GENERAL OPERATING GRANTS

Definition and Purpose: General Operating Grants are unrestricted funds that enable an organization to carry out its mission. Funding awards are intended to underwrite an organization's administrative and  infrastructure costs, assist with strategic financial and organizational capacity, and/or help maintain core programs and essential staff. Prior to making application, organizations are encouraged to review the Cinnabar Foundation's Funding Priorities.

Eligibility Criteria: 
  • Applicants must be established, well managed 501(c)(3) organizations that operate effective conservation programs serving Montana or the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
  • Applicants must receive an invitation from the Foundation to apply for a General Operating Grant.  The Cinnabar Foundation invited thirty organizations to submit General Operating Grant applications for the 2022 Challenge Grant cycle.  
  • Organizations must provide a 1:1 challenge match. An organization that is offered a General Operating Grant will be required to raise an equal amount of funding from other sources in order to claim its Cinnabar award. This must be a cash match — "in-kind" services will not qualify as meeting the match.
  • An applicant organization that received a Cinnabar Foundation grant in 2022 must submit a final report describing the progress made toward achieving the purposes outlined in the applicant's 2022 grant application and detailing expenditures made from the granted funds (see Grant Report Guidelines). To be eligible for a 2023 grant, an interim or final 2022 grant report must be submitted by January 31, 2023. Please upload your report via the Cinnabar Foundation's online portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cinnabargrants.

Funding Amounts: Applicants seeking General Operating support are advised that grant amounts will not exceed 10% of an organization’s annual operating budget, or $15,000, whichever is less.

When To Apply: 2023 General Operating Grant applications will be accepted between
​January 11 and March 31, 2023.

How To Apply: 
Funding Decisions will be announced by June 15, 2023.