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The Fred Gellert Family Foundation funds innovative programs that encourage a sustainable quality of life for present and future generations. Grants are awarded to organizations focused on the arts and humanities, education, environment, health and social service, and on projects that link two or more of these areas.

PROGRAM AREAS

Arts & Humanities
(restricted to Bay area organizations)
The Foundation is interested in funding programs in all the arts- fine, visual, performing, and literary. We seek opportunities to assist those who bring art programs to youth and to under-served communities. We encourage programs that promote awareness of cultural identities and traditions of all ethnic groups, and art programs that promote emotional and physical healing. We also encourage programs that reinvigorate community life, health and environmental conditions.

Education
(restricted to Bay area organizations)
The foundation looks for innovative educational programs that help raise achievement levels of all students. There is particular interest in programs for students with learning disabilities, for students from under-served communities, and for teachers to improve their own capabilities and performance. We encourage programs that develop and use curricula focused on environmental issues, sustainable communities and social and environmental justice.

Environment
The foundation supports large-scale and integrated “green planning” strategies for the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of ecosystems. An area of emphasis is consensus building among government, business and non-governmental organizations aimed at restoring the public trust and improving democratic policies. Proposals should indicate how the program or project relates to long-term, sustainable management goals. Related principles include

1. carrying capacity, which refers to the environmental and social pressures caused by rising population, and the consumption of resources; and
2. the precautionary principle, meaning that scientific uncertainty does not preclude protective environmental approaches.
3. We look to comprehensive long term solutions to solve the problem of environmental and health decline. We also fund projects empowering women to become environmental leaders.

Health
The foundation looks for organizations on the forefront of the environmental health and advocacy movements. We assist health programs concerned with quality of life issues and medical research looking into disease cause and prevention. Particular interests include the environmental health risks, reproductive health, and education which includes reproductive choices and teen pregnancy.

Youth, Seniors and Family Services
The foundation focuses on programs that provide or advocate early intervention to encourage youth to make healthy life choices. We look at programs aiding families and seniors at risk due to such underlying problems as drug or alcohol abuse. We fund programs concerned with domestic abuse and mental illness. Programs that offer training and job placement for youth, and for adults making the transition from social welfare and homelessness are also of interest.