Refined Process with Expedited Timeline for Education Grants
As potential grantees and Dunham Foundation staff become more comfortable with the new grantmaking software, the board and team took the opportunity to review the Letter of Intent (LOI) process for Education grant requests over $50,000.
The standard timeline works well for Economic Growth and Community grants. However, it squeezes educational nonprofits into a tight window—often too compressed to design or enhance programs, market them to parents, and enroll students between approval and launch.
To address this, the Dunham Foundation collected informal feedback from education providers to develop and present a streamlined timeline customized to their programming needs. Grantees and partners highlighted its alignment with the school calendar, acknowledgment of their unique challenges, and potential to enhance program success.
Implications for Nonprofits Educational Program Leaders: This change reduces barriers for school-year-aligned initiatives, freeing you to focus on impact.
Other Grant Application Improvements
To simplify your journey, the Dunham Foundation has added direct links to the Grants – How to Apply webpage for faster access to specialized funding applications.
In addition to a new application for Education Grants, you’ll find easier-to-spot links for Abbreviated Grants, Capacity Building Grants (new!), General Grants, and Sponsorship Grants (new!).
Learn more about new grant opportunities in 2026.
Key Reminder: Always connect with Lindsay Cochrane, Program Director, before submitting on your organization’s behalf—she can guide the fit, timing, and guidance of your request. Reach her at info@dunhamfoundation.org.
Reflections
2025 was a busy year of grantmaking! This year, 114 grants totaling $3.9M were provided to nonprofits compared to $3.38M distributed to 53 nonprofits last year.
As 2025 comes to a close, the Dunham Foundation Board and Staff thank you for your unwavering commitment to strengthening our community. We value the profound impact of your work in transforming lives and communities, and we’re deeply honored to stand alongside you.
May your holidays be filled with joy, and may the new year bring continued success and meaningful impact.
