Grant FAQs

Does Verizon Foundation provide support to private foundations?
No, Verizon Foundation does not fund private foundations - only tax exempt IRS qualified 501(c)(3) public charities.
How do I qualify for a grant from the Verizon Foundation?
Verizon Foundation provides support to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations within the United States. The Foundation supports the following funding priorities: literacy, education, domestic violence prevention, healthcare and accessibility, and Internet safety.
I have a proposal for the Verizon Foundation, where can I send it and to whom?
The Verizon Foundation only accepts proposals online. To apply for a grant, go to Apply Online. If you wish to communicate with the Community Affairs manager in your area, please go to In Your Community.
Before I apply online, I would like to receive a copy of the application form. How can I get a copy?
Before you get started on your proposal to the Verizon Foundation, you may print a copy of the application by using our example form. If you would like to print the guidelines and helpful hints & suggestions, just go to our Grant Guidelines area of the website and print.
When will I be contacted about the status of my grant request? How do I know you received my proposal?
After you have completed your online application and selected "Send," you will receive an e-mail notifying you that the application has been received. In addition, you will be contacted by the Community Affairs manager handling your grant request. A final decision may or may not be made at this time. Additional follow-up, assessment or evaluation may be required.
When do you accept proposals?
The Verizon Foundation accepts grant requests 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, January 16th through October 16th via the Apply Online process described above.
How can I improve my chances of receiving a grant from the Verizon Foundation?
You can increase the possibility of receiving a grant and improve the quality of your proposal by spending a few minutes reviewing our Grant Guidelines, taking the Eligibility Quiz and reviewing this list of frequently asked questions (FAQs).
How much does the Verizon Foundation give each year?
In 2009, the Verizon Foundation will distribute approximately $68 million nationwide to support technology, literacy, and domestic violence solutions programs. Each year, the Verizon Foundation receives more than 60,000 grant requests from nonprofits and provides funding to less than half of these organizations. The Foundation is one of the country's largest corporate philanthropic contributors.
What is the range in size of Verizon Foundation grants?
The Verizon Foundation does not have a range for grant amounts. Many factors, including the specific program or project to be funded and the organization making the request, determine funding amounts. Based on the past several years, the average grant size ranged between $5,000 and $10,000. Before allocating funding, the Verizon Foundation takes into consideration many aspects of your proposal, including your organization's mission, leadership, vision, strategy, financials and budget requested and how your dollars are invested within the communities you serve.
Will my nonprofit receive the amount requested?
Many aspects of your proposal are taken into consideration, including your organization's mission and goals, leadership, vision and strategy, financials, budget versus amount requested and how your dollars are invested within the communities you serve.
May I apply for a grant for a specific project on behalf of another organization, which does not have a 501(c)(3)? The current status of my 501(c)(3) is pending, do I qualify?
No. The Verizon Foundation reviews over 60,000 grant requests per year and can only support a small portion of these projects. Unless the nonprofit is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service, you are not eligible.
I received a cash grant from Verizon earlier this year. Am I eligible to receive a grant from Verizon Foundation for a different project?
The Verizon Foundation provides one cash grant per calendar year to eligible nonprofit organizations. Organizations that have received a grant from the Verizon Foundation in the last three consecutive years, may reapply after a one year hiatus.
Does the Verizon Foundation sponsor film, music, TV or media productions?
No. The Verizon Foundation supports a variety of projects domestically and internationally, with an emphasis on new technology applications, literacy, and work force development. To find out more about which organizations are eligible and which are not, please go to the Grant Guidelines section of this website.
Do you only provide cash grants?
In addition to providing grants, the Verizon Foundation may also be able to assist in providing volunteers for your nonprofit organization. If your nonprofit organization has needs for volunteers to boost your ability to help your community, please send a request for volunteers online.
I am a nonprofit organization and in need of volunteers for a literacy program we are working on. Can the Verizon Foundation assist?
Nonprofit organizations interested in partnering with the Foundation and looking for volunteers may go to our Verizon volunteers section and apply for volunteer support from Verizon Foundation.

Notice of Non Discrimination:  As a matter of policy, the Verizon Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or physical disability. The Verizon Foundation is neutral on, and does not fund, programs that support pro-life or pro-choice issues.