Before submitting a proposal, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Foundation's Funding Priorities section, including General Criteria and the relevant program description, to determine whether their proposal reflects the Foundation's interests. Applicants should also check Cut-off Dates to ensure that their proposal will meet grant cycle deadlines.

A complete application, mailed to the Compton Foundation, consists of:

• a 3-4 page project proposal
• the supporting attachments listed below
• the Proposal Outline Form additionally emailed from this link

The Foundation does not accept proposals sent by fax or email.

The 3-4 page project proposal should be printed on one side only, and should describe:

• the organization making the request
• the goals and objectives of the designated project, including specific outcomes
• the means by which the project's effectiveness will be measured
• a one-half to one page update of previous work supported by the Foundation (if relevant)

Each of the following supporting attachments should be printed on one side only:

• Proposal Outline Form
• Qualifications of key people involved (1 page only)
• List of Board members with affiliations (1 page only)
• Project budget, including income and expenses (1 page only)
  Please consider including a line item allowing you to offset any greenhouse gas emissions associated with project travel.
• Organization's budget, including revenue sources, for year in which project will be carried out (1 page only)
• Statement of Assets and Liabilities (preferably audited, and from the most current year-end)
• Statement of Revenue and Expenses (preferably audited, and from the most current year-end)
  Please do not send a copy of your form 990.
  
• Names and contact information for 3-5 references (include phone numbers and email addresses)
• A copy of the organization's 501(c)(3) IRS tax exemption letter

For those applicants with a sponsoring organization, please include the sponsor's organizational budget. In addition, please submit the sponsor's Statement of Assets and Liabilities, and Statement of Revenue and Expenses, which may take the place of the applying organization's.

In the interest of preserving the environment, the Foundation actively discourages prospective applicants from sending more than the minimum amount of information requested. If additional information is required, the applicant will be notified.

The Foundation makes grants only to organizations and institutions that qualify under the requirements of the Federal Tax Reform Act of 1969. The Foundation files annual tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, the California State Franchise Tax Board, and the Office of the Attorney General of the State of California.

The Compton Foundation is a member of the Northern California Grantmakers Association, the Environmental Grantmakers Association, the Funders Network for Population, Reproductive Health and Rights, the Peace and Security Funders Group, and the Consultative Group on Biological Diversity. The Foundation is a founder and endorser of the Environmental Grantmakers Association's "Philanthropy as Stewardship" principles.