Our Mission
The Birk Family Foundation intends to enhance the quality of life of the disadvantaged and the sick by providing funding to organizations which maintain traditional moral values in the field of education, health and human services.
Our Story
The Birk Family Foundation was founded by Roger E. Birk in 1995 as a means to help the disadvantaged across a range of humanitarian needs. A charismatic and successful business leader, Roger found a deep fulfillment in helping others through philanthropic ventures. Roger’s spirit of philanthropy and desire to help others lives on through the work of the Birk Family Foundation.
GIVING CRITERIA
The Birk Family Foundation offers financial support across a broad range of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations through both restricted and unrestricted grants. Grantees are evaluated on their alignment with the BFF mission statement, financial viability, organizational accountability and transparency, and location. Applicants MUST meet the minimum criteria listed below:
Provide 501(c)(3) and most recent 990 form.
Maximum two grants from an organization will be awarded in any calendar year.
Grants typically range up to $1,000-$25,000.
Grants are focused on the geographical areas in which the Foundation’s directors reside.
We DO NOT make grants to individuals or for-profit organizations, or provide grants that are primarily for operating expenses, capital campaigns, existing deficits, or lobbying of any kind.
AREAS OF GIVING
For organizations to whom we have provided grants in the past two years, we strongly recommend grant reporting prior to submitting a grant application the following year.
Education
Provide educational programming for under-resourced communities and promote quality learning for all. Ideally these organizations will serve members of the community who have the capability but not the resources to reach their full potential. In addition, we will consider organizations that provide strong outreach and educational program access to their communities.
health & Human services
Enhance the health and well-being of members of the community by supporting effective health and human services through fostering advances in public health and social services.
Emergency Funding
Provide rapid emergency funding for national and international disasters.
2024 GRANT CYCLE DATES
The Birk Family Foundation will make distributions for its charitable purposes twice a year. The following are the BFF 2024 grant cycle dates:
CYCLE 1
· Application process opens: 2/1/2024
· Applications due: 5/15/2024
· Notification of award & funds dispersed: June 2024
CYCLE 2
· Application process opens: 7/1/2024
· Applications due: 10/15/2024
· Notification of award & funds dispersed: November 2024
2023 RECIPIENTS
Habitat for Humanity Greenville
Canine Companion
Youth Base
Notre Dame Learning Center
Servants For Sight
Mill Village
Greenville United Way – OnTrack Greenville
Yellow Ribbon Fund
Washington Jesuit Academy
Washington School for Girls
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
Ronald McDonald House- DC
Habitat for Humanity Sea Island
Habitat for Humanity East Cooper
Habitat for Humanity Charleston
Neighbor’s Together
Operation Home
HALOS
Kids on Point
Low Country Food Bank
Our Lady Of Mercy Community Outreach
HOW TO APPLY
We are a small family foundation with limited resources and as a result we do not accept unsolicited proposals. Only accepting US-based organizations.
NEW APPLICANTS ONLY
If you would like to be invited to submit a grant application, please provide us with one paragraph that specifically addresses how your organization aligns with our mission and a brief description of your funding needs.
After we invite an organization to apply, please fill out and submit the below application for consideration to birkfamilyfoundation@gmail.com prior to the deadline.
Returning applicants
Please provide:
1) A brief report describing the impact of the last grant received by the Birk Family Foundation.
2) A brief description of your new request for funding. (Please note in the request if the organization has had a significant change in administration or financials during the last year.)
3) The operating budget for the previous fiscal year.
Contact Us
Any questions? We would love to hear from you!
birkfamilyfoundation@gmail.com
PO Box 1599
Mount Pleasant SC 29465