Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding The Clorox Company Foundation’s Grants Programs
What are the funding objectives for The Clorox Company Foundation?
The Clorox Company Foundation’s mission is to foster healthy and inclusive communities so people can be well and thrive.
Determining Eligibility
What types of projects does The Clorox Company Foundation support?
The Clorox Company Foundation’s grantmaking activities focus on strategically funding organizations whose programs support our signature theme of health security. Our definition of health security includes:
- Community Wellness:
- Racial justice:
- Organizations that are working at the community-level to address social determinants of health and racial justice issues.
- Youth development/education:
- Programs that increase equity of opportunity, access, and outcomes to create lasting social impact.
- Sustainability:
- Organizations that address the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals: Our grants will center around goals 11–15, with a focus on solving environmental issues that disproportionately impact urban areas and communities of color.
- Racial justice:
- Disease Prevention:
- Organizations that educate and/or provide supplies to people regarding preventing the spread of germs/disease in a post-pandemic life.
- Disaster Relief and Preparedness:
- Organizations that focus on emergency preparedness, response and recovery on a national and local level.
For a broader description of these grants, please visit our Grants Guidelines page.
What geographic areas does The Clorox Company Foundation fund?
The Clorox Company Foundation provides grant support in Oakland, California — where our headquarters is located — and nationally. We also award grants in communities surrounding our remote offices and manufacturing facilities through our Community Development Program.
Are past grantees good examples of what types of organizations The Clorox Company Foundation will fund in the future?
Since Clorox recently developed its signature theme, health security, the best place to look for more information about our funding priorities to is The Clorox Company Foundation Grant Guidelines section.
Can a program under an umbrella organization or fiscal sponsor apply for funding?
Yes. The organization doing the work may apply for funding. A memorandum of understanding will be required to clarify the relationship with the fiscal sponsor.
May we request funding for a program that has been funded by The Clorox Company Foundation in the past?
Unsolicited proposals will not be accepted; proposals are by invitation only. Please review our Grants Guidelines to determine if your program fits within our health security focus areas. If you believe that your program meets our updated guidelines and you have received a Clorox grant within the past five years, you may apply.
If you believe that your program meets our updated guidelines and your organization received a grant more than five years ago, we invite you to submit a concept paper for consideration.
Our organization has never received funding from The Clorox Company Foundation. Are we at a disadvantage compared to other organizations that have received funding?
No. We encourage all organizations whose work fits within our funding priorities to seek an invitation to apply. Our decisions are based on the availability of funds, alignment with the foundation’s priorities, assessment of the organization’s capabilities and the project goals, if applicable. Former grantees do not receive preferential treatment.
What should we include in our concept paper, and how do we submit one for your consideration?
If your organization has never received a grant from Clorox or it has been more than five years since receiving support, we ask that you submit a concept paper to cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org for consideration. Your concept paper should include the following information:
- Grant focus area.
- Brief program overview, including how long your organization has been offering this program.
- Outcomes to date.
- Objectives.
- Age range served.
- Community partners.
Concept papers should not exceed two pages.
After a concept paper has been received, it is reviewed by a committee of the foundation, which will conduct a thorough analysis. Within one month of your email submission, you will receive an email from us with follow-up questions and/or the status of your concept paper. If we decide to move forward, the next phase typically includes a conference call and a site visit for first-time grantees.
If your organization has received support from Clorox within the past five years, you meet current eligibility requirements and you would like to inquire about an invitation, please email cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org.
May we apply for funds to be used in different geographic or programmatic areas at the same time?
No. An organization can only submit one application per grantmaking period. If approved, the organization would be eligible to submit a new application the following year.
May we apply to more than one priority area at the same time?
No. An organization can only submit one application per grantmaking period. If approved, the organization would be eligible to submit a new application the following year.
If we have a current grant from The Clorox Company Foundation, may we apply for funding for a different program or do we have to wait until the end of this grant period?
No. Current grantees may not apply for funding within the same grant period.
If we have different projects, can we submit an application focused on each?
No. An organization may not submit more than one application at a time. If your project is declined, you are eligible to submit a proposal for a different program the next grantmaking period.
Are you interested in funding organizations with particular budget sizes or that serve particular geographic areas?
We support organizations of varying budget sizes that support the Oakland community. To learn more about our grantmaking outside of Oakland, California, please email community.relations@clorox.com.
Are we eligible for funding if our headquarters is not in Oakland, California, but we have an active program or presence in Oakland, California?
Yes. We will entertain funding requests from organizations with their headquarters outside of the city if they offer unique programming to Oakland residents. Organizations offering similar programs to a current Oakland-based grantee will not be funded.
If you are an organization with multiple locations, which one should you use?
The location based in Oakland, California, should apply for support if you have multiple locations.
May a collaborative apply for funding?
Yes, we encourage collaboratives.
If we are awarded a grant as part of a collaboration, are we ineligible to request funding on our own?
The Clorox Company Foundation will award no more than one grant award per year to any organization, including collaborations.
Can multiple groups with the same fiscal sponsor apply multiple times?
There is no limit to the number of times a fiscal sponsor can be used by different organizations.
Can organizations based outside of Oakland apply if they are engaged in a project in Oakland?
Yes. Organizations located in Oakland, California, serving the Oakland community will be given preference.
How to Apply/Using the Grants Portal
How does my organization apply for a foundation grant?
We are pleased to accept online submissions of proposals.
If your organization has received a grant from The Clorox Company Foundation in the past five years, please review The Clorox Company Foundation Grant Guidelines. If you feel that your organization falls within our grantmaking guidelines, please email cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org to request an invitation.
My organization or project is under an umbrella organization (sometimes called a fiscal sponsor). Do I use the umbrella organization’s information or my organization’s information?
The application requests information for both applicant and the fiscal sponsor.
If we are requesting funds for a collaborative, should the collaborative have its own account, or should we use the account of the lead organization?
Please use the account of the lead organization on the application.
The person who wrote our grant application(s) is no longer with the organization, and I do not know our online account login or password. How can I access our account?
Please follow the account reset instructions here to regain access to your organization’s account.
If I am in the middle of completing my application, can I save it and continue working later?
Yes, at the end of each page there is a button that says Save & Finish Later. The option to save and finish later can be selected at any time before the deadline. We recommend that you save often and more importantly, save your final document before submitting.
I saved my application from a previous session. How do I get back to it?
When you saved your application, you received a confirmation email. In the email is a link that will take you to the login page.
This link will also take you to the login page; from there you will be able to retrieve your saved application.
Can my colleagues review the application before it is submitted?
Yes, you can provide your colleagues with the login information that you created for your account. We encourage applicants to use a general or anonymous email address (i.e., use something like info@abcnonprofit.org or fundraising@xyznonprofit.org) when creating an account for your organization. We also encourage you to share the login information with key staff members.
How do I submit the application once I am done?
Click on the submit button at the bottom of the page.
Once an application has been submitted, can I change it?
No. Once your application has been submitted, you will not have access, and it cannot be modified.
What if my system crashes while I am submitting my application online?
If your application was successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If the application was not received, you will need to restart the submission process. If you do not receive a confirmation email within four hours, the application may not have been received. Follow the steps for retrieving your saved application and resubmit.
If the application is not available when you follow the steps to retrieve your application, more than likely, the application was received, and your confirmation email has been delayed. Please email cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org to report your issue to the team, and someone will be in contact. Please note: this sort of issue must be reported before the application deadline.
How can I tell if my application has been received by The Clorox Company Foundation at the East Bay Community Foundation?
You will receive a confirmation email.
Is it possible to access the proposal requirements online?
Yes, we encourage you to visit our Grant Guidelines section.
What if I forget my password?
From the login page in our grants portal, click forgot password to reset your password.
I have read the grant guidelines and these questions and answers and I still need help. How do I contact you?
You may email The Clorox Company Foundation team at cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org. We are happy to answer your questions.
The Application Process
Would you explain The Clorox Company Foundation’s grantmaking process?
The first step is for you to review the Grant Guidelines section to determine your eligibility. Once you have reviewed the grant guidelines and believe that your program fits one of our priority and geographic areas, and you have received a grant from Clorox within the past five years, and you did not receive an invitation to apply, please send an email to cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org to request an invitation.
If your organization has received an invitation to apply you can begin the application through The Clorox Company Foundation grants portal. (See the How to Apply/Grants Portal section for detailed instructions.) When we receive your application, you will receive an email confirming it was received.
After a completed application has been received, it is reviewed by a committee of the foundation who will conduct a thorough analysis of the application. This typically includes a site visit for first-time grantees. Final decisions are made during a biannual review.
If your organization has never received a grant from Clorox or it has been more than five years since receiving support, we ask that you submit a concept paper for consideration.
How long does the whole process take, from submitting an application to being awarded a grant?
If an organization is ultimately awarded a grant, the whole process usually takes between eight and 10 weeks from the time the application deadline. (Please note, the process may exceed this timeframe for first time applicants.)
Does a current grantee have an option simply to renew its grant?
No. The Clorox Company Foundation does not have a renewal process for grants. Any grantee interested in receiving additional funding after its current grant period ends is required to submit a new application. Please note that additional grant support is not guaranteed.
What are the reporting requirements once a grant is awarded?
A final report is due at the end of the grant cycle.
If my request is denied, may I talk to someone at The Clorox Company Foundation to find out why?
If your request is denied, you will receive an email with contact information. You are welcome to email the foundation team to gain a better understanding of the reason(s) for the denial.
If I submit a request for one funding area but it fits better within a different funding area, will my request be denied or reassigned?
If your request is a better match for a different funding area, you will be notified if a reassignment takes place. A reassignment is not a guarantee of funding.
My organization’s application was denied. Do we need to wait a certain amount of time before applying again?
No. You are welcome to apply again as soon as the next application deadline. However, before you apply again, we encourage you to review the Grant Guidelines on our website and email cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org to schedule a conference call.
Is there a limit to how many times an organization may apply in a year?
No. There is no limit to the number of times you may apply. Please note, organizations are only eligible to receive funding once a year.
Does a program need to be in operation for a certain length of time to be considered for funding?
Yes. The program needs to be in existence for at least one year and be able to demonstrate results.
If we request an amount that is too high for The Clorox Company Foundation to consider, will our request be denied or will we be given partial funding?
If a request is higher than an amount that we would consider, we would likely give partial funding to support your program.
How long should my Proposal Narrative be and how should I submit it?
The Proposal Narrative section of our application has a generous character count and should be enough space for you to provide an overview of your program.
Our organization is not yet in a position to submit information and documents electronically. May we mail or fax our application and supporting documents?
No. The Clorox Company Foundation now has a standardized online grant request application process. Paper applications and supporting documents will not be accepted.
How early can we submit our applications? Do we have to wait until the deadlines?
You can submit your application anytime the portal is open, and we encourage you to start the application process early. Our grants portal is usually open for 11 weeks between grant cycles.
Other Grantmaking and Giving Programs
How do I learn more about the Community Development Program for organizations located in Clorox’s manufacturing and remote office communities?
Following foundation Grant Guidelines, Clorox manufacturing plants and remote offices operate small giving programs in their local communities. These programs are administered independently and generally serve nonprofit organizations within a three-to-five mile radius of these facilities. To learn more about our Community Development Program, please email community.relations@clorox.com.
Oakland-based organizations are not eligible for Community Development Program grants.
If my organization is in Oakland, California, but does not offer programming in your focus area, can I apply for a Community Development Program grant?
No, our Community Development Program supports organizations offering programs in our focus areas in locations where we have remote offices and manufacturing plants.
Does The Clorox Company Foundation make donations of product?
We partner with American Red Cross to make product donations to help with disaster-relief efforts. We are a proud $500,000-level member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.
What matching programs does Clorox offer?
Through workplace giving, we match employee donations dollar-for-dollar to nonprofits up to $2,500 per calendar year. We also give $10 per volunteer hour up to $300 a year for employees to donate to the charity of their choice.
Does The Clorox Company Foundation provide matching grants?
No. The Clorox Company Foundation does not provide matching grants.
Does The Clorox Company Foundation support programs outside of the United States?
No. We do not support non-U.S. programs or organizations.
Does The Clorox Company Foundation offer scholarships and fellowships to individuals?
The Clorox Company Foundation offers two scholarship programs — the Knauss Scholars Program and The Clorox Company Foundation Scholarship Program — to assist the children of Clorox employees worldwide who plan to pursue post-secondary education. Scholarships are in the amount of $2,500 (U.S.) per year and can be renewed up to a total of $10,000.
Through employee fundraising, Clorox supports Clorox Partners Scholarships via Marcus Foster Education Institute. To date, we have raised over $1.1 million, supporting more than 600 scholarships to deserving Oakland and Pleasanton, California, high school seniors.
What is The Clorox Company Foundation’s policy on matching disaster relief efforts?
We partner with American Red Cross to make cash and product donations to help with disaster-relief efforts. We are a proud $500,000-level member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.
My funding request doesn’t fall neatly into your stated priority areas. May I speak to someone to help me determine fit?
Yes. You are welcome to contact foundation staff regarding questions you may have at cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org to schedule a call.
My request doesn’t fit within the Foundation’s grantmaking programs, but we think it’s something The Clorox Company Foundation might fund. May we still apply?
No. We encourage you to contact foundation staff at cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org to schedule a call to discuss your program(s) before submitting a concept paper.
Contacting The Clorox Company Foundation
How can I contact The Clorox Company Foundation?
Email: cloroxfndt@eastbaycf.org
Phone: 510-836-3223