JAMS Arbitration and Mediation Services tag line
To search for a phrase, enclose it "in quotes"
  • Arbitrators, Mediators, JAMS Neutrals
  • Arbitration Rules and Clauses
  • JAMS Locations
  • Mediation, Arbitration, ADR
  • JAMS Arbitration and Mediation Services Practices
  • JAMS Arbitration and Mediation Services Publications
  • JAMS International

About the JAMS Foundation

JAMS Foundation Logo
  • Print
  • PDF
  • Add to Packet
  • View Packet

About the Foundation


The Mission of the JAMS Foundation


JAMS, the nation’s premier provider of private dispute resolution services, established the non-profit JAMS Foundation to offer financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national or international impact and to share its dispute resolution experience and expertise for the benefit of the public interest. Funded entirely by contributions from JAMS, JAMS neutrals, and employee associates, the Foundation’s mission is to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), support education at all levels about collaborative processes for resolving differences, promote innovation in conflict resolution, and advance the settlement of conflict worldwide.


Current Areas of Interest
  • Conflict Resolution Education: In order to promote the inclusion of conflict prevention and resolution in classroom instruction and school programs, the Foundation supports training of teachers and school administrators, as well as the development and distribution of curricular and teaching materials that introduce students to dispute resolution concepts and training. 
  • Peer Mediation: Peer mediation programs in schools have proven effective in reducing violence and teaching peaceful negotiation skills to our nation’s youth. The Foundation may provide grants to support the preparation, printing, and distribution of peer mediation training materials on a national level.
  • Community Mediation: The Foundation provides resources and support for community mediation programs and national distribution of community mediation training materials.
  • Professional Education: The Foundation supports the advancement of ADR through improvements to professional education and will consider grants to promote innovations in teaching ADR or to stimulate interest and excellence through awards and recognitions.
  • Innovations in Resolving Disputes and Making Dispute Resolution Services More Available: Innovations in community and non-profit organizational delivery of dispute resolution services, particularly to underserved populations, is encouraged and supported by the Foundation.
  • International Dispute Resolution Programs: The Foundation may award grants to U.S.-based organizations that provide dispute resolution assistance in transitioning and developing countries.


Funding Opportunities
  • Foundation Grants: The Foundation may provide financial support of up to $50,000 for ADR-related initiatives with national scope or impact that are related to one or more of the Foundation’s current areas of interest, subject to available funding.
  • Opportunity Grants: The Foundation may provide grants of up to $10,000 for local or regional ADR-related projects that present unique opportunities or innovative approaches to providing dispute resolution education, training, or services.
  • Weinstein International Fellowships: The Foundation will provide funding of up to $20,000 each for qualified individuals from outside the U.S. to come to the U.S. to learn more about dispute resolution services, programs and practices in order to expand the use of ADR in their home countries.
  • Major Dispute Resolution Initiatives: The Foundation will, on occasion, initiate and fund major projects in selected areas of dispute resolution education, training, or services.
  • Special ADR Needs: The Foundation will consider financial support and volunteer resources for ADR-related assistance in extraordinary situations such as those experienced in New York following the attacks of September 11, 2001 and in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.


Eligibility and Limitations
  • The Foundation makes grants only to tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. Except for International Fellows, the Foundation does not make grants to individuals.
  • The Foundation will not consider requests for endowments, capital construction, general overhead, indirect costs, fundraising campaigns, deficit financing, or loans.
  • Due to limited funding, the Foundation supports established organizations and does not generally provide grants to start-up organizations.
  • The Foundation will not generally consider requests to fund scholarships or individual participation in trainings or conferences.
  • The Foundation will not provide funds to lobby legislation or influence public elections.
  • The Foundation’s funding commitments are generally made on a year-to-year basis. The Foundation may grant support to a particular organization for more than one year, which need not be consecutive.


How to Apply for a Grant

Grant seekers should review this page to determine whether or not their project and funding needs are consistent with the Foundation’s interests and funding opportunities. An organization that believes it has a project of interest to the Foundation may submit an inquiry or proposal at any time, either by mail or e-mail, as indicated below. Proposals should be no more than five pages and should include the following information:
  • Purpose of potential request
  • How the proposal relates to the Foundation’s current areas of interest
  • Why the proposal is unique and why is it needed
  • Changes that will occur as a result of funding the proposal
  • Plans for evaluating the project's success (i.e., how will you know that the project’s goals have been met?)
  • The organization’s history, mission, and goals
  • Name(s) and qualifications of designated project director(s)
  • Other organizations engaged in work similar to the proposed project
  • Anticipated project budget, including amount of funding sought from the Foundation
  • Other funding sources for the project and amounts applied for, received, or committed
  • If intended as an ongoing program, plans for sustaining the program
 

Evaluation


All proposals are initially reviewed by the Foundation’s Executive Director and Program Manager to determine whether the proposal falls within the Foundation’s current areas of interest, funding opportunities, and funding limits. Those that do not are so informed.

All funding decisions are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors at their quarterly meetings, based on the following:
  • The priority of the proposed activity within the Foundation’s goals
  • The potential results and likely impact of funding the proposal
  • The availability of the Foundation’s funds

2013 Foundation Board meetings are scheduled as follows:
  • February 1
  • May 2
  • August 2
  • November 8

Grant proposals must be received at least two weeks prior to a scheduled meeting in order to be included on the agenda for that meeting.

The Board may request further information, detail, or modification of proposals that fit the Foundation’s priorities and guidelines but about which questions or concerns remain.

Proposals for Special ADR Needs and Opportunity Grants may be expedited under appropriate circumstances.
  
 

Contacts:

David Brandon, Managing Director
Telephone: 415-774-2648
Email:

Ellen Bass, Weinstein Fellowship Program Director
Telephone: 415-774-2660
Email:


Mailing Address:

JAMS Foundation
Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94111
 
JAMS RSS   JAMS LinkedIn   JAMS Twitter