Apply for a Grant

Ploughshares Fund supports organizations and individuals working to stop the spread and use of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons weapons and prevent conflicts that could lead to the use of weapons of mass destruction. We often make grants to support direct lobbying programs. There are no geographical limitations on grants. 

Ploughshares Fund does not fund the production of films, videotapes or books, or the research and writing of academic dissertations.

If you are uncertain whether your project fits into Ploughshares' areas of interest, you are encouraged to submit a brief email describing your project. We will let you know if a full proposal is appropriate. Please send inquiries and/or grant proposal submission to proposals at ploughshares.org. Please do not send multiple copies.

When to Apply

Ploughshares Fund's Board of Directors meets three times a year. Ploughshares' staff may also consider requests for emergency funding on a discretionary basis. For more information, please contact our office at 415-775-2244. We accept proposals submitted via email ONLY.

Please send all inquiries and proposals to proposals at ploughshares.org.

Proposal submissions via U.S. mail or Federal Express will not be accepted unless authorized by Ploughshares Fund staff prior to submission deadline.

2007-2008 Proposal Deadlines 

• Summer 2008 Board Meeting, apply by close of business February 15, 2008
• Fall 2008 Board Meeting, apply by close of business July 15, 2008

To ensure the smooth processing of your application, please include the following information:

Summary Page
• Organization name, address telephone number and website
• Name, address and email address (if available) of contact person
• Contact person, address and telephone number of fiscal sponsor, if applicable
• Project title
• Amount requested
• Total project and organization budgets
• Summary description of organization and project

Full Proposal
Proposals should be clear and concise and contain the following information:
• Description of organization
• Full description of project:
   o What are the objectives of the project?
   o What are the methods by which the project will be accomplished?
   o What audience(s) do you intend to reach?
   o How will you evaluate the success of the project?

• Information and/or documentation of current or past accomplishments. (It is unnecessary to include large amounts of material; just a few examples will suffice.)
• List of Board of Directors
• List of key staff and their qualifications
• If you are applying to renew a current grant from the Ploughshares Fund, you must include a report (no longer than three pages) on the current status of the grant. This report is NOT a substitute for the final report required in the original grant agreement.
• Names and telephone numbers of three references

The summary page and full proposal should be limited to 10 pages.

Supplemental information such as published articles and press clippings can be submitted in addition to the full proposal. Such materials should not exceed 8 pages.

Financial Information
• Complete budgets for the project and the organization.
• IRS letter of determination indicating the tax status of the organization.
• Fiscal sponsor's IRS letter of determination and a letter from the fiscal sponsor agreeing to act in that role (if applicable).
• Other sources of funding and potential funding. List of current funders. To what other organizations have you applied or will you apply for support?

We recognize that supporting material such as IRS letters of determination, published articles, etc. may be difficult to submit digitally. When submitting a proposal via e-mail, Ploughshares Fund will allow supporting materials to be submitted separately after the core proposal is received. Please note that any additional materials you send must be received within five days of the deadline.

If you are a current Ploughshares Fund grantee, click here for reporting instructions.