Grant Guidelines

I attended last week's grantwriting seminar and wanted to extend my thanks to you for organizing the program. The information was thorough and a great base for beginning my grantwriting venture.  I'm looking forward to learning more!

Thanks again,
Lauren Leonard, 5/12/2009

General Information

Each year funds will be distributed to organizations that advance the interests of the LGBTI community in legal and civil rights, arts and culture, education and the humanities, and health and social services.  Funding is directed to organizations serving the communities of Philadelphia and Southeastern PA, South / Central New Jersey and Delaware.  We welcome applications from established groups as well as small grass-roots organizations. 

Grants are made from our endowment at The Philadelphia Foundation as well as from general fundraising and partnerships with other philanthropic groups and individuals.  While grants are available to a broad range of applicant organizations, funding priorities may occasionally focus grant making in order to take advantage of specific partnership opportunities.  One special campaign currently exists and a second is being planned:

• The Racial Equity Initiative is a three-year campaign to fund organizations from and serving racial minority communities.  These grants are made in partnership with the National Funders of Lesbian and Gay Issues and will be made from 2008 through 2010. Click here for the Application Checklist.

• The Straight Allies Initiative is under development to broaden our endowment building and grant making potential.  We intend this three-year campaign to specifically strengthen funding to programs serving LGBTI youth and at-risk youth in LGBTI households. 

A limited number of scholarships are also available through funds administered by the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund:

• Justin Eng Scholarship at the University of the Arts
• The Robert Posner Scholarship Award for visual arts students
• The Leroy F. Aaron's Scholarship of the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association
• NLGJA Kay Longcope Scholarship for minority journalism students
• Sean Halpin Memorial Fund scholarship for LGBTI law students

Application Process

The Racial Equity Initiative is a grant program focused on capacity-building.  Funding is available, in part, through the Funders for Lesbian & Gay Issues.  Organizations that are autonomous LGBTI people of color-serving organizations are invited to apply for funding. 

***The Racial Equity Initiative only funds capacity building projects. For more information on what qualifies as capacity building please see the frequently asked questions section of this document. ***

GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA

Funding Eligibility

• An organization must have 501(c) 3 nonprofit tax status or affiliate with an organization that has 501(c) 3 tax status to assume fiscal responsibility for funds received and expended.
• Projects or programs must directly benefit the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or intersex community; people affected by HIV/AIDS; and/or their friends and families.
• Projects or programs must directly benefit people of color.
• Organizations or projects must operate within the state of Delaware and/or in the commutable regions of Southeastern Pennsylvania and/or Central and/or Southern New Jersey.

Organizations without 501 (c) 3 tax status are encouraged to seek funding. Please contact the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund at least one month in advance of the application deadline if you do not have an established fiscal sponsor.

The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund maintains a commitment to funding:

• In a wide range of programmatic areas including education, seniors, youth, LGBTI families, political advocacy, and community outreach; HIV/AIDS education and support; arts and recreation; lesbian and transgender health; and other health and community services.
• A balance of projects among those that serve the rich diversity of the community.
• In diverse geographic areas including the state of Delaware and/or in the commutable regions of Southeastern Pennsylvania and/or Central and/or Southern New Jersey.

General Restrictions

• Grants to individuals or for-profit institutions cannot be considered.
• Delaware Valley Legacy Fund grants, in general, are not meant to convey a commitment to ongoing funding. 

Three pools of funding

1. Nonprofit Pool. Organizations with paid staff that are independent, 501 (c) 3 organizations may apply for up to $5,000 per year for a project, program, or activity that is designed with the intention of building the capacity of the organization to serve the community.
2. Small Group Opportunity Pool.  For previously established groups that already have programming and activities underway, but do not yet have full-time, exempt staff, may apply for up to $2,500 in funding.
3. Start-up Fund.  For LGBTI people of color organizations, or other social, networking, political, or charitably-minded groups, and those collectives that are just getting off the ground may apply for up to $1,500 in funding. 

We want to receive a high number of quality applications.  We encourage all LGBTI-serving organizations in the state of Delaware and/or in the commutable regions of Southeastern Pennsylvania and/or Central and/or Southern New Jersey to consider applying for funds.

***Small, grassroots organizations/groups and organizations/groups that serve women and the transgender community are strongly encouraged to seek funding***

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

How to Apply

·        For information about application procedures, contact Sandra Thompson at sthompson@dvlf.org

·        If awarded a grant, report forms will be required. If an organization does not submit a report on time, they will not be eligible for funding the following year and may be asked to return the grant money awarded. Report deadlines will be specified in the award letter.

Review Process

·        Applications are reviewed and considered by a diverse, independent set of community leaders, activists, and organizational experts.  Decisions are made based on each applicant’s ability to show readiness for improving the infrastructure and capacity of their organization through funding from the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What types of proposals are more likely to be funded?

The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s mission is to build the community endowment for the LGBTI communities and to provide grants that inspire the growth, health, wisdom, strength, and safety of the community, and to improve the quality of life for all regardless of orientation or gender identity.

The Racial Equity Initiative’s goal is to support LGBTI people of color by building the capacity of their organizations and to improve foundation practices to repair racial inequities while supporting a wide range of social, economic, and gender issues shaping our communities.

As long as a proposal includes these principles, there is a possibility of funding.  The Board of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund allows the Community Outreach and Grantmaking Committee to review and recommend which proposals to fund from the application pool.

Because of the depth of LGBTI-focused applications, it is rare for allied organizations to be funded without a strong LGBTI focus to their project. 

What are DVLF's grantmaking due dilligence policies and procedures?

Click here for notes on DVLF's grantmaking policies and procedures.

Can you give me some examples of capacity-building activities that the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund might fund?

Absolutely.  The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s Community Outreach & Grantmaking Committee recognizes that some funding organizations use different terms to describe capacity-building.  Below is a sample list of acceptable activities that can help build your organization and garner funding from the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund in this year’s initiatives:

1.      Board development: recruitment and training

2.      Staff or volunteer development: recruitment and training

3.      Needs assessment

4.      Program evaluation

5.      Strategic planning

6.      Fundraising development, including training

7.      Infrastructure development (such as bylaws, mission/vision/value statements, job descriptions and contracts, board contracts, etc.)

8.      Acquiring new or enhanced technology, including database systems

9.      Developing targeted public relations or marketing strategies

10.  Instituting financial accountability systems

11.  Providing forums or networking activities to build group participation

12.  Growing outreach for your organization with a new benchmarking system

13.  Acquiring 501 (c) 3 status

14.  Hiring a consultant to assist with a capacity building project

15.  And, many more.  Just ask the Committee or Executive Director by emailing info@dvlf.org.

A few examples of what capacity building does NOT include may also be helpful.  Capacity building does NOT include:

1.      General operating support (rent, utilizes and other ongoing expenses)

2.      Funding for ongoing programs

3.      Funding for staff positions

4.      Contributions to endowments or capital campaigns

5.      Deficit or debt financing

6.      Anything that does not strengthen the capacity of your organization, allowing you to be more effective in fulfilling your mission.

Can individuals apply for grants?

Grants to individuals cannot be considered.  Check with the Foundation Grants to Individuals online publication:  http://gtionline.fdncenter.org/learnmore/. 

If you are investigating scholarship “grants” for postsecondary education, you should explore the LGBTI scholarship guidelines from the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, The Philadelphia Foundation, Point Foundation, and the Bread & Roses Community Foundation.

We have submitted an application to establish 501(c) 3 non-profit status.  Can we apply for a grant or do we need to obtain a 501(c) 3 fiscal sponsor?

Approval of the application for 501(c) 3 status often takes months longer than an organization expects it will take.  Rather than make an award pending 501(c) 3 approval, and possibly forcing an organization to scramble at the last minute to find a fiscal sponsor, choose a fiscal sponsor ahead of time or contact DVLF a minimum of one month before the deadline for submission.

Can an organization or group outside the state of Delaware, the commutable regions of Southeastern Pennsylvania, or Central or Southern New Jersey apply for grants from the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund?

Yes, applications are accepted, as long as the funds will be targeted for projects in this region.   

How many letters of recommendation can we include with the application?

Do not send letters of reference or support unless it spells out a formal collaborative effort on the part of another organization. 

What tips do you have?

• Follow the instruction guidelines and use the attachments checklist.  Compared to most grant applications, you are likely to find that this one is simple. 
• Remember, the DVLF Community Outreach & Grantmaking Committee will read many applications in a short period of time.  Keep your answers precise. Less is often more. Stay within page limits.
• You may answer each question with just a long paragraph, when appropriate.
• Maintain the narrative format as it is asked for in the application.  Grant writing tips often suggest you do something to stand out from the other applications in the stack.  Be careful with this approach.  It may backfire in our system.  If you change the order, or aren’t clear about which question you are answering, it may confuse committee members.

How are grants rated?

The DVLF Outreach and Grantmaking Committee review grants and score them based on criterion developed by the committee in advance.  The applications are graded with an eye for an organization’s ability to demonstrate clarity on how funding will enhance the capacity of their organization.  Consideration for how the organization works with the community, identifies leaders, and projects and measures growth are also factors for consideration by the committee members.

Can I get help with my grant application?

Yes, we will be offering a grant application seminar where DVLF staff and Outreach & Grantmaking Committee members will work with you through the application process.  This year’s seminar is TBA.  Please check back for updated information. 

To register or to ask for more information, call 215-563-6417, ext 117 or email info@dvlf.org.

If my organization isn’t funded can I get feedback on what went wrong?

Yes. If your organization is not selected to receive funding you will receive notification, which will include instructions on how to receive feedback on your proposal.

If my organization isn’t funded during this cycle, can I apply again?

Yes, just follow the instructions provided during the next grant cycle

MORE INFORMATION ON THE RACIAL EQUITY INITATIVE CAMPAIGN

The Racial Equity Initiative is a national, multi-year effort to increase foundation support for LGBTI communities of color.  The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s endowment interest is funding the local initiative along with matching funds from the Funders for Lesbian & Gay Issues.  The Racial Equity Initiative’s purpose is both local and national.  The initiative was created to support LGBTI people of color by building the capacity of their organizations and to improve foundation practices to repair racial inequities while supporting a wide range of social, economic, and gender issues shaping our communities.

The goals of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s Racial Equity Initiative Campaign:

1. To support the leadership and build the capacity of LGBTI people of color and their organizations.  Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues will stimulate an investment of at least $15 million in new or reallocated funding for LGBTI communities of color between 2008 and 2010.  As of December, 2008, the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund pledges to provide a minimum of $102,500 of funding to its regional Racial Equity Initiative Campaign.

2. To encourage a wide array of programmatic responses to repair racial, economic, and gender inequalities.  According to research at Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues, in 2006, LGBTQI communities of color received 9% of all LGBTQI dollars granted by foundations in the United States, only totaling $5.8 million and 234 grants.

3. To improve the overall region’s social, political, spiritual, health, and other affiliated and allied community networks.  Members of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and the DVLF Community Outreach & Grantmaking Committee believe that the overall community’s fabric is improved and strengthened through implementing a grant initiative that seeks to address disparities in funding.  DVLF wants to support and help maintain the community’s philanthropic investment in LGBTI communities of color beyond the life of the initiative.