.

501(c)(3) organizations recognized by the IRS and providing services that benefit children and families in the Greater Richmond area are eligible to apply. At the start of the application, all applicants will be administered an eligibility quiz to determine further eligibility.  To save yourself time, please check our website and read the details we have provided.

You can only apply for a grant ONLINE! We do not accept proposals submitted any other way.

To apply, click on “Online Grant Portal” under “How to Apply” from the menu bar. If you are not already registered, click the orange “Register Now” button on the right-hand side of the screen to begin the process. Applications are only accessible when a grant cycle is open.

Please be aware of the mandatory pre-grant requirements for Competitive Cycles. This include first submitting ONE of two pre-grant question documents, and then speaking with a Robins Foundation Program Officer. More information lives in the SmartSimple portal under the “Before You Apply” tab or in the “Our Grant Opportunities” section of this website.

PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to speak with a Program Officer in order to apply for the Lora M. and E. Claiborne Robins Community Innovation Grant (CIG). However, we do suggest you attend one of the Information Sessions to become more familiar with the process.

Organizations seeking funding via a Competitive Grant Cycle may apply in either the Spring or Summer cycle if declined, but may only receive funding once per 12 month cycle.

Organizations receiving Community Innovation Grants or Strategic Partner funding are ineligible to apply for Community Focus grants while their existing grant is still open.

Please see our website for additional funding opportunities and deadlines for other grant proposals.