Receiving an invitation to apply for funding from the Scripps Family Impact Fund (SFIF) is more than a pleasant surprise—it’s a signal. It means your organization has been seen, vetted, and recognized for work that aligns with this year’s focus area. Unlike unsolicited grant applications that often go unreviewed, this invitation opens a meaningful door to potential funding and partnership.

The SFIF model is designed to identify and elevate nonprofit programs that directly support the family’s selected mission area for the year. The invitation itself reflects several key steps already taken behind the scenes: your organization has cleared due diligence checks, been nominated by a board member, and offers a mission that fits the fund’s current strategic priorities.

A Different Kind of Funding Model

SFIF isn’t a traditional foundation. Each year, the fund focuses on a single-issue area—from veterans’ services to journalism education to public health—and identifies nonprofits working in that space. The fund also operates on a growing model of collective giving: where individuals pool their resources to make more significant philanthropic impact than they could make on their own.

Finalists receive not only funding, but also visibility across the Scripps family and community of donors. Past grant amounts are shared publicly, and funding decisions are shaped by a mix of rigorous review and individual giving choices—adding both transparency and personal connection to the process.

How Organizations Are Chosen

The grant cycle begins in October, when the Impact Fund Board selects the focus area for the coming year. Board members then nominate nonprofit organizations whose missions align with that theme. These may be organizations they’ve worked with before, discovered through research, or heard about through trusted networks. After vetting potential nominees—including nonprofit status, public filings, and any reputational concerns—the board finalizes a shortlist.

Invitations are sent to the selected organizations in January via the fund’s grant management platform. From that point, the application process begins.

What Makes a Strong Application

The application window is typically open for one month. While the process is competitive, it’s also designed to give each organization a clear chance to tell its story and make a case for funding. The most successful applications share a few common traits:

• Mission clarity: A direct, compelling explanation of how the organization’s mission connects to the year’s focus area.
• Defined program need: A specific project or program for which funding is requested, with details about its goals, outcomes, and beneficiaries.
• Aligned documentation: Budgets, financials, and projections that clearly match the program described.
• Transparency: Explanation of any major changes or anomalies in recent financial history (such as a spike in revenue or shift in expenses).
• Supporting media: Photos, links to videos or testimonials, and—when applicable—renderings of physical spaces if capital funding is requested.
• Conversational tone: Straightforward, jargon-free writing that clearly communicates the need, how funds would be used, and what difference they’ll make.

Applicants are also encouraged to explain how they stand out in a crowded field. If your mission is similar to other organizations, what makes your approach different?

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Applications can fall short for a few recurring reasons:

• Incomplete responses or missing documentation
• Budgets that don’t clearly align with the request
• Lack of clarity around how the funding would be used
• Failing to explain the impact the grant would have

When in doubt, clarity wins over complexity.

From Application to Award

Once applications are submitted, each member of the Scripps Family Impact Fund Board independently reviews and scores them. Scoring is based on several factors, including:

• The depth and breadth of the program’s potential impact
• Whether the project is core to the organization’s mission
• Confidence that the grant will be well-managed
• Overall application quality and financial stability

By April, the top finalists are selected and notified. Finalists are then asked to submit a short video highlighting their work and to complete a program verification with the Impact Genome Project.

These materials—along with the original application—are presented to the extended Scripps family in June. Each household reviews the finalists and decides how much they’d like to contribute to a finalist. Funding decisions are personal, collective, and deeply mission-driven.

Timeline at a Glance

• October – Focus area identified
• November – December – Nominations and vetting
• January – Applications sent
• February – Application window closes
• March–April – Review and finalist selection
• May–June – Finalist videos and Impact Genome verification
• June – Giving decisions
• July – Finalists are notified of their total funding and grants are disbursed

Purpose-Driven from Start to Finish

From nomination to funding, every step of the SFIF process is designed to honor mission alignment, community voice, and impactful giving. If your organization has received an invitation, consider it both a recognition of your work—and an opportunity to amplify it through the power of collective philanthropy.