Application Procedures

How To Start
Contact the Foundation - After reviewing the About Our Grantmaking section of this website, or the Guidelines for Grantseekers document and determining that your organization and project may be eligible for grant funding, call the Foundation to talk with a program officer. This preliminary conversation with a program officer will help you determine if the Foundation is the appropriate source of funding for your organization's needs.

How to File an Application
Once you have confirmed with a program officer that your agency is eligible for a Foundation grant, you will be sent a grant application packet that includes detailed instructions, forms, and a list of required attachments.

When to Apply
Applications for all types of grants except Summer Program grants and special initiatives, may be submitted at any time during the year. The Board of Directors reviews and votes on grant applications during its regularly scheduled meetings which take place eight to ten times each year. There is a specific deadline and application process for Summer Program grants and special initiatives.

How Decisions Are Made
Each complete grant application is assigned to a program officer who researches the proposal and shepherds it through the grantmaking process. The program officer's role is to ensure that the grant request is clear and complete for Board consideration. While always trying to be helpful to applicants, the program officer serves as an objective reviewer for the Board and is not an advocate for the applicant. The final decision on all grant applications rests with the Board of Directors.

In addition to reviewing the written proposal, grant application evaluation activities typically include:

• meeting with members of the agency's board and staff.
• conducting one or more site visits.
• contacting other agencies, community leaders, and individuals familiar with the applicant and theneed that the proposal addresses.
• in-depth analysis of financial and other relevant data.
• discussing the application with other Foundation staff.

Upon completing the grant application review process, the program officer prepares a report and presents the application to the Board of Directors.

Length of Application Review Process

Applicants may expect to be contacted by a program officer 30-45 days after submitting a complete grant application. The application review process typically takes approximately 60-90 days from submission, although expedited decisions can be made for emergencies and complex applications may require more time.

Notification
A few days after the Board has voted, applicants will be notified of the Board's decision.