Submit a Grant Proposal

Before Getting Started
A Letter of Inquiry is the required first step in submitting funding requests to be considered by the Community Foundation. The information provided below is intended only for those organizations that previously submitted a Letter of Inquiry and have been invited by the Community Foundation in writing to submit a full grant proposal.  Attendance at one of the two Grant Program Orientation sessions is required in order to be considered for funding.

Required Documents

Cover Sheet (see "Online Forms" below)

Narrative Addressing the Following (two to four pages):

Project Summary 

Describe your project and the community need being addressed.

How is this project relative to your organization's mission?

What are the project goals and the expected impact on the community?

What population will the project serve?

Funding

What is the total cost of the project?

What amount is requested from the Foundation? If the full amount of your request for funding cannot be granted, what portion of your request do you consider to be most essential?

How will requested funds be used?

What additional funding sources are needed?

Implementation 

How will the project be implemented?

What provisions exist to maintain the completed project?

Chart the timeline for implementing the project.

How many volunteer hours will be used to implement and complete the project?

How many staff hours will be used to implement and complete the project?

How many staff hours were used to create this funding request and prepare it for delivery?

Evaluation

What outputs (direct results of activities) are necessary to classify the project a success (e.g. training completed, credentials awarded, skills obtained, etc.)?

What outcomes (changes caused by the project) are necessary to classify the project a success (e.g. jobs, wage increases, promotions, etc.)?

What tools will be used to evaluate the project (observation, surveys, interviews, focus groups, pre/post tests, etc.)?

Supporting Documents
The following documents are to be attached to the Cover Sheet and Narrative described above. It is important to provide ALL requested attachments and that they be labeled in the following manner:

Attachment 1: Project Budget Worksheet (see "Online Forms" below)

Attachment 2: Mission statement and nondiscrimination policy

Attachment 3: Statement of qualifications of project personnel

Attachment 4: Current board roster with professional affiliations

Attachment 5: Copy of IRS determination letter establishing 501(c)(3) and 509(a) status (and fiscal sponsor agreement letter, if applicable)

Attachment 6: Organization's current annual operating budget

Attachment 7: Most recent financial statement (monthly, quarterly, etc.)

Attachment 8: Most recent audited financial statement or completed IRS Form 990 (if available)

Online Forms
The Cover Sheet Form and the Project Budget Worksheet Form are provided below. These forms are designed to be completed on-screen and then printed (they cannot be submitted on-line and they cannot be saved for retrieval at a later time). You must have Adobe Reader to access these files (click here to download at no cost).

Cover Sheet Form
Project Budget Worksheet Form

Application Preparation and Deadline to Submit a Grant Proposal
The original and eight copies of the Cover Sheet, narrative, and Project Budget Worksheet and the original and two copies of the Supporting Documents must be postmarked or delivered to the Foundation office no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, August 1, 2011. Use 8½ by 11 inch paper. Attach all required documents using paperclips or binderclips only (no staples, binders or folders). 

Award Announcement
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.