The Foundation makes grants only to organizations (or fiscal agents acting on their behalf) that meet Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) requirements as nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations or to qualified governmental units or agencies.

The Foundation does not make grants to individuals and rarely for endowments, building campaigns, direct services, deficit financing, or religious purposes. Grant funds may not be used to participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or to conduct, directly or indirectly, any voter registration drive (within the meaning of Section 4945(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code). Grants are not made for debt reduction. Funding for conferences, publications and media is limited to projects directly related to priorities in the Foundation's program areas.