Grant Process

Our typical grantee is a 501(c)(3) public charity, has an annual operating budget of under $1 million, has been in operation for over 5 years, provides services as noted above, and is seeking a grant in the amount of $10,000 or less.

The Foundation will not consider requests for deficit financing, debt reduction, or loans and grants to individuals. The Foundation does not provide scholarship or fellowship support to individuals at this time. The Foundation does not make grants for research projects or give support to conferences, seminars, media events, or workshops unless they are an integral part of a broader program. The Foundation does not provide support for the production and development of television and radio programming.

We make site visits to each of our grantees and therefore limit our support to only those charities located in Northern Nevada serving a Northern Nevada population.

The first step in applying to the Foundation is a short letter of inquiry. We review letters on a continuous basis, and they may be submitted at any time during the year. We try to acknowledge the receipt of all letters of inquiry. If you do not receive notification of receipt within one month of sending your letter, feel free to contact the Foundation.

All letters are first reviewed to determine if they fall within the Foundation’s program guidelines. Those that do not are immediately declined. Letters that are within the guidelines are then reviewed to determine the following:

• the priority of the proposed activity within the Foundation’s goals
• the impact of the potential results of the activities
• the availability of the Foundation’s funds.

Submitting a Letter of Inquiry

Letters of inquiry should be no more than three pages and should include the following:

• a brief statement of the issues to be addressed, the history and goals of your organization, and your organization’s involvement with these issues
• a brief summary of the activities for which you are requesting support, including an outline of your objective, and anticipated outcomes and implications
• the approximate starting date and duration of the proposed activities
• the total amount of funding needed, the amount requested from the Foundation, and information about other sources of support, both assured and requested.

Proposals/Applications

When a letter of inquiry reflects most closely the Foundation’s program priorities, we will request a full proposal/application. Proposals should be submitted to the Foundation only upon request. Since the Foundation requests more proposals than it can fund, you should not interpret such a request as an indication of likely support. The grant application/proposal form will be provided to you by the Foundation.

Often the Foundation will request additional information in writing from applicants. We might also consult with persons knowledgeable about the proposed activities and we welcome your suggestions as to who might be qualified to assist us in our review of your proposal. Finally, we try to meet with applicants at the project site or other convenient location.

Final decisions on proposals are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors usually within six months of receipt of the Grant Application. You will be informed of the Board’s decision immediately following the Board meeting at which your proposal is discussed. If a grant is awarded, you will be asked to sign a Grant Agreement that lays out reporting and other requirements.