Guidelines for Grants

Grant applications are accepted year-round through the Foundation. Twenty percent of grant funds are available to fund immediate requests that arise outside the competitive cycle.

The Foundation is currently accepting grants for the 2011 Competitive Cycle which closes November 1. Carefully review the guidelines below and submit your application through the Common Grant Application available here. Recipients will be announced in December and grant monies will be awarded in January. Please note: grant recipients will be required to compete a short report detailing usage of funds before applying in a subsequent cycle.

The following criteria are used in the evaluation of grant requests:

Grant requests for operational expenses will be carefully screened and must directly relate to organization’s program and primary purpose.
Grant requests should benefit a large percentage of the community with special emphasis given to the most needy components.
Benefits should last a number of years.
Emphasis will be given, but not limited, to youth.
Grants should benefit a large number of individuals.
Funds should be spent in the community.
Requests that also have funding from other sources will be given a higher priority.
Grant requests from other foundations will be considered if the request is for the betterment of the community.
Indicate on your application whether partial funding of your request is an option.
Typical grant amounts from the Foundation range from $1000 to $2500.

The following grant requests will not be funded:

Medical expenses for an individual.
Annual administrative expenses of an organization.
Payments directly to families for requests arising from catastrophes. The Foundation will consider requests from organizations created for that purpose.
Requests for travel expenses.
College scholarships will not be funded through the competitive grant cycle.
Requests for less than $250.
Requests not received through the Common Grant Application by announced deadline.