Areas of Focus for Giving

The Marc C. and Deborah Bingham Foundation limits their giving to charitable 501(c)3 organizations and higher education institutions that focus on the following three categories:

1. Higher education for programs ranging from structured scholarship programs to development of school learning facilities, to improving education opportunities for all based on the premise that an education is the one thing that can never be taken away from you in life.
2. Organizations engaged in medical research with a focus on curing diseases including cancer as well as on treatments leading to recovery and higher quality of life for those affected by cancer and other diseases.
3. Organizations that advance sustainable conservation of our fish, wildlife and the habitats they rely upon, primarily located in Utah.

Please do not submit funding requests for:

• Individual needs, sponsorships, and other forms of financial aid
• Fund-raising activities, such as galas, benefits, dinners and sporting events
• Goodwill advertising, souvenir journals or dinner programs
• Travel for individuals or groups
• Sectarian Activities of religious groups
• Political causes, candidates, organizations of campaigns
• Books, Magazines, or articles in professional journals
• Endowments or capital campaigns
• Travel exhibitions (the Foundation may independently solicit those)
• Sports sponsorships

Application Requirements and Timelines

Submit all applications to info@binghamfoundations.org.

The Foundation’s Board will consider unsolicited proposals one time per year.   The following process will be used:

By June 1st interested applicants should submit a “Letter of Inquiry” (LOI) that should not exceed two written pages but may have up to two additional pages of photos or renderings of the project if applicable.  The LOI should include:

1. Name of organization and associated contact person with phone and email.
2. Description of request including all associated project timelines.
3. Total cost estimate and requested dollar amount from the Foundation. Please include other matches and funds that will be used to fund the entire effort.
4. If the grant is for a multiyear funding effort please indicate the future funding needs and how the completion of the project can be assured if no additional funds are provided through the Foundation.

After review of the LOI’s by the Foundation there will be an invitation process for final selection of grant recipients: 

1. Applicants that are successfully vetted through the LOI round will be notified in writing and asked to submit additional information for review and consideration.   
2. The request for additional information will also have a form to be completed with the second submission.  

Invited requests by the Foundation may be considered at other times of the year.

Organizations should only submit one application per year for a specified request.  At the discretion of the Foundation applications may be carried over for consideration into a future period.

Please submit applications to:

Marc C. and Deborah H. Bingham Foundation
Attn: Grant Applications
180 North University Avenue, Suite 250
Provo, UT  84601

Grant Application Timeline:

• April 1st - June 1st: LOI submission period
• June 2nd - June 20th: LOIs are reviewed 
• June 2nd - June 20th: Notification sent on the status of your LOI submission 
• July 1st - July 25th: Full application submission period, if invited to submit
• September 1st: Notification sent on the status of your full application submission
• September 2nd - September 25th: Organizations whose application is approved sign and submit their agreement letter
• October 10th - October 24th: Payments sent to approved organizations

Selection Process

Grants are made on a selective basis using the general guidelines below.  The guidelines are subject to change periodically within the purposes outlined in the articles of organization.

Grants may be reviewed and scored for award in a variety of ways that best accomplishes the objectives and philosophies of the Board members of the Foundation.  

Typically, the Foundation will not fund more than 10% of the total cost of a project or program.  

The Foundation generally views their contributions as the “last dollars to the table” so please identify all matches and other sources of funding that will be used.  Government funds are considered acceptable match.

The Foundation will be further supportive of cost-effective programs where small contributions can make a difference.   

Organizations are encouraged to present proposals where a large percentage of funding goes directly to achieve the stated grant objectives rather than to fundraising and administrative expenses.

FAQ's