Symantec Foundation Grant Guidelines

Important information for nonprofit organizations

The information below is intended to help charitable organizations craft appropriate grant proposals to the Symantec Foundation. Specific questions can be addressed to community_relations@symantec.com.

About Symantec Foundation

The Symantec Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization providing monetary grants to education-based nonprofit organizations. The Foundation exists to fund education initiatives that demonstrate broad impact and measurable results, with a particular emphasis on math, science, technology and engineering initiatives.

What do we fund?

The Symantec Foundation funds U.S. charitable organizations having an international charter, a national charter, or an individual community charter in communities within 50 miles of a Symantec office.

While the Foundation prefers programmatic support, we will consider requests for general operating support. Decisions for general operating support depend on the strategic alignment of the organization's mission with the Symantec Foundation's philanthropic goals.

Symantec Foundation grants are focused on strengthening the education system, with a particular interest in those programs that incorporate technology in teaching and that work to engage minorities and women in the technological sciences.

Organizations should be able to demonstrate that their approach is sustainable - they should have a diverse funding stream, a high level of efficiency, documented expertise in their focus area, and strong leadership.

Symantec places a high value on measurable results. Organizations should set specific, obtainable objectives and milestones, and be able to show documented progress against those objectives.

Administrative costs should account for no more than 25 percent of the total operating budget.

* Religious organizations that perform a secular community service are eligible for funding, provided the finances and operations of the organization's secular outreach are completely separate from the finances and operations of the organization's religious activities.

Grants to organizations with an international or national scope typically range from $15,000 to $200,000 USD. Grants for community-based organizations typically range from $5,000 to $30,000 USD. These grant amounts are given only as guidelines - the Symantec Foundation maintains the right to assign appropriate grant amounts based on the strategic fit and scope of the proposed project.

Additional requirements

Symantec requires tax receipts for all charitable donations. Failure to provide a tax receipt will prohibit the organization from receiving future funding.

Organizations may be expected to provide a summary of project objectives met and milestones achieved. The Symantec Foundation requests notification of any intent to use the Symantec logo or name on the web, in print, or in any other way.

Timeline and notification expectations

Organizations will receive email confirmation of proposal receipt. Proposals will pass through an initial Corporate Philanthropy review to check for completeness, then a second review by the Symantec Foundation Board of Directors. You may be contacted for a follow-up meeting at any point in this process.

If the decision is made to fund the proposed project, you will be notified by the last day of the month in which the Board meeting is held (February 28, May 31, August 31, November 30). Symantec regrets that we cannot contact every organization that submits a grant proposal.

All questions can be addressed to community_relations@symantec.com.

Proposal submissions

Please include the following information in your proposal to the Symantec Foundation. The Symantec Foundation does not accept grant proposals by email or by fax. Please submit all materials and attachments to:
Symantec Foundation
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
USA

Contact Information

• Name of organization
• Mailing address
• Contact name - first, last, and title
• Contact telephone
• Contact email

Organization information

• Website address
• Founding date
• Mission Statement
• Population served
• Staffing levels - indicate full-time, part-time and volunteer status
• Operating budget for current year
• Top three "signature" programs or activities
• Past successes and honors - include any awards or public recognition

If regional, is your office located within 50 miles of:

• Alexandria, Virginia
• American Fork, Utah
• Beaverton, Oregon
• Cupertino, California
• Fremont, California
• Heathrow, Florida
• Herndon, Virginia
• Milpitas, California
• Mountain View, California
• Newport News, Virginia
• Newton, Massachusetts
• Orem, Utah
• Redwood City, California
• Roseville, Minnesota
• San Francisco, California
• Santa Monica, California
• Springfield, Oregon
• Sunnyvale, California
• Waltham, Massachusetts

Partnership information

• Other corporate sponsors and dollar amounts
• Other sources of funding - United Way, government, private donors
• Partnerships with other nonprofit organizations

Project specifics

• Dollar amount requested
• Need or problem addressed by project - please provide data or documentation to substantiate the stated need
• Description of project
• Target population to be served
• How long has project / will project be in existence?
• Project budget
• Other sources of funding for project and dollar amounts
• Sponsor acknowledgement and recognition plans

Measurement and evaluation

• Goal or anticipated outcome of project
• Specific project objectives or milestones
• Methods, activities, strategies or steps taken to achieve objectives
• What does "success" look like?
• What will be done with the evaluation information that is gathered? Will the results be communicated publicly? To sponsors? Others?

Attachments

1. 501c3 letter documentation
2. Board of Directors - members and affiliations
3. Most recent audited financial report
4. Most recent annual report
5. Statement of non-discrimination