South Dakota Community Foundatio

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Grant Making Guidelines


Revised November 2008

 

1. Volunteerism
Projects which have paid staff but involve significant and continuous community volunteer support to enhance their existing programs will be favorably considered.

2. Discrimination
The South Dakota Community Foundation closely scrutinizes all grant proposals for discriminatory practices. Funding will be based on the needs of the individuals being served by the grant.

3. Innovation
The South Dakota Community Foundation funds ongoing, well established projects as well as innovative projects designed to address existing community needs in innovative ways. Staff is available, on a limited basis, to work with communities to address those needs and to offer assistance in arriving at solutions.

4. Fund Distribution
Disregarding the endowed funds designated for specific charitable purposes, the remainder of the funds should be distributed statewide to best meet the needs of the statewide constituency. Grantmaking decisions will be made by the South Dakota Community Foundation Board of Directors based upon their evaluation and the recommendations of the grantmaking committee and staff.

5. Operating Expense for Governmental Entities
No South Dakota Community Foundation funds will be awarded to subsidize operating expenses for governmental entities.

6. Project Longevity
The South Dakota Community Foundation recognizes that there are worthy projects that begin and end the same calendar year. Projects that are ongoing are encouraged but multi-year funding is low priority.

7. Seed Grants
Applications requesting start up money must provide feasibility data indicating a need for the project, support for the project and the ongoing probability of success.

8. Capital Improvements
Due to the limited amount of annual discretionary funds and the rising cost of building and remodeling, capital bricks and mortar projects generally will not be funded. The Foundation generally will not provide transportation vehicles or equipment purchases over $10,000.

9. Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is funded only as a part of the grant when it is used to achieve project objectives.

10. Loans
No loans are awarded by the South Dakota Community Foundation.

11. Minimum Awards
Grant applications requesting $2000 or more will be considered. Exceptions to this figure will be considered based upon the merit of the proposal.

12. Multi-Year Funding
Generally only proposals for one year will be considered by the Grantmaking Committee. If projects require more than one year to accomplish their objectives, they should submit a letter with the first year application indicating their intent to request additional years of funding. No guarantee of continued funding will be communicated until subsequent grant applications are reviewed. Once initiated under Foundation funding, projects with good track records should be considered favorably in subsequent grant decisions. No more than three years of sequential grant funding shall be awarded to any one grantee for the same purpose.

13. Challenge or Matching Grants
The South Dakota Community Foundation encourages matching funds from all grant applicants. When the Grantmaking Committee perceives the need for more local involvement and support of a given project in order to establish ownership in the community, it may require challenge grants in any proportion. Funding may be contingent upon acquisition of the required matching money. There may be times when the South Dakota Community Foundation perceives a need is not being met, may issue a challenge grant or request for proposal to participate in a challenge grant to address that need.

14. Applicant Stability
The South Dakota Community Foundation Grantmaking Committee should establish a balance of new and well established projects to fund with neither predominating. Regardless of duration, ability to be accountable for Foundation funds will be a determining factor.

15. Public or Private
The Grantmaking Committee will concentrate on funding public non profit corporations, but not to the exclusion of organizations which meet grant guidelines.

16. Partnerships
Applications received from partnership applications of two or more organizations will be considered if their proposal meets the guidelines of the Foundation. However, communications and accountability must be established with one organization.

17. Exceptions
The Grantmaking Committee may make an exception to any printed policy upon motion duly made, seconded and carried by 2/3 of the members present and voting. Motion must state rationale for the exception. Exceptions taken in one instance do not constitute precedent exceptions for future grant decisions.

18. Grant Review Process
Letters of Inquiry (LOI) will be accepted throughout the year. The Foundation will respond to all applicants in a timely manner. Those LOI’s which do not fit the mission of the Foundation, or clearly do not qualify will be eliminated by staff. Following review of the LOI, applicants may be invited to complete a full grant application. All grant applications will be forwarded by staff to the Grantmaking Committee. The Grantmaking Committee will review the applications, prioritize the applications and make their recommendations to the full board. The full board will review the recommendations of the Grantmaking Committee and approve the awards.

19. Communications with Applicants
All applicants will be informed in writing in a timely manner of any action taken on their grant application. The Grantmaking Committee will hold decisions in confidence until publicly announced by the South Dakota Community Foundation.

20. Due Diligence
A due diligence form shall be completed and returned to the Foundation before any grant funds are disbursed. Applicants shall inform the Foundation office in writing of any significant changes in grant applicant status, organizational status or project status. Funding may be reviewed based upon the significance of changes in project status.

21. Final Evaluation Report
A final evaluation report shall be submitted to the Foundation office immediately following project completion. A grant file is considered complete only after the final evaluation report is received in the Foundation office, and until received, no additional grant requests will be considered.

22. Re-applications
Multiple or repeat applications from one organization in less than a twelve month period are not allowed
.

 

23. Verification
Organizations applying for funds from the South Dakota Community Foundation must be verified by the Internal Revenue Service under Publication 78.

 


Grant applications are received on a revolving basis. Applicants are notified by our office approximately 60 days of receipt of the completed application and all necessary attachments required by the applicant.

  South Dakota Community Foundatio

South Dakota Community Foundation • 1714 North Lincoln Ave. - Box 296 • Pierre, SD 57501

Telephone: (605) 224-1025 • Fax: (605) 224-5364 • Toll Free: (800) 888-1842

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