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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
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Discretionary Grants: Encouraging Participation… or Dividing Families?
Passages Issue Briefs![](https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/feature-pandoras-box-discretionary-grants-encouraging-participation-or-pandoras-box-317x177.jpg)
Discretionary Grants: Encouraging Participation… or Pandora’s Box?
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Discretionary Grants Guide
ToolSample policies, forms, and letters
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Discretionary grant trustee application form (General Service Foundation)
Sample![](https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/feature-pie-discretionary-grants-faq-how-to-apply-for-a-discretionary-grant.jpg)
FAQ: How to apply for a discretionary grant
Sample![](https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/samples-1.jpg)
Directors’ discretionary grants program – Dyson Foundation
Sample![](https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ask-the-center-1.jpg)
How do family foundations typically provide discretionary grants?
Ask the Center![](https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/samples-1.jpg)
A collection of grant maker discretionary grants policies (GEO)
Sample![](https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/samples-1.jpg)
Discretionary grants policy (Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation)
Sample![](https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/samples-1.jpg)