General
Our Mission
Doris Buffett
SLF Funding Priorities and Policies
The Sunshine Lady Foundation has developed two specific goals, first to dedicate itself to breaking cycles of poverty, abuse and economic dependence through investment in education. Women, especially those who experience domestic violence, and children always come first. Second, to foster the growth of philanthropy through the education system by teaching modern, socially responsible philanthropy and leveraging that investment through the work of students.
The Sunshine Lady Foundation always favors a collaborative effort and prefers challenge grants (matching funds) whenever feasible.
The Sunshine Lady Foundation does not favor funding the Arts, except as part of an educational process
The Sunshine Lady Foundation does not favor funding academic, scientific or medical research.
The Sunshine Lady Foundation favors funding small, grass roots organizations that deliver services directly to the working poor and families in crisis, which are administered by a working board, and which recruit and make effective use of volunteers.
Sunshine Lady Foundation grants, with few exceptions, must be given to charitable tax-exempt organizations. The most common, 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) organizations, are organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, literary or scientific purposes. A copy of the IRS letter of determination of the organization's tax-exempt status should accompany the grant proposal. Organizations that derive a large percentage of funding from government sources are not favored. Organizations with a budget of less than $500,000 are favored.
Grants to individuals for “charitable purposes” are permitted by the IRS when given on an objective, non-discriminatory basis. The SLF always favors making grants to individuals in collaboration with a local charitable organization that can verify the financial need of the grantee and the use of funds granted. Prospective recipients must have exhausted all sources of government aid or available charitable assistance before being considered. Examples of permitted individual relief grants would be those intended to relieve expenses related to health or economic hardship due to loss of property, income, or death. Always consult SLF staff before approaching an individual grantee.
A Sunshine Lady Foundation grant is a hand-up, not a hand-out.
The Sunshine Lady Foundation favors funding specific projects and emergency shortfalls rather than general operating expenses except in cases of start up funds. Annual funding should not be assumed.
Every grant should be understood to be issued on a one-time basis. If multi-year funding is anticipated, this should be clearly described in the original proposal.
General Guidelines
The following general guidelines will help Sunbeams determine whether an organization fits with the Sunshine Lady Foundation mission and funding priorities. Funding decisions will always be influenced by financial support contributed by board members and the local community. Because the Sunshine Lady Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests, the Sunbeams play a vital role in bringing opportunities to achieve the mission to the foundation.
SLF funding will always be considered for the following:
- Domestic violence and sexual abuse programs
- Community organizations that encourage and assist individuals to become economically self-sufficient, especially programs for women and the working poor
- Mentoring programs for at risk children
- Early reading programs
- Programs designed to develop community leadership and encourage giving back
- Respite programs for parents of disabled children
- Support programs for grandparents raising children
SLF funding will rarely be considered for the following:
- Organizations funded primarily by public taxation
- Organizations with annual budgets that exceed $500,000
- The Arts, except as part of an educational process
- Medical, scientific or academic research
- Projects in foreign countries unless the Sunbeam is actively involved and visits abroad
- Capital campaigns
- Travel for band or sports teams except as individual scholarships
SLF funding will not be considered for the following:
- Organizations which promote a sectarian religious message or a political candidate
- Endowments or deficit funding
- Payment of organization fines or penalties
The Sunshine Lady Foundation awards two types of grants:
- Outright grants
- Challenge grants which require matching funds to be raised during a specified time period
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OUR MISSION
The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a private family foundation founded by Doris Buffett of Omaha , Nebraska . The foundation is entirely funded through Ms. Buffett's generosity and the mission reflects her values and beliefs. Ms. Buffett believes that everyone is capable of making good choices when choices are available and that inequities arise when choices are limited.
The mission of the Sunshine Lady Foundation is to invest in organizations and programs dedicated to providing opportunities for the advancement of education, well being and new life choices for disadvantaged people with special empathy for the working poor and families in crisis. Furthermore, the Foundation believes in spreading responsibility in philanthropy through encouraging its growth in our educational system. Schools, especially colleges and universities, are the fertile grounds from which to harvest the philanthropists of the future.
Acknowledging that good luck does not shine equally on everyone, The Sunshine Lady Foundation directors, staff and volunteers, known as Sunbeams, seek out ways to effectively share financial support, goodwill, energy and vision with those who need it most, and to encourage collaborative efforts within the community to help achieve this mission.
To achieve this mission the Sunshine Lady Foundation provides scholarships and fellowships, makes grants through volunteer Sunbeams, and encourages understanding of philanthropy and development of leadership and good citizenship through Student Sunbeam Programs.
THE FOUNDATION DOES NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED GRANT REQUEST.
Scholarships
The Sunshine Lady Foundation operates a scholarship for college-bound students in three Eastern North Carolina counties (Brunswick , Carteret and Pamlico).
Fellowships
- The Doris Buffett Fellows at the Center for Children, Families and the Law, at the University of Virginia offers practicum fellowships in the study of family violence
Sunbeams
Sunshine Lady Foundation funding is granted through a nationwide network of volunteers, known as Sunbeams, who may apply for funding for organizations or projects in their own communities which support the Sunshine Lady Foundation mission and which comply with the Foundation guidelines. Sunbeams perform on-site visits and supervise the disbursement of funds granted.
Student Sunbeam Programs
Sunshine Lady Foundation funding is granted through student Sunbeams at selected colleges and secondary schools. The goal of the program is to promote the ideal of community service among young people, to provide real life experience in the non-profit world and in philanthropy, and to connect young people with experiences outside of their own lives on campus.
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DORIS BUFFETT BIOGRAPHY
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The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a private family foundation founded by Doris Buffett and funded through her generosity. The mission of the foundation reflects the midwestern values and no-nonsense approach to decision-making that Doris grew up with in Omaha , Nebraska . Each Sunshine Lady Foundation grant is considered an investment, and the decision to grant funds is always based on an expected successful return. Doris Buffett is grateful to her father and brother not only for providing her with the wealth to fund the foundation but also for their inspirational examples of integrity and generosity.
An article in Worth magazine called the Sunshine Lady Foundation "uniquely hands-on, folksy, a person-to-person enterprise - the un foundation" because of Doris ' hands on, personal involvement with every aspect of the foundation's grant making process. The same article quotes Karen Green of the Council on Foundations as saying "Only two or three start-up (family foundations) out of the several dozen I've seen did anything like the degree of preparatory work that Doris (Buffett) did."
Doris is passionate about her responsibilities as a philanthropist and a good citizen and her energy and enthusiasm are boundless. Among her many other roles, she has been a first grade teacher, domestic violence crusader, political activist, mother and grandmother. She is the self appointed Buffett family genealogist and her avocation is historic preservation.
Since its inception in 1996 the Sunshine Lady Foundation has awarded more than $50 million in grants. |
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