
If you asked at a gathering of family foundation folks whether using discretionary grants is a good idea, you’d never reach consensus. Many family foundations don’t use them. Those that do have widely varied policies governing how much money is available, who is eligible to make the grants, and whether the grants must be within the foundation’s mission and guidelines.
This Content Collection includes NCFP’s two timeless issue briefs on the use and possible challenges of Discretionary Grantmaking, as well as sample forms and policies related to discretionary grants.
Featured resources


Discretionary Grants: Encouraging Participation… or Dividing Families?
Passages Issue Briefs
Discretionary Grants: Encouraging Participation… or Pandora’s Box?

Discretionary Grants Guide
ToolSample policies, forms, and letters

Discretionary grant trustee application form (General Service Foundation)
Sample
FAQ: How to apply for a discretionary grant
Sample
Directors’ discretionary grants program – Dyson Foundation
Sample
A collection of grant maker discretionary grants policies (GEO)
Sample