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Grant
Application Process
All organizations seeking financial assistance must apply through the Foundation’s two-step grant application process.
After a verbal inquiry to the Foundation, the applicant is provided with the Foundation’s Grant Application Summary in order to determine initial eligibility and the Foundation’s interest in funding the proposal.
The applicant submits the completed Grant Application Summary along with a cover letter signed by the organization’s Chief Executive Officer or Chair of the Board asking for consideration of funding.
If the Grant Application Summary receives an affirmative decision, the Foundation will provide the applicant with a complete Grant Application in order to proceed with formal consideration of the funding request.
The applicant must submit the completed Grant Application along with any required attachments to the Foundation.
The Foundation will consider grant requests on a one-time or multi-year basis for period not to exceed three years. It is not the Foundation’s intent to be the primary source or the sole funding source for any organization.
At the Foundation’s discretion, interviews at the applicant’s office, the project site and the Foundation office may be a part of the review process.
Once the Grant Application is deemed complete, the Foundation will begin its formal review process. The Foundation discourages unsolicited phone calls during the review period.
Please note that the Foundation may amend these guidelines and procedures at any time without notice to applicants or grantees.
Grant
Application Summary
The
Grant Application Summary is the first stage of the
application process. It gives applicants the opportunity
to introduce their organization
and request to the Foundation. It is intended to provide
the Foundation staff with enough preliminary information
to assess whether or not the request can be considered,
without requiring as much depth and detail as the full
Grant Application. Essentially, it asks:
- the
purpose of your organization
- the
current main sources of funding
- how
the grant funds would be used
If
a Grant Application Summary is not successful, an applicant
will not receive the Grant Application, so it is critical
to address the summary questions thoroughly, being sure
to highlight, within the framework of the questionnaire,
the ways in which your program addresses the funding
priorities and the grantmaking criteria of the Foundation.
The fact that the Grant Application Summary is intended
to be brief does not preclude it from being a descriptive
and informative snapshot of your organization and request.
In
addition to being a necessary step, the discussion you
have with Foundation staff at the time you request your
Grant Application Summary will be very useful to you
as you complete the Summary, as it will further point
out the qualities, focus, and criteria that contribute
to the success of an application.
Grant
Application
The
Grant Application is the second stage of the application
process. It requires an expansion of the project description
approved at the Grant Application Summary stage, as well
as information regarding the organization's mission, history,
governing structure, financial position, and proposed
use of grant funds. Decisions regarding Grant Applications
are made by the Foundation's Board. Considerations include:
- Completeness
of the application
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Are
all questions answered? |
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Is the application typewritten
or computer-prepared? If computer prepared, is it
in the exact order and format as the original application? |
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Are
responses limited to the specified number of words? |
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Are
the appropriate signatures present? |
- Organizational
Information
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Is
it a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is the
designation letter included? |
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Is
a copy of the current Form 990 included? |
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Is
the mission of the organization consistent with
the mission of the Foundation? |
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Is
a current audit, done by an outside auditor, included
and does it reflect a relatively stable financial
position? |
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Are
the required budgets included and are they reasonable? |
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Does
this project or organization have broad-based financial
support from a variety of sources? |
- Proposed
use of grant funding
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Is
there a documented need for this program? |
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Is
the project clearly defined and consistent with
the funding priorities of the Foundation? |
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Will
the project have a significant impact and is there
a plan for measuring that impact in a quantifiable
way? |
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Terms and Conditions Under Which Grants are Awarded
Grant
decisions are made based upon Board action. If a request
for funding is approved, the Foundation will notify
the applicant via a Grant Award Letter. Returning the
executed copy of the Grant Award Letter to the Foundation
constitutes an agreement to the terms and conditions
of the grant. No organization should make commitments
or plans based upon discussions about a grant until
an executed copy of the Grant Award Letter has been
returned to the Foundation.
Procedure
for Exercising Supervision Over Grants
Periodic
follow-up consistent with the terms and conditions of
the grant award occurs during the term of the grant.
Organizations receiving grants will be required to submit
annual written reports to the Foundation regarding the
use of grant funds. Evaluation forms are supplied by
the Foundation. Depending on circumstances, more frequent
reporting may be required by the Foundation. Monitoring
may also include site visits and interviews with the
grantee's staff.
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