GEOList Summary: Funding Government Entities

We at Sunlight Giving would like to hear from GEO colleagues about how and when you may choose to (or not to) support a government entity. In particular, we’d like to know: In what cases do you provide grants directly to government entities and what are the terms of those grants? We’re interested in the funding of state and especially local initiatives, rather than big government philanthropic arms like CDC Foundation; What application materials do you require from them, especially around financials? And is there any special due diligence you conduct?; What are the risks of funding the government?; Sometimes we hear from partner funders, “we don’t fund government.” For those foundations, what are the reasons why you have decided not to fund government?