The
Sons of
Italy Western Foundation is an operating
and grant-making philanthropic institution established in 1959 by the Grand
Lodge of California, Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA). The Sons of Italy
Western Foundation is a public benefit, non-profit tax exempt organization as
defined by Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All Contributions
to the Foundation are tax deductible.
OSIA
was established in 1905 as a fraternal organization to help Italian immigrants
assimilate into American society. The organization has provided a community in
which Italian Americans have preserved and nurtured their heritage.
During
the 1950s, ambitious leaders of OSIA strived to provide the organization with
access to policy makers, researchers, charities and other non-profit groups to
increase the organization's influence in American life. A trust agreement was
drawn to create a foundation to serve these humanistic concerns.
The
Sons of Italy Western Foundation was established as a distinct entity that,
through its own projects and grant-making activities, would help educate
Americans and improve their lives. Since its inception, the Foundation has
enhanced educational opportunities and experiences for high school students,
improved relations between the United States and Italy, and supported the
preservation and promotion of Italian-American culture.
The
Sons of Italy Western Foundation also has a tradition of supporting medical
research on genetic diseases, aiding victims of natural disasters, strengthening
communities through various support projects and sponsoring special programs of
local and regional significance.
The
members of the Board of Trustees of the Sons of Italy Western Foundation are
committed to continuing the Foundation's traditions of initiating and supporting
important, successful programs and projects that positively influence the lives
of Americans.
I.
CURRENT GRANT-MAKING PRIORITIES
Cultural
Preservation and Advancement
Organizations
and institutions that preserve, nurture, and promote Italian culture and Italian
American culture.
Projects
that increase the understanding and appreciation of Italian American or other
ethnic/minority groups and their contributions to American society and culture.
Disaster
Relief
Projects
designed to relieve the suffering of victims involved in local and regional
disasters.
Education
Annual
High-School scholarships based on academic and leadership potential.
Scholarship
and program support to individuals and organizations working directly in Italian
American studies, language, and literature.
Initiatives
designed to increase the study of Italian language, literature, history, and
society in American high schools, colleges, and universities.
Medical
Research and Education
The
support of medical research, education, and assistance of local and regional
scope.
II.
WHAT WE DO NOT FUND
1.
Individuals (except through our scholarship program and "Students to
Italy" Program).
2.
Governmental agencies and foreign countries.
3.
More that one project from any organization in one calendar year.
4. Advertising campaigns, membership campaigns, propaganda or lobbying to influence legislation.
5.
Political and election campaigns.
6.
The advancement of religious groups and denominations.
7.
Research or other activities designed for the financial benefits of the
applicant or individuals employed by the applicant.
8.
Endowments.
III.
PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCEDURES
The
Sons of Italy Western Foundation accepts proposals on an ongoing basis. The
receipt of completed applications will be acknowledged by a letter. All
completed proposals are initially reviewed by the Chief Administrative Officer (C.A.O.)
of the Sons of Italy Western
Foundation, to determine whether they fall within the Foundation's areas of
interest and current funding priorities. Those grant applications that meet the
Foundation's criteria are then subject to further study and investigation before
final action by the Foundation's Board of Trustees.
IV.
AWARD PROCEDURES
Proposals
meeting the guidelines and goals of the Foundation will be recommended by the
C.A.O., Sons of Italy Western Foundation to the full Board of Trustees for
consideration and approval. The Board meets up to three times per year.
Recipients
of grants are expected to comply with all conditions set forth in the
Foundation's formal notice of grant award. These conditions will include the
need for timely program reports and detailed explanations of expenditures of
grant proceeds. The award letter will be signed by the C.A.O., Sons of Italy
Western Foundation, who will be the Foundation's contact person with the grantee
for the duration of the grant.
V.
FUNDING LEVELS AND PREREQUISITES
1.
The Western Foundation funds as many proposals as are feasible within budgetary
guidelines. Grant size will vary based on funds available. Some grants are from
funds provided by a donor and specified for a particular program or project or
as a result of Foundation sponsored fund-raising activities for specific
organization or projects.
2.
The approved method for distribution of funds raised from Foundation
sponsored activities or programs provides for a 50-50 split of the net proceeds
with 50% going to the Western Foundation Unrestricted Funds and 50% to
authorized charities as directed by the lodge and/or workers who were active in
the fund raisers.
3.
Any request for funds submitted by a local lodge or individual(s) to the
Sons of Italy Western Foundation for the purpose of assisting with local civic,
medical research and language projects or programs are to be considered on a
"shared or matching" basis only. Local civic, medical research and
language programs currently authorized included Columbus Day celebrations, Birth
Defects Libraries, and Adopt-A-Class programs.
4.
When the Western Foundation is the participant in the matching process,
the recipient of the donation must be a qualified "public benefit"
organization.
5.
The local lodge or individual(s) submitting a request for matching funds
must be prepared to submit its share of the match to the
Western Foundation before the total amount is disbursed to the recipient.
VI.
EXISTING AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS
CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE
WESTERN FOUNDATION
2.
Italian Language "Adopt-A-Class"
4.
Royal Court of the Golden Lion
5.
Medical Research
6. Birth Defects Libraries (see history of Birth Defects Libraries) WARNING!!! Very large file requires Acrobat Reader 5 or greater!!!!
- Stanford University
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Irvine CA
- UCLA, Harbor Medical Center REI, Torrance CA
- University of Nevada, Reno NV
- University of California, San Diego CA
- University of Colorado, Denver CO
- Children's Hospital Central California Madera, CA
- Loma Linda University, CA
7.
Italian Language and Culture
10. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
12.
Civic Programs
13.
Social Justice
14.
National
Alliance for Autism Research
15. The Forgotten
Generation Foundation
16. Big Brothers
Big Sisters Foundation
17. Playwright's
Kitchen Ensemble
19.
i-Safe America (see
www.isafe.org)
To
establish a new authorized program, applicants must submit a minimum
contribution of $1,000.00 with each application in addition to meeting the
requirements established in Section VII herein.
VII.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A GRANT
1.
Write a letter of inquiry to the Sons of Italy Western Foundation at 5051
Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94112, and request a grant application form.
2.
Complete the grant application form by providing the following
information:
A brief history of the organization and a description of its goals,
objectives, past accomplishments, and current projects.
The amount requested and a budget that details how the grant funds will be
utilized. Also, please indicate if an amount less than that requested will be
acceptable and, if so, name the alternate
sources from which the balance of the funds
needed may be derived.
A detailed listing of other contributions to the project.
A description of the problem, how it will be met by the proposal, and
whether the organization will be competing or cooperating with other organizations.
Plans for monitoring and evaluation.
Plans to secure continuing operating funds if the project is of an
ongoing nature.
Biographies of key project personnel.
Complete financial statements (audited if available) for the
organization's past two fiscal years, or portion thereof if the organization has been in existence less
than two years, including separate
disclosure of total salaries, fund-raising costs, and other
administrative expenses.
Federal tax returns, upon request.
Current operating statements and current budget information for the
organization.
Salaries of those involved with the project or program.
If the request is for project funding, total cost of the project and
timetable for its completion.
VIII.
POST AWARD REPORTING
If
funds are awarded, full reports of the progress of the project or program and
its accomplishments, as well as financial reports, must be submitted to the
Foundation by the Grantee in accordance with a schedule developed when the award
is made. Funds not expended by the Grantee in accordance with its grant proposal
must be promptly returned to the Foundation.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Individual
high school students interested in applying for a scholarship from the Sons of
Italy Western Foundation should contact their local high school counselors for
more information and an application. To obtain a scholarship application
directly from the Sons of Italy Western Foundation, please see our scholarships
pages. For additional information please contact us at sonsofitalyca@aol.com.