Marisla Foundation® was established in 1986 as a private,
non-operating charitable institution. The Foundation awards grants quarterly in two program areas - Environment and
Human Services - and a Special Interests category for proposals invited by the Board of Directors.
Marisla Foundation operates with three full-time program directors and one half-time assistant administrator. Of the hundreds of proposals received each year only a small number are funded, and we are currently funding few new grantees as we adjust the total annual funding to a sustainable level. For the convenience of organizations seeking support, the application process is short and concise. To manage applications received more efficiently, the Foundation uses an online application system exclusively. We do not require or accept letters of inquiry (LOIs). Hard copy or emailed proposals will not be reviewed.
The Foundation is able to support only those organizations that have received tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Grants are not made to individuals or for activities that support candidates for political office. Through donor-advised fund partners, Marisla is able to recommend Environment Program funds to international projects for specific geographies. Human Services grants are limited to Orange County and Los Angeles through the Orange County Community Foundation.
The Foundation strongly discourages the submission of multiple applications from one organization. This includes chapters or field offices. The Foundation also will not review more than one application per year (any twelve-month period) from any organization, with the exception of organizations that are fiscal sponsors of nonprofits.
The Human Services Program addresses the needs of women in crisis, primarily focusing on their physical, emotional and mental health, and financial wellbeing. Grants support activities and integrated approaches to stable housing, treating addiction, empowering adult and child domestic violence survivors, and vocational training. The geographic limitation is Orange County and Los Angeles, California.
The Environment Program concentrates on activities that promote the conservation of biological diversity and advance sustainable ecosystem management. Primary emphasis is on marine and coastal biodiversity conservation with a geographic focus on California, Northwest Mexico, Hawaii, Chile, and the Western Pacific (Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia). The Environment Program also supports the search for solutions to health and environmental threats caused by toxic chemicals.
The Special Interests category has a different application and grant report form. This category is open only to organizations invited to apply by a Marisla Foundation board member.
The Marisla Foundation Board of Directors makes funding decisions on a quarterly basis. Applications may be submitted online only within the two-month windows detailed below in the Application Deadlines. If the quarter starting date is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the application will be accessible the next business day. However, the closing or deadline date does not change. The application must be submitted by midnight Eastern Standard Time (U.S.) or 9:00pm Pacific Standard Time (U.S.) on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15.
| Applications Accepted | Board Meeting |
| November 15 thru January 15 | March (Q1) |
| February 15 thru April 15 | June (Q2) |
| May 15 thru July 15 | September (Q3) |
| August 15 thru October 15 | December (Q4) |
| Note: Deadlines are midnight EST/ 9:00pm PST on the day listed. Please remember to adjust to your USA or international time zone. | |
If the application window is open (see schedule) you will see a START button at the bottom of this webpage. Click on START to access the Eligibility Quiz. If you meet the current funding guidelines you will gain access to the online application.
The online application is the first and most often the only way to communicate the objectives and activities of your organization and project. The online application process allows you to save drafts and return at any time within the quarterly timeframe. A link to the draft application will automatically be emailed to you so that you can add to and edit the proposal until the funding deadline, which is midnight Eastern Standard Time (U.S.) and 9:00pm Pacific Standard Time on the day listed. Please remember to save your application in a Word document. The Marisla staff and Board do not have access to drafts of applications, and are unable to send you a copy. If you do not receive an automatic email with the link to your draft, please contact premiersupport@foundationsource.com.
Indirect Cost Policy: Indirect costs or overhead may not exceed 15 percent of direct costs. The indirect cost allowance is to cover items such as rent, electricity, office furnishings and equipment, heating, accounting/staff services, and the time of the chief executives, financial officers, and administrators.
Applicants can expect to receive a response approximately two to three months after the funding deadline, initially through our online administrator at Foundation Source, premiersupport@foundationsource.com, or call (800) 839-5316.
For technology issues with the online application process, please contact Foundation Source, (800) 839-5316 or premiersupport@foundationsource.com.
To view our Frequently Asked Questions, please click here to open them in a new window.
For inquiries related to the application content or budget form, please contact:
Environment
Sara Lowell
Marine Program Director
sara@marisla.org
Human Services
Peggy Lauer
Human Services Program Director, Administrator
peggy@marisla.org
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR CURRENT GRANTEES:
As of May 1, 2024 your GivingHub account will deactivate. Follow prompts and submit applications as your organization did prior to 2023.
After a year-long trial run of GivingHub with our on-line application we found that it is not ideally suited to Marisla's grantmaking process. We are working to create a more efficient platform with Foundation Source.
If you are an invited new applicant as of May 15, 2024, please follow our guidelines and proceed with your application by clicking on the "Start" button below during the open application dates.