Grant Guidelines About the Foundation: The Danville Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania, was founded in 1999 to serve communities in Montour County. The Foundation made its first grants to Montour County non-profit organizations in 2000. Grants are made to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations on an annual basis. Letters of Intent are due by September 1 and completed applications are due by October 1 and should be sent to Danville Area Community Foundation, c/o Manager of Program and Scholarship Services, 330 Pine Street, Suite 401, Williamsport, PA 17701. Please include one original and six completed copies of the application and attachments (financials, 990 and audit require one set of each only, see check list). General Criteria for Reviewing Requests: The grant review process is competitive-there are always more funding requests than there is available funding. The Foundation favors proposals that: • Address priority community needs and/or opportunities in innovative ways that enhance the quality of life within the region. • Show evidence of qualified leadership to complete project and responsibly administer grant funds. • Clearly articulate a need/opportunity, demonstrate an effective focusing of human & financial resources, and hold potential for successfully impacting the identified need/opportunity. • Combine clear goals with a plan for evaluating progress & measuring the outcomes to be achieved. • Demonstrate a stable funding base from other sources and/or the ability to achieve long-term self-sustainability, especially when seeking start-up or seed funding. • Use volunteers and in-kind support to reduce and complement financial support. • Demonstrate potential for Foundation funds to leverage funding from other sources and/or propose use of a Foundation grant to attract matching funds. • Does not duplicate other programs or projects serving the region. • Stimulate cooperation and collaboration among agencies and/or between the public & private sectors where possible. Limitations: Generally no grants will be provided for: • Endowments (unless created within the Foundation) • Ongoing operational support (except for seed funding or in special situations as identified by the Foundation's Board of Directors) • Annual campaigns and event sponsorships • Debt reduction • Sectarian religious purposes, clubs, sports teams, fire companies, cemeteries, or services limited to a select membership • Grants to individuals • Research grants of a highly technical or specialized nature • Scholarships, fellowships, honorary awards, or travel grants (except as provided via donor-established scholarship funds managed by high schools and colleges) If you are a regional organization, operating outside of Montour County, it is extremely important to quantify how your project will benefit the residents of Montour County. Funding Request Process: Applicants must be qualified to receive tax-exempt contributions as defined by the IRS-in the vast majority of cases, applicants will be 501(c)(3) organizations. Applicants without 501(c)(3) status may work through another qualified 501(c)(3) organization that is willing to serve as a Fiscal Sponsor for the applicant. All applicants must complete a Foundation Grant Application and include all materials listed on the checklist on page three of the application. All applicants must submit one original with six complete copies of the application along with all attachments by October 1 (financials, 990 and audit require one set of each only, see check list). Grant Size: The Foundation will have $4,000.00 available to grant for the 2008 calendar year. Foundation grants are typically around $1,000. Grants may be considered annually. Staff will review proposals with the applicant and representatives from the Foundation's Board of Directors. In some cases, the Foundation's Board of Directors may request a site visit. Deadlines and Response Process: Grants - October 1 Applications must be in the Foundation's offices by 4:00pm on the appropriate deadline to be considered. Applications received after the deadline will be held until the next deadline or returned to the applicant, as appropriate. Final funding decisions will usually be announced within 8-10 weeks following each deadline. In most cases a staff member will call the contact listed on the application regarding the Board's decision, with a written response to follow. For additional information please contact Betty Gilmour, Manager of Program and Scholarships Services, at 570-321-1500, toll free at 866-901-2372 or e-mail at BettyG@fcfpa.org. An Affiliate of the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania Grant Application Submit 1 Original & 6 Copies of Application & All Attachments to: Danville Area Community Foundation, 330 Pine Street, Suite 401, Williamsport, PA 17701 For more information: contact Betty Gilmour at 1-866-901-2372 or e-mail at BettyG@fcfpa.org. Deadlines for Receipt at Foundation Office is 4:00 p.m. on the following date: Grants - October 1 Final grant decisions are generally announced within 8-10 weeks following each deadline. -Please print or type- Organization Name: ___________________________________________Tax ID No: ________________ Contact Name: _________________________________________Phone: __________________________ Title: _________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ Date Founded: __________ City:______________________________________ State: ____________ Zip:______________________ Email Address: _____________________________ Web-site Address: _____________________________ Mission of Organization: __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Brief Description Clients/Constituencies Served: ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Brief Description of Traditional Funding Sources: _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Total Annual Budget: _________________________________ Summary of Need for Which Funds are Requested Amount Requested: _______________Total Project Budget: ____________________ Description/Explanation of Project/Need/Opportunity: ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ What benefit(s) or outcomes would you like to see from this project? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ How does this relate to the mission of your organization? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ How are you going to execute the project? What strategies will you use? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ How will you measure the benefits or outcomes? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Description of other funding sources for this project/need (Include collaboration/ cooperative efforts with other organizations, if any)? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________Total raised/pledged to date: ________________ Checklist of attachments (Please include the Following with Application-if you are unable to provide any of these items, please state the reason why in your cover letter): _____ List all funding previously received from Danville Area Community Foundation (or one of it's affiliated funds)-for each grant, include date of award, brief description of the purpose of the award and amount. _____ Copy of most recent IRS letter regarding your organization's, or your Fiscal Sponsor's (see below), tax-exempt status. _____ List of Board of Directors & Professional Staff to include occupations and addresses (if using Fiscal Sponsor, include lists for both applicant and Fiscal Sponsor's organization). _____ Copy of most recent IRS 990 form (please do not include Schedule B of your 990), most recent financial statements, and, if available, most recent annual audit (If using Fiscal Sponsor, submit these materials for both Fiscal Sponsor & applicant as appropriate). (one set of each only is required). _____ Current itemized annual budget and, if requesting funds for a specific project, an itemized project budget. Requests for multi-year grants must include an annual and project budget for each year to be funded. _____ List of current and anticipated sources of both annual and project support, including the current status of any pending funding requests. _____ Cover Letter (not to exceed 2 pages) to include: Brief overview of organization's purpose & history; brief description of activities, timeline(s), staff & volunteers involved, please include anything else you may feel is pertinent to receive grant funding that was not covered in the grant application. Applicant certification: To the best of my knowledge, statements in this application and all attachments are true and correct; the document has been duly authorized by the governing body of the applicant; the applicant agrees to report to the Foundation on the use of any grant funds received and on the progress of the project to be funded; and the applicant will comply with applicable laws, regulations, terms, and conditions in effect at the time of a grant award. I further understand that the Danville Area Community Foundation, in evaluating this grant application, may review any information submitted as part of this request with advisors of the Foundation's choosing and will treat information submitted by applicant in a confidential manner. Name (printed or typed): ________________________________ Title: ________________________ Signature: _________________________________________ Date: _______________________