Grant Guidelines

Our Grant Focus

Cathay Bank Foundation will consider grants from the following areas:

Community & Economic Development

	Programs to preserve, rehabilitate and construct affordable housing in low and moderate-income areas;
	Organizations that provide home-buyer counseling to families in the LMI communities;
	Programs that support small business development, commercial revitalization, and job creation;
	Programs tailored to assist LMI individuals in development of work and life skills, with a specific emphasis on work-entry programs, skills training, and employment retention;
	Senior services, workforce development and services for individuals with disabilities.

Education

	Innovative programs that offer assistance to low-and moderate-income (LMI) youths to excel in school and prepare for higher education;
	Financial literacy programs for youth and adults in LMI communities;
	Effective mentoring programs for at-risk youths;
	Student scholarship programs focused on finance related studies;
	Literacy, math, parent engagement efforts and English as a Second Language (ESL);
	Entrepreneurship education programs for underserved youth.

Civic & Community

	Civic organizations that focus on development of neighborhoods and preservations of social issues;
	Organizations that seek to enhance communications and understanding of other communities with our communities;
	Voter registration and education, community organizing and leadership development.

Health & Welfare

	Homeless, crisis shelters and battered women shelters;
	Programs that provide services to children and families at risk;
	Soup kitchens;
	Health prevention and education targeted to conditions such as diabetes, obesity, asthma; insurance enrollment of uninsured children and adults; mental health services; fitness and nutrition.

Eligibility Criteria

The Foundation will place strong emphasis on nonprofit organizations that are results oriented and market savvy. The organization’s programs and services must:

	Target the low- and moderate-income (LMI) population;
	Display leadership and vision in the community;
	Provide tangible benefits to the communities they serve;
	Have an effective system to measure and report results with a demonstrated track record;
	Have established strategic alliance with the community to face expected challenges;
	Have 501c(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS;
	Be equal opportunity employers;
	Display fiscal and administrative stability.

Ineligible Organizations

Cathay Bank Foundation cannot support the following:

	Organizations without 501c(3) status
	Individuals, religious, fraternal and labor organizations
	Organizations/programs that are not aligned with the Foundation’s missions
	Organizations that are located or benefit outside Cathay Bank’s communities
	Private foundations
	Organizations with missions to influence or participate in political campaigns on behalf or against a candidate or initiative
	Veterans and/or military organization
	Organizations that channel grant funds to third parties
	Service club activities
	Operating funds for hospitals or other patient care facilities
	Funding of travel and related expenses for any organization.