At the Knott Foundation, we continually strive to refine our processes to better serve our community and the organizations we partner with. Earlier this year, we announced updates to our grantmaking policies that will take effect during our first grant cycle of 2025. Today, we’d like to revisit these changes, share the “why” behind them, and help you prepare for the year ahead.

These updates are designed to bring greater transparency, efficiency, and intentionality to our grantmaking process, ensuring that we can continue to support meaningful, impactful work across our region while simultaneously lowering burdens on both applicants and Foundation staff. An examination of our grantmaking history tells us that only 28% of submitted Letters of Inquiry are advanced to the full proposal stage.

 

What’s Changing? 

 Starting in 2025, organizations interested in applying for funding may submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) only once per calendar year. Previously, organizations could submit an LOI during each grant cycle until they were either invited to submit a full proposal or chose not to reapply.

Moving forward, this once-per-year approach allows us to more thoughtfully review each LOI and give organizations a clear, timely path forward—whether that’s an invitation to submit a proposal or guidance on reapplying in the future.

Updated Funding Pause for Grantees: Three Years 

Organizations that are invited to submit a full proposal and ultimately receive funding will now enter a three-year waiting period before becoming eligible to reapply for another grant. This updates our prior two-year pause.

This change enables us to support a broader range of organizations over time, sharing resources and opportunities more equitably while maintaining a strong relationship with past grantees.

 

Why These Updates? 

Our goal is to balance opportunity with intentionality. By limiting LOI submissions to once per year, we hope to reduce the administrative burden on applicants and our team alike, allowing us to focus on building stronger partnerships and giving more thoughtful consideration to each submission.

Extending the funding pause for grantees aligns with our vision of broadening the reach of our resources. With these changes, we aim to engage new partners and ideas while continuing to support the incredible work of past grantees.

 

 What Stays the Same? 

While these updates are new, much of our General Fund process remains unchanged. Our commitment to supporting mission-driven organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore is as strong as ever. We’ll continue to prioritize open communication, transparency, and a collaborative approach to grantmaking.

The next General Fund cycle will open on December 9, 2024, with Letters of Inquiry due by 5:00 PM EST on Monday, February 3, 2025. Funding decisions for this cycle will be made in June 2025.

 

Looking Ahead 

We know that changes to policies can prompt questions, and we’re here to help. Whether you’re a long-time partner or considering submitting an LOI for the first time, we’re happy to connect and guide you through these updates.

As always, we’re inspired by the transformative work of the organizations in our community. These updates are a step toward ensuring our grantmaking practices remain responsive and inclusive, helping us work together to build and sustain strong communities.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Here’s to a successful 2025!

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To learn more about our grantmaking practices, click here. For any questions about these updates or details about the 2025 grant cycles, please send an email to [email protected] and a member of our team will reply.