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About RMHC Grants
Ronald McDonald House Charities and its global network of local RMHC Chapters have dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and program services toward making an immediate, positive impact on children who need it most.
Giving grants to other nonprofit organizations that benefit children extends the RMHC global reach, improving the well being of children worldwide.
If you have questions about a grant for a national or international initiative, e-mail the RMHC global office at grants@us.mcd.com.
RMHC Global Grants: For international or national organizations
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations whose national or global programs help improve the health and well being of children. Apply for a global grant
U.S. Matching Grants: For local or community efforts
If your program or project focuses on a specific community or area, grant requests should be sent to one of our local RMHC Chapters for consideration. Contact your local RMHC Chapter for more information.
More about RMHC Grants
Responsibility of Grant Recipients
The recipient of any grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities must use the funds awarded for the specific purpose of the original intent. RMHC requires detailed accounting of all funds awarded as part of the follow-up report that must be submitted one year after receipt of the grant.
It is understood that any funds not used in the manner specified in the letter of agreement must be returned to RMHC. A revision in use of funds must be requested in writing to RMHC and requires prior written approval.
Supporting materials sent as part of your grant application cannot be returned. Please do not submit any materials of which you do not have a copy.
Apply for a RMHC Global Grant
Please review each step carefully before applying.
- Determine if your organization is eligible.
Grant applicants should be not-for-profit, tax-exempt charitable organizations. RMHC has a full list of eligibility requirements. - Submit a letter of inquiry.
A letter of inquiry is the step before submitting a formal grant proposal. The letter should give a synopsis of the project, organization and requested funding amount.
RMHC reviews all letters of inquiry from eligible organizations. The review committee will invite organizations with missions that closely match the Charity’s to submit a formal grant proposal. - Submit a formal grant proposal.
Formal grant applications to RMHC require several attachments and a specific format. Follow the guidelines carefully.
The RMHC Board of Trustees will review your proposal. If the Board approves your proposal, you will receive a letter of agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the grant.
Step One: Determine if your organization is eligible
To be considered for funding, an applicant must be designated a not-for-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization. U.S. charities must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status letter on file with the Internal Revenue Service.
The RMHC Board of Trustees is most interested in national or international organizations that have a specific program related to children’s health and well being.
If your organization meets these eligibility requirements, you may apply for a grant by submitting a letter of inquiry.
Organizations seeking funding should have a specific program that:
- Directly improves the health and well being of children
- Addresses a significant funding gap or critical opportunity
- Has long-term impact in terms of replication or reach
- Produces measurable results
Organizations seeking funding should have:
- A broad base of funding support
- Management capacity to effectively execute the project
- A clear, concise plan for project evaluation with outcome measurement
RMHC does not fund:
- Advertising or fundraising drives
- Partisan, political or denominational programs
- Ongoing general and administrative costs (including salaries, travel and overhead)
- Intermediary funding agencies
- Endowment campaigns
- Individual funding requests
- Programs that are strictly local in focus and not replicable (Contact your local RMHC Chapter for information about grants for local programs.)
- Medical research
Step Two: Submit a letter of inquiry
Follow these guidelines to prepare a successful letter of inquiry. Study them carefully, and include all the information requested. Due to the large number of requests we receive, the RMHC Board of Trustees will not review incomplete submissions.
Letter Guidelines
The RMHC Board of Trustees will not review incomplete submissions and cannot return or forward grant request materials. If any of the items below are not attached, the submission will be deemed incomplete and immediately declined.
Letter Preparation
Your letter of inquiry must be submitted in English, be no more than three double-sided pages in length and should include the following:
- Specifications: Type on organization letterhead, signed by a management official and the project leader/principal investigator.
- Organization history: Describe your organization and past program accomplishments.
- Project information/methodology: Describe the problem or need this project will address and your methodology to solve it.
- Target population: Summarize your target population in measurable terms, including the audience, how many will be served, age of participants and the number and percentage who fall into specific ethnic groups (i.e., African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, etc.).
- Project objectives: Describe the benefits to be gained from the project’s success.
- Outcome measurement: Describe project outcome measurement and evaluation.
- Future funding: Describe your plans for funding this project in the future. If other funding sources are in place, please include this information.
Attachments must include:
- Determination letter confirming organization’s charitable/tax-exempt status for organizations outside the United States
- IRS 501(c)(3) letter (U.S. organizations only)
- Itemized project budget (including total amount requested)
Letter Submission
Please send all letters of inquiry to:
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Attn: Grants Department
One Kroc Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523
630-623-7048
Deadlines for Submission
Letters of inquiry must be submitted 90 days before a Board meeting. The deadline for 2008 Letters of Inquiry:
*April 28, 2008 to be eligible for the July 2008 Board Meeting
*September 8, 2008 to be eligible for the December 2008 Board Meeting
RMHC Board Review
The RMHC Board of Trustees reviews all letters of inquiry from eligible organizations. After reviewing letters of inquiry, the RMHC staff and management grant review committee will invite organizations whose objectives most closely match the mission of RMHC to submit a formal grant proposal. You will be notified of the grant review committee’s decision within 30 days of their meeting.
Step Three: Submit a formal grant proposal.
If the RMHC staff and management review committee invites you to submit a formal grant proposal, please follow these guidelines.
Formal Grant Proposal Preparation
You must be invited by RMHC to submit a full grant application. All new applicants or programs must first submit a letter of inquiry.
Format
- All submissions must be in English using standard black ink.
- You may type directly on the application form provided or follow the format exactly (single-spaced and single-sided pages only).
Attachments
- Current year’s operating budget
- IRS Form 990 (U.S. only)
- Most recent audited financial statements
- Current Board of Directors list
- Donor information showing all private, corporate and foundation support more than $500
- Do not attach any items that cannot be photocopied unless they have been specifically requested by RMHC.
Copies
- Two complete copies of the entire application, including attachments and supporting materials
Submission
Please send all formal grant proposals to:
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Attn: Grants Department
One Kroc Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523
630-623-7048
Deadlines for Submission
Materials must be received 90 days before the Board meeting date for which you are slated. You will be informed of your review date when you are invited to submit an application.
Formal Proposal Review Process
Acknowledgment of Receipt
RMHC will acknowledge receipt of your completed formal grant application. Any correspondence, questions or additional information will be conducted through an RMHC staff member throughout the grant review process.
The Board of Trustees
Ronald McDonald House Charities is governed by a 20-plus-member Board of Trustees composed of health professionals, business and civic leaders and McDonald’s corporate officers, licensees and suppliers. The Board meets several times per year to review, select and award grants to not-for-profit, tax-exempt organizations that have demonstrated an ability to directly impact the health and well-being of children in a definitive hands-on manner that yields measurable results.
Board Review
The Board of Trustees will receive the application for review 90 days prior to the Board meeting.
Board Decision
All Board decisions are reported by mail, within three weeks following the Board meeting.
Board Approval
If your proposal is approved, you will receive a letter of agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the grant, which must be signed by an authorized management official of the organization and returned to RMHC. This letter will also address arrangements for the awarding of the grant funds.
