INITIALLY, AN APPLICANT SHOULD SUBMIT AN EXECUTED LETTER OF INTENT CONTAINING ALL CONTACT INFORMATION, INCLUDING EMAIL ADDRESS BUT NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS, AND SHOULD BE SENT VIA EMAIL TO THE GRANTS COORDINATOR OF THE FOUNDATION AT [email protected]. THE LETTER OF INTENT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT THE APPLICANT DOES AND WILL COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE FOUNDATION'S GRANTMAKING GUIDELINES. IF THE FOUNDATION REQUESTS THE SUBMISSION OF A FORMAL AND DETAILED APPLICATION, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE REQUIRED.

THE FOUNDATION PLACES THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ON THE GRANT PROPOSALS OF NONPROFITS SERVING COMMUNITIES IN THE FIVE-COUNTY REGION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES (LOS ANGELES, ORANGE, RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNARDINO AND VENTURA COUNTIES). AGENCIES WHO SERVE THE GREATER LA REGION BUT ARE HEADQUARTERED ELSEWHERE MAY ALSO APPLY FOR A GRANT. THE FOUNDATION MAKES GRANTS ONLY TO ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY QUALIFIED AS TAX-EXEMPT UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3) AND ARE NOT PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS OR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS. TYPICAL APPLICANTS ARE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH SEEK TO HELP THE BLIND AND OTHER VISION-IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO APPLICANTS FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA, AS OUTLINED IN THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION STATEMENT.