Blue Ridge's application process is as follows:

1. Letter of Inquiry received. 

• The applicant is screened for basic eligibility. Is the proposed organization (i) a start-up; (ii) based in NYC; and, (iii) related to youth development, community building, and/or the public interest use of technology?
• Applicant screened for potential fit. If the proposal is a potential fit with the Foundation's funding priorities, the applicant will be notified and provided with a set of formal application questions and the opportunity to describe their idea in more detail.

2. Formal Application received. The following occurs after the formal application is received: 

• Portfolio Peer Review. A committee comprised of staff people who work for organizations in the Blue Ridge Portfolio reviews all applications. This allows Portfolio organizations to indicate which applicants they believe offer compelling partnership opportunities and to provide their general impressions of the applicants.
• Blue Ridge Staff Review. Blue Ridge staff reviews each application, along with the feedback gathered during the peer review process. These applications, along with a summary of impressions, are forwarded to Blue Ridge trustees.
• Trustee Screen. On their first screen, trustees select applications that will receive additional attention as well as those which will not be pursued further. The interests of the trustees guide this stage of the selection process.

3. Final Review:

• Applications that proceed past the trustee screen receive extensive review. This review may include several meetings with the applicant and/or requests for supplementary written materials. The decision whether to add a new organization to the portfolio is made in a final conference among staff and trustees.