Discretionary Grants Program

NEW APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR DISCRETIONARY GRANTS PROGRAM
New for the grant cycle beginning May 1, 2010, is the implementation of a two-step application process.  The Letter of Inquiry is the required first step in submitting funding requests to be considered by the Daviess County Community Foundation. The Letter of Inquiry helps in determining whether a funding request qualifies for consideration before the applicant invests time and effort in completing a full grant proposal.

Overview
Discretionary Grants are intended to provide funds for innovative, new or ongoing projects of charitable, nonprofit organizations or public charitable activities that fall within the Foundation's identified grantmaking priorities and that meet local needs.

Application requirements may change from year to year; therefore, grantseekers are advised to revisit this page prior to beginning the grant application process. Grants are normally given as one-time support of a project but may be considered for additional support for expansions or outgrowths of an initial project. Visit our Submit a Letter of Inquiry page for instructions on applying for a grant.

Grant Cycle

We consider funding requests on a yearly cycle which begins each May. At the start of each cycle, a notice is sent to nonprofit organizations that have applied for grants in the past, have received grants in the past, or have otherwise requested notification of the start of each cycle. The requirements and instructions provided here are to be considered current and accurate only for the duration of the Foundation's grant cycle, which runs from May through October each year.  Letters of Inquiry will be accepted from the May announcement date through the June deadline.  Letters of Inquiry submitted after the June deadline will not be considered.

Grant Program Orientation

Nonprofits that have submitted a Letter of Inquiry to the Daviess County Community Foundation and have been invited to submit a full proposal must attend one of the two orientation sessions listed below in order to be considered for funding.  A face-to-face meeting with the Director of the Daviess County Community Foundation may be permitted in lieu of attending an orientation session in certain instances; however, nonprofits must contact the Foundation office to discuss this option prior to the date of the first orientation.  Upcoming orientation sessions are listed below.  Please contact the Foundation office to register.

Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Time:  4:00 pm

Location:  Carnegie Public Library, Washington, Indiana 

Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010

Time:  4:00 pm

Location:  Plainville Town Hall, Plainville, Indiana 

Eligibility

The Foundation welcomes funding requests from nonprofit organizations that are deemed tax-exempt under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and from governmental agencies for charitable projects that serve the county. Funding requests from nonprofit organizations not classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity may be considered provided the project is charitable and supports a community need.  The Foundation will consider funding requests for nonprofit partnerships and collaborations, especially when separate funding requests would present a duplication of programs or services.  

Fiscal Sponsors
Proposals submitted by an entity under the auspices of another agency must include a written statement signed by the agency’s board president on behalf of the board of directors agreeing to act as the entity’s fiscal sponsor, to receive grant monies if awarded, and to oversee the proposed project.

Program Areas Considered for Funding 

Please visit our Program Areas page for details about the kinds of projects and programs supported through our Discretionary Grants Program.

Not more than twenty percent (20%) of any grant request may be for personnel costs,  office supplies, or other operating costs. Operating costs for any organization must be directly related to the project or program for which funding is being requested.  The following program areas will be considered for funding:

Arts and Culture

Community Development

Education

Health

Human Services

Other Civic Endeavors, such as the Environment, Recreation, and Youth Development

Project Areas NOT Considered for Funding

Religious organizations for religious purposes

Political parties or campaigns

Endowment creation or debt reduction

Operating costs (not directly related to the proposed project or program) 

Capital campaigns

Annual appeals or membership contributions

Travel requests for groups or individuals such as bands, sports teams, or classes

Deliberation
Letters of Inquiry will be reviewed by the Foundation's grants committee. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review process in writing no later than June 21, 2010.  Successful applicants will receive a formal invitation to submit a full grant proposal.  Full grant proposals are accepted by invitiation only.  

Once the grants committee has completed its review of full proposals, it will make its recommendations on funding to the Foundation's Board of Trustees, which will make final funding recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation Alliance (our governing body). All organizations that have submitted grant proposals will be notified of the outcome of the grants committee's deliberation in writing no later than November 1, 2010.

No lobbying or soliciting of Foundation representatives will be permitted. 

Reporting Procedures
A six-month progress report and a final report at project completion are required by organizations whose proposals are approved for funding.  Organizations that have received a grant from the Foundation in the past must be in compliance with reporting requirements in order to be considered for future grants.