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Flamboyan Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$3.0M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2w
Success Rate
23%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,952,548 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $22.2 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Washington, DC and Puerto Rico
  • Application Method: Mixed (partnership-based for education programs; competitive application for Arts Fund)

Contact Details

Washington, DC Office: 1730 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 315-2410

Puerto Rico Office: P.O. Box 16699 San Juan, PR 00908-6699 Phone: (787) 977-5522

Email: info@flamboyanfoundation.org Website: https://flamboyanfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 2008, the Flamboyan Foundation is a private family foundation with total assets of $22.2 million and annual giving of approximately $3 million. The Foundation focuses on two primary areas: championing REAL Family Engagement (Relationships, Equitable Experiences, Academic Partnerships, Leadership) in schools across Washington, DC and nationwide, and strengthening early literacy and preserving arts and culture in Puerto Rico. Under CEO Kristin Ehrgood's leadership since inception, Flamboyan has evolved from working with 5 DC schools in 2011 to partnering with 46 schools across all eight wards. The Foundation has received recognition through partnerships with the Ford Foundation ($900,000 grant in 2021) and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Their Vision 2030 strategy aims to ensure all K-3 students in Puerto Rico read at grade level in Spanish and that children most impacted by inequity thrive.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Family Engagement Partnership (DC Schools)

  • Five-year school partnerships
  • No publicly stated grant amounts for school partnerships
  • Community-Based Organizations can co-apply for school-based grants: $2,500 (one school) or $5,000 (multiple schools)
  • Application method: Partnership-based selection (not open application)

Flamboyan Arts Fund (Puerto Rico)

  • Multi-year unrestricted grants: $50,000 - $100,000 per organization
  • Periodic competitive grant cycles
  • Has awarded $8-10 million to 47+ organizations since inception
  • Disciplines: performing arts, visual arts, literature, arts education, cinema, dance, music, theater
  • Application method: Public competitive application when cycles are open

En Foco: Proyecto de Visibilización Cultural

  • Participatory grantmaking model
  • Grants: $50,000 - $100,000 over two years
  • Total initiative: up to $500,000
  • Application method: Community-led selection process

Priority Areas

Education Programs:

  • Family engagement in schools serving students impacted by inequity
  • K-3 Spanish literacy in Puerto Rico
  • Teacher training and principal coaching
  • School-wide transformation of family-educator relationships

Arts & Culture in Puerto Rico:

  • Organizations serving underserved populations (children with Down Syndrome, hearing impaired, incarcerated individuals)
  • Geographic reach beyond San Juan metro area
  • Infrastructure support and organizational sustainability
  • Emergency relief for arts ecosystem
  • Individual artist fellowships (e.g., Letras Boricuas: $25,000 per writer)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's focus is narrow and strategic:

  • Does not appear to fund organizations outside Washington, DC and Puerto Rico
  • Education grants limited to family engagement model, not general education projects
  • Arts funding restricted to Puerto Rico-based organizations and artists

Governance and Leadership

Board Members:

  • Kristin Ehrgood, CEO and Board Chair
  • Rea Carey, Board Member
  • Vadim Nikitine, Board Member

Executive Team:

  • Kristin Ehrgood, CEO and Board Chair: Founded Flamboyan in 2008. Former Teach for America Executive Director (NJ) and Director of New Site Development. Co-founded Sapientis in Puerto Rico (2002). Holds MPA from Harvard Kennedy School. Serves on boards of DC School Reform Now, Teach For America-DC, Venture Philanthropy Partners, and US Olympic and Paralympic Foundations.

  • Marci Young, President & Chief Operating Officer: Oversees overall strategy, program, and operations. 20+ years nonprofit management experience. Former kindergarten teacher (Maryland), Partner at Venture Philanthropy Partners, VP of Impact at United Way Worldwide, leadership roles at Pew Center of States and Center for the Child Care Workforce.

  • Carlos Rodríguez Silvestre, Executive Director, Puerto Rico

  • Emily Garcia, Executive Director, DC Office

  • Shoko Fox, Senior Managing Director, Programs

  • Nicole Magnani, Senior Managing Director, Finance + Operations

  • Lindsay Wright, Chief of Staff

Leadership Quote: Kristin Ehrgood on mission: "Ensure a day where every child, particularly those most impacted by inequity, will have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life."

Carlos J. Rodríguez-Silvestre on Arts Fund: "Getting to know the critical work of these organizations and being able to support their growth and stability is a privilege."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For DC School Partnerships: Flamboyan does not have a public application process for their Family Engagement Partnership. Schools are selected through a partnership-based approach. The Foundation currently works with 46 DC public and charter schools across all eight wards, including Jefferson Academy, Kelly Miller MS, Brookline MS, Eliot-Hine MS, Kramer MS, Sousa MS, Takoma Education Campus, KIPP DC Northeast Academy, KIPP DC Valor, DC Scholars, Capital City PCS, Coolidge HS, E.L. Haynes HS, The Seed School, and Thurgood Marshall HS.

For DC Community-Based Organizations: CBOs can co-apply with schools for grants up to $2,500 (one school) or $5,000 (multiple schools) through partnersupport@flamboyanfoundation.org.

For Puerto Rico Arts Organizations: The Flamboyan Arts Fund opens periodic competitive grant cycles. When open, applications are submitted through their website. The 2019 cycle received 147 applications for 34 awards totaling $4 million.

Decision Timeline

For school-based grants: Applicants receive a response within 2 weeks of application. Once selected, schools have 72 hours to confirm payment information and sign the contract, with grant awards issued within 2 weeks.

For Arts Fund competitive cycles: Timeline varies by cycle; not publicly specified for the full review process.

Success Rates

Arts Fund 2019 Cycle: 23% success rate (34 awards from 147 applications)

Reapplication Policy

No publicly available information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

For Arts Fund Applications (based on 2019 selection):

  • Geographic diversity matters: Flamboyan actively seeks to support organizations beyond the San Juan metro area to amplify arts across Puerto Rico
  • Serving underserved populations is prioritized: Organizations working with children with Down Syndrome, hearing impaired populations, incarcerated individuals, and other marginalized communities receive strong consideration
  • Organizational stability and growth potential: The Foundation looks for organizations ready to strengthen their infrastructure and expand programming
  • Alignment with post-disaster recovery: Following Hurricane Maria and economic crisis, projects that help communities rebuild culturally and economically are valued
  • Clear community impact: Applications should demonstrate how funding will preserve and promote arts while serving specific populations

For School Partnerships: While selection criteria aren't public, successful partnerships appear to involve:

  • Commitment to multi-year collaboration (5 years)
  • Leadership buy-in from principals and school administrators
  • Serving student populations impacted by inequity
  • Readiness to transform school culture around family engagement

Participatory Grantmaking Philosophy: The Foundation has adopted a community-led approach where "every step is developed and implemented by artists to support other artists." This philosophy treats grantees "as agents of change in their communities rather than simply beneficiaries of aid." For the En Foco initiative, a steering committee of previous grantees evaluates proposals and selects new recipients.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Know your geography: Only DC-based schools/CBOs or Puerto Rico arts organizations are eligible; extremely focused geographic priorities
  • Partnership model vs. open application: Education programs are partnership-based with no public application; Arts Fund has periodic competitive cycles—monitor their website for announcements
  • Multi-year thinking is valued: Flamboyan makes 5-year commitments to schools and multi-year grants to arts organizations; demonstrate sustainability planning
  • Quick turnaround for small grants: DC school-based grants have a 2-week decision timeline—be prepared to move quickly
  • Underserved populations are the priority: Whether in education or arts, serving communities impacted by inequity is central to their mission
  • Community voice matters: Their participatory grantmaking model means artist and community input shapes funding decisions; engage with their existing grantee network
  • Unrestricted funding philosophy: Arts Fund provides unrestricted grants, suggesting they trust organizations to deploy resources strategically—emphasize organizational capacity and vision rather than highly prescribed project plans

References

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