The Montgomery County Foundation

The Montgomery County Foundation has revised its Grantmaking Policy and Guidelines. There will be a Spring “General” Distribution and a Fall “Special Initiative” Distribution each year.

EXERCISING PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP

GRANTMAKING POLICY

In an effort to address the Foundation’s mission and to achieve maximum impact from its donors’ dollars, the foundation has for the last several years redefined its grantmaking policies. The Foundation itself has collaborated with public, private and governmental funding sources to support two research projects that will assist in establishing future funding priorities. As we move forward with our “active” grantmaking strategy, it will mean changes for the grantees.

The Foundation will assess the needs of the community each year and establish giving priorities. These priorities will support the Foundation’s mission in the context of current economic, social and cultural conditions. The current climate of needs in the non-profit communities will also be reviewed. The grantees will apply in those areas of need (listed below) rather than submitting proposals that address a specific need within the agency. This “active” grantmaking lends itself to a community foundation philosophy of funding gaps in service, funding strategic collaborations, funding innovation, and in general funding where other types of funds are not available, or in collaboration with other funders.

The General Distribution will address:

Issues for Children, Youth, or Elderly,
Preventative Services for Children, Youth or Elderly,
Community Building,
Education/Training for Children Youth or Adults.

After choosing one of the 4 areas above, the following categories of agencies may apply for grants: Arts, Culture and Humanities; Education; Environment; Human Services; Public Society Benefit; and, Community Economic Development. The four issues are purposely broad in scope.

Application for General Distribution can be made each of three years. No application can be made in the fourth year. Application can then be made for an additional three years. This process will assist grantees in diversifying their funding streams and allow others the opportunity to be funded.

The policy of The Montgomery County Foundation will reflect the Foundation’s mission and the current economic and social issues facing non-profit agencies as they seek to build strong communities through their direct services:

Most agencies are facing shrinking resources.
Most agencies are facing the same or increasing needs from their constituencies.
Most agencies are in need of general support rather than funds for new programs.
Most agencies need “technical assistance.”
Most agencies are facing major transitions in service delivery.

The General Distribution will be provided to those who address impact areas that will be established by the Grantmaking and Distribution Committees based on the above factors and the results of the research study of the Needs Assessment of Montgomery County. (See the Research Button on the Website.) Emphasis will also be placed on low-income constituencies and human services.

The Special Initiative Grants (Fall) will address one particular area of need as established by the Grantmaking Committee (and approved by the Board). The Special Initiative focus will be confirmed in late summer. The Special Initiative will be in response to The Montgomery County Foundation, Inc. request for a Letter of Intent from the agencies to determine which responses will be developed into full proposals.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

(please be sure to read the Grantmaking Policy as a pre requisite to the Proposal Guidelines)

The Montgomery County Foundation (MCF) is a Community Foundation whose mission it is to develop, receive, administer and manage, under community control, funds, primarily for permanent endowment funds, received from public and private sources and distribute them for charitable purposes, primarily to meet local needs so as to improve the quality of life for people in Montgomery County, now and into the future. In partnership with donors and grantees, it seeks to build on community assets and meet community needs through responsible stewardship of funds and effective grantmaking. The Foundation reflects the special responsibility of a Community Foundation to support a broad set of activities that, together, strengthen the fabric of the community. The Foundation’s goal in grantmaking is to strike a balance in strengthening the community’s assets and meeting the community’s needs for the good of all people, primarily in the Montgomery County area. The Grantmaking Policy must address the Foundation’s three constituencies: The Donor; The Community and The Grantee.

Donors establish permanent funds for a number of reasons, ranging from providing scholarships to supporting specific non-profit agencies or broad charitable purposes. Grants from certain funds may be awarded with advice from the donor or a committee that advises the fund. Other funds have been earmarked for an area of philanthropic interest such as arts, culture and humanities, human services; community economic development; education; public society benefits; and the environment. The donor has entrusted the Foundation with the task of awarding grants that address current or emerging community needs. These grants are awarded through a review process involving input from the Grantmaking Committee of the Foundation and approval by the Board of Directors.

Non-profit organizations are welcome to apply for grants through the Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking process. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals or for –profit organizations (see detailed list below of areas not funded.) We are interested in supporting activities that directly address the priority issues of the citizens of Montgomery County.

THE FOUNDATION SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND ADULTS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING:

Do not duplicate existing programs and services.
Empower the disadvantaged or underserved.
Are collaborative or cooperative in nature.
Have potential to become long-term solutions to existing or emerging social issues.
Respect and embrace the diversity of the Foundation’s service area while working for the overall good of the community.
Directly benefit the citizens of Montgomery County.
Detail measurable and achievable outcomes.
Demonstrate other sources of support, committed and potential.
Are sustainable after the funding period.

ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDING THROUGH GENERAL DISTRIBUTION:

Eligibility is limited to non-profit, tax-exempt organizations serving the citizens of Montgomery County.

THE FOUNDATION DOES NOT PROVIDE GRANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING THROUGH General Distribution Funds or Special Initiative Funds:

State or Federal Government Agencies.
Organizations outside of Montgomery County, unless evidence is presented that their work specifically benefits people in Montgomery County.
Umbrella Funding Organizations for the purposes of re-granting.
Support for religious indoctrination or activities.
Hospitals.
Endowments.
Capital campaigns/improvements.
Deficit financing.
Individuals.
Support for the purchase of equipment and supplies.
Fundraising campaigns and expenses, and/or fundraising staff.
Salary for new staff positions or for individual staff positions except as they are integral to the project budget.
Lobbying, electioneering and activities of political nature.
Activities that have the potential to support terrorism.
Political activity of any kind.
Ads, sponsorships, or special events.

PROPOSALS WILL BE JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF SUCH THINGS AS:

The intrinsic merit of the project proposed for meeting the priority community issues established by the Foundation.
The ability and past reputation of the agency for successful completion of projects.
The clarity and measurability of the project’s goals.
Plans to fund the project beyond the grant period.
The feasibility of the time frame given for completion of the project.
Costs are commensurate with benefits.
Completeness of proposal.
No grant application will be accepted without a follow-up report if the applicant has received a grant in the recent grant distribution.

Particular attention will be given to programs that address low-income constituencies. Particular attention will be given to programs that are already collaborative in nature. Particular attention will be given to programs that have other funding streams. In this round of funding, it is unlikely that new programs without a history will be funded.

Please remember that the policy remains in effect that if your agency has been awarded grants for three consecutive years, you must take a year off. You may apply again in 2008. This includes the Special Initiative Grants with one specific exception, Focus 2 Grants, see Special Initiative Grants.

The General Distribution Funds will not be available until July of this year. Please do not request funding for programs that will be completed before or during the month of July.

While General Distribution grants can range between $500 and $4,000, grants usually range in $1,000-$3,000 area. Special Initiative Grants may be as much as $10,000 with one exception for Focus 2 which may be $5,000/$7,000 maximum.

For those agencies with small budgets, grants will not exceed 20% of the agency budget.

Please feel free to call with any questions.

THE FOUNDATION EXPECTS…

Grantees to use their grants for the purposes described in the grant application, and to notify the Foundation immediately if their needs or circumstances have changed.

Fulfillment of the Foundation’s Administrative requirements, including availability for site visits and submission of follow-up reports regarding use of the grant and status of the funded project.

Successful grant recipients are to inform the Foundation regarding the specifics of how they will announce and publicize their grants. These may include but are not limited to: announcements in newsletters and/or annual reports, presentation of grants at organizational board meetings, or recognition of the Foundation at Special Events.

PROCEDURES TO APPLY FOR A GRANT:

Call or e-mail us for an on-line grant application.
No hand written or faxed copies of Grant Applications will be accepted.
Do not send additional materials.
Grant applications must be complete to be considered.
Grant applications must provide services to Montgomery County.
Grant applications will not be accepted if follow-up reports on previous grants are outstanding.

Deadline dates are: Last day of business in March for General Distribution Grants; Fall date for Special Initiative Letters of Intent are due in September (the date to be determined) no later than 4:00 p.m. If chosen, full proposals will be due in November (the date to be determined) no later than 4:00 p.m.

GRANT PROPOSALS AND LETTERS OF INTENT ARRIVING AFTER 4:00 P.M. ON THESE DEADLINE DATES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.

The Complete Grant Application must be accompanied by the following:

List of current board members names, addresses, and occupations.
Proposed budget of the project including income and expenses.
Organizational Budget including income and expenses.
Development Plan.
IRS determination letter providing verification of 501(c)3 status (current copy).
BCO (Bureau of Charitable Organization) license. It must be a current license or the approved extension letter that is current.
The audit of the most recently completed year including the opinion letter.
Annual report.
If school or Library, please send a copy of the document that shows governmental status.

Applicants who have received grants in each of three consecutive years may not apply in the fourth year. Application does not imply funding nor does receiving a grant imply continued funding. Following the no application year, the three year cycle begins again.