Submit a Grant Proposal

Before Getting Started
A Letter of Intent 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 Intent and have been invited by the Community Foundation in writing to submit a full grant proposal. If you have not submitted a Letter of Intent or would like more information, please read our Discretionary Grants Program page.

Required Documents

Cover Sheet (see "Online Forms" below)

Narrative Addressing the Following Questions (two to four pages):

Project Summary

What community need is being addressed by the project?

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

What are the project goals?

What population will the project serve?

What is the expected impact to the community?

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, can your organization accept partial funding and still meet its project goals?

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.

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 (Adobe Reader is free and can be downloaded at www.adobe.com/downloads).

Cover Sheet Form
Project Budget Worksheet Form

Funding Minimum/Maximum Range
The Foundation will consider funding requests of at least $1,000 but not more than $10,000. Funding requests that do not fall within these limitations will not be considered.

Application Preparation and Deadline to Submit a Grant Proposal
The original and fifteen copies of the proposal must be received by the Foundation (18 NW Fourth Street, Suite 306, Evansville, Indiana) no later than noon on the third Wednesday of September. Use 8½ by 11 inch paper. Attach all required documents using paperclips or binderclips only (no binders or folders).

Deliberation
The grants committee 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). No lobbying or soliciting of grants committee members or board members will be permitted.

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 December 1.

Reporting Procedures
A six-month progress report and a final report at project completion are required by organizations whose proposals are approved for funding. Instructions and appropriate forms will be provided at the time the grant is awarded.