The Sarlo Foundation is interested in making grants which leverage other monies, provide early funding, and fill a gap that others are not addressing. The Foundation provides seed funding to new organizations or initiatives in specific areas. Grants are made available to both Jewish and non-Jewish agencies primarily in the following three areas:

Immigrant Issues, with a particular focus on human rights:
The Foundation is sensitive to the difficulties and strains which immigrants face. Areas of focus include programs which provide support to immigrants who have fled war-torn environments, those helping individuals who have suffered human rights violations heal and seek justice, and those assisting immigrants to become self-sufficient through a variety of methods, including vocational training.

Education:
The Foundation seeks to increase educational access and opportunity, enhance the status of educators, and improve the capacity of local institutions to provide quality education. The Foundation supports the promotion of excellence in teaching, college and graduate school scholarships for immigrants and those in need, and one-time local initiatives to improve educational institutions.

Medical crisis intervention in underdeveloped areas:
The Foundation hopes to make a difference by providing early support for the intervention of medical and health crises, particularly in the developing world and for under-served populations. While its preference is to support direct service programs, the Foundation may also consider seed funding basic research projects which can lead to the development of new, cost-effective methods of providing medical care and treatment to under-served populations.

Other programs which fill gaps in service and stimulate change:
The Foundation allocates a portion of its grant funds each year to new areas and programs which have a direct and significant impact on individuals. For the most part, these grants are directed to smaller organizations where a grant from this Foundation can stimulate change and make a substantial difference.