Application Process

Important Aspects

Proposers’ Information Session: 

In keeping with its commitment to full transparency, the Foundation will hold an information session for potential grantees prior to the opening of each Fall and Spring grant cycle not more than two weeks before the cycle opens.  This may be in person or via webinar.  At this meeting, the Chief Executive Officer and other appropriate members of the Board will set out the purposes and themes of the grant cycle, review the key elements of Letter of Inquiry and proposal content, and review the proposal process.  All attendees are urged to ask questions; all questions will receive answers.  For those potential proposers unable to attend the in person or digital meeting, all questions and answers will be posted on the Foundation’s website to ensure full openness.

Evidence: 

The Foundation seeks measurable progress.  Evidence of the scope of the problem and that problem within the community being addressed must provide the opening discussion in proposals.

Community: 

The Foundation places a particular emphasis on community engagement in all aspects of its health and wellness.  Proposals must indicate how the community that is covered by the proposal has been engaged in the approach being proposed and how it will continue to be engaged over the life of the project.  The Foundation seeks to support initiatives that are in true partnership with the people.

Sustainability: 

The Foundation does not wish to develop a relationship of dependency with its grantees.  The Foundation will carefully assess the strategy of the applicant in ensuring sustainability of effort and of resources supported by its grants. 

Duration: 

As a general rule, grants will be made for one year only.  If applications involve more than one year of implementation, any added year of support will be contingent on clear milestones set out in the proposal.  Evidence of meeting those milestones will be required.  No more than three years of support can be requested in any grant application.

Multiple Applications: 

The Foundation will not accept multiple applications from a single nonprofit for a single grantmaking cycle. 

Budget: 

Note that the Foundation’s proposal submission system provides a budget template into which the project proposal must be loaded.  This includes detail on non-Foundation sources of funds for the project.  This will contribute to the Foundation’s determination of project sustainability over time.