Grant Evaluation Process

Grant Review Committee 

All grant proposals are first reviewed and evaluated by the Grant Review Committee of the Board of Directors. 

• Foundation staff or committee members may reach out to request additional information or clarification regarding your application.

• A facility or program site visit may be requested as part of the review process.

• In some cases, members of the Grant Review Committee may request an interview to better understand the proposed project or program.

Board Review and Grant Decision

All eligible grant applications are presented to the full board for their consideration at the April and October board meetings. 

• Board members must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, recusing themselves from discussion and/or voting as required under the Foundation’s Code of Conduct. 

• Please note that the Foundation receives requests exceeding our available grant funds each year. Unfortunately, this means that not all worthy projects will receive the funds requested.

Grant Evaluation Criteria

• Need: Does the project address pressing, unmet needs in one of the specified focus areas?

• Impact: Does the project benefit a meaningful number of people relative to its cost?

• Innovation: Does it offer creative or novel solutions?

• Sustainability: Is there a plan for ongoing impact beyond the grant period?

• Organizational Capacity: Does the organization have a demonstrated track record of success in managing and executing prior initiatives?

• Collaboration: Does it promote partnerships or resource-sharing?

• Leverage: Will the grant fulfill/attract matching funds or additional support?

• Evaluation: Are clear goals and methods for measuring impact included?

• Financial Feasibility: Is the project budget realistic, feasible, and well-documented?

Grant Awards and Final Report

Grant Decisions

The Executive Director will notify applicants of grant awards or denials as soon as possible following the Board Meeting. If your grant application is denied, the Foundation will provide feedback explaining the reasons for the decision.

Grant Agreement

If your grant application is approved, the approved applicant must sign a Grant Agreement before the grant check can be processed. Grant checks are typically issued within 60 days of grant approval.

Any significant changes to the project as outlined in your grant application, such as the timeline, budget, or use of funds, must be approved in advance by the Foundation.

 Final Grant Report

A Grant Report is due 12 months after the grant check has been issued, unless otherwise specified in the Grant Agreement. We ask for this report because it helps us understand the results of the projects we fund, celebrate the difference you are making, and share those stories with the donors and neighbors who make our grantmaking possible. Your insights also help us learn how we can better support you in the future.

Please know that we aim to keep this process as simple as possible. Short answers and bullet points are welcome, and photos or stories can be brief. Thank you again for your commitment to our community and for taking the time to share your results with us.