For Grantseekers » Community Grants
GRANT GUIDELINES
The grant making program of the Sandusky/Erie County Community Foundation covers a wide variety of needs throughout Erie County. These include, but are not limited to, Arts and Humanities, Community Development, Education, Environment, Health and Social Services and Youth Services. We encourage proposals for projects that:
Enhance cooperation and collaboration among Erie County organizations, thereby eliminating duplication of services.
Strengthen the organization’s capacity to serve the community.
Have potential for leveraging other resources and demonstrate sustainability through additional funding from a broad base of supporters.
Yield substantial community benefits and serve a broad segment of the community, particularly the underserved.
Range of grants
Grants range from about $500-$10,000, and are generally awarded for one year only.
Geographic Limitations
Grant projects must serve Erie County residents.
Restrictions
Organizations must be determined to be tax exempt by the IRS under Section 501(c)3.
Churches, schools, governmental or other entities covered by a group exemption are eligible for funding but must provide a copy of the group exemption letter and documentation of the organization’s inclusion within the group.
Generally, grants are not made for advertising or sponsorships; annual campaigns; debt reduction; individuals; medical or other research organizations; political purposes or lobbying activities; routine operating expenses for ongoing programs, salaries/benefits of organization staff; sectarian religious purposes; tickets or advertising for fundraising events.
Application Information
Applications are available at the Foundation office or on line at www.sanduskyfoundation.org. Completed applications must be received in the foundation office by 4:00 p.m. on February 1 and August 1. Please mail application to:
Sandusky/Erie County Community Foundation
135 E. Washington Row
Sandusky, OH 44870
Incomplete applications, faxed applications, or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Applicant organizations may be contacted for further information or documentation regarding the grant application. However, it is the policy of the Sandusky/Erie County Community Foundation Distribution Committee not to engage in discussion regarding outcomes of pending grant proposals. Grantees will be notified of funding decisions within approximately 8 weeks.
Contact information
Please call 419-621-9690 for assistance or questions regarding the SECCF grant making programs, or visit us on the web at www.sanduskyfoundation.org
GRANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
A completed Grant Application includes a proposal narrative, a budget form, and a set of required attachments. Please follow the outline below in completing your application.
Proposal Narrative
The proposal narrative should not exceed two pages and should address the following, in this order:
1. Summary
Summarize the purpose of your project and explain how this grant will be used. Explain the need for this program and how that need was determined. If others are offering similar programs, explain how your program is not a duplication of services but is unique.
2. Community Benefit
Explain who this program will benefit and in what ways. Projects must benefit Erie County residents. If you are collaborating with other Erie County agencies, please describe the collaboration and community support for the project.
3. SECCF Funding
Explain how SECCF funds will be used, and please be specific. For example, if you are purchasing supplies, do not say that “$300 is needed for an early elementary reading program”; say instead, “$300 is needed to purchase supplies, including $200 for 10 early reader books, $40 for construction paper and art supplies; and $60 for 3 First Readers DVDs at $20 each.”
4. Additional Funding
If additional funds are needed to complete the project, how much additional funding is needed? Are these funds pending or have they been obtained, and from what sources? If you are seeking an SECCF grant as matching funds for another grant, please explain the terms of the matching grant.
If the SECCF grant is made, how will this project continue after grant money is expended?
If the SECCF grant is denied, how will this program be funded?
5. Evaluation
Explain how you will measure and evaluate the anticipated outcomes of this project.
Budget Form
The Budget Form is provided on page 2 of the application.
Column A
Column A includes the categories of available funding. Please note: salaries and benefits for organization employees or other operating costs such as rent, utilities, insurance and so forth are not eligible for funding through an SECCF grant.
Column B
List the total of all project costs.
Column C
List the amounts and items to be purchased with SECCF grant funds.
Column D
List the amounts and items to be purchased with other funding.
Bottom line
The bottom line on the budget form should show totals for each column, and should equate to B = C + D. Please check your math. List amounts by full dollar amount (round cents up to the next dollar). Please check your proposal narrative and make certain that numbers mentioned in the narrative correspond to numbers on the budget form.
Required Attachments
Required attachments include the following:
1. 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter
If you are a church, governmental or other entity covered by a group exemption, provide a copy of the group exemption letter and documentation of your inclusion within the group.
2. Current Form 990 or most recent audit, and annual budget
3. Mission statement
4. List of board members
Deadlines For consideration, applications must be received in the foundation office by 5:00 p.m. on February 1 and August 1.
If the deadline falls on a weekend, the proposal must be postmarked by the deadline, OR, if hand delivered, must be in the foundation office by the Friday before the deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Applications and Instructions
Click here to download Grant Application and Instructions in Adobe PDF Format