Grantseekers

Cheryl Ubelhor
Program Director

Grant Award Process Grant Guidelines

Other Grant Opportunities

Grant Cycles

A. Discretionary Grants and Funding Tiers

There are three separate funding tiers and deadlines for discretionary grant proposals.

Tier 1 – Proposals requesting $15,000 and more

Deadline: noon, April 1, 2009

Tier 2 – Proposals requesting $7,500 - $14,999

Deadline: noon, September 1, 2009

Tier 3 – Proposals requesting less than $7,500

Deadline: Accepted year-round,

but no later than noon, December 1, 2009

These grants are very competitive. Be sure to read all information and instructions carefully, including the FAQs; contact us if you have any questions.

Introduction to Discretionary Grant Funding

An important part of The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette’s mission is realized though “the use of grants to meet the ever-changing needs of the community.” We achieve this by carrying out the wishes of our donors through restricted dollars and by using discretionary funds to award grants to address community needs. Some of the areas funded include arts and humanities, health, education, housing and homelessness, child care, substance abuse, mental health, community beautification, and conservation -- helping you help your community.

Nonprofit organizations are also building their own endowments by creating organization endowment funds. We are happy to work with you in setting up funds and with planned giving assistance.

You will find information about grant procedures and guidelines within this section. These grants are very competitive, so be sure to read everything. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact us. We will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Who is Eligible?

Charitable organizations that serve Tippecanoe and the surrounding counties are eligible to apply for grants. Most of our grants are awarded to organizations that are located in and serve Tippecanoe County.

We generally do not fund political organizations or candidates, government agencies or public institutions, programs that taxpayers would normally support, or individuals (except scholarships from scholarship funds). See our guidelines for more details.

How to Apply?

We have recently made changes in our grant award process. Even if you have applied in the past, please review all information. Old application forms will not be accepted.

Read our guidelines carefully to avoid submitting a request that cannot be considered. Once you have read our guidelines, click here for an overview of our process and instructions on how to apply.

FAQs

1. What are the funding priorities of The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette?

The Board of Directors has set the following funding priorities:

    -Education
    -Children/Youth
    -Health
    -Diversity
    -Physical Environment
    -Arts & Culture

In addition, priority is given to projects that:
    - reach as many people as possible
    - improve the ability of organizations to serve the community over the long term
    - serve the Greater Lafayette area
    - are run by non-profit organizations

Consider “needs” vs. “wants.”

There are additional considerations when preparing a grant proposal. Read our guidelines carefully to avoid submitting a request that does not fit funding priorities.

2. How much can we request?

We do not put an upper or lower limit on request amounts. These grants are very competitive. When deciding on a request amount, consider what other funding sources are available and the amount your organization is able to fund.

Click here for a list of the Tier 1 grants awarded in 2009.

Click here for a list of Tier 3 discretionary grants approved so far in 2009.

Click here for a list of discretionary and field of interest grants approved in 2008.

Click here for a list of discretionary grants approved in 2007.

Click here for a list of discretionary grants approved in 2006.

Click here for a list of discretionary grants approved in 2005.

Click here for a list of discretionary grants approved in 2004.

Grant seekers are encouraged to submit proposals that include diverse financial support and that do not rely on the community foundation for 100% of the funding.

3. We’ve already purchased the equipment and are now looking for funding sources to pay for that equipment. Can you help?

Unfortunately, usually not. Our guidelines state that we generally do not fund projects already completed. If there are special circumstances surrounding your need, contact program staff to discuss your project to see if an exception can be made.

4. How often can we apply?

There’s no limit to the number of times an organization may apply. An organization may have more than one request funded in a year. However, the same project will not be funded more than once every two years unless invited to resubmit.

5. How can we strengthen our request?

Read the guidelines carefully. Every year we receive requests we cannot consider because they fall outside our guidelines. If you have any questions about whether or not your request fits the guidelines, contact us.

Write a concise narrative, beginning with a clear statement of the project and addressing the questions asked in the instructions in the order listed.

Consider “needs” vs. “wants.”

Prioritize the items within your request. If only a portion of it can be funded, what part(s) are most urgently needed?

Consider the timing of your request. If you are asking for a grant for a project that won’t take place for six months or a year, you may be asked to resubmit your request closer to the time the funding is needed.

These grants are very competitive. Examine other possible sources of funding first, especially if you have sources that might not be available to most nonprofits and/or would likely fill your request. Do not rely on the community foundation for 100% of the funding.

6. We did everything you asked and still didn’t get funded. Why not?

Every year we receive requests totaling far more money than we have to disburse. Decisions about grant awards are always difficult; increased need and reduced funding everywhere have made the process even more competitive. We are always happy to discuss your request with you, but in many cases a request is denied simply because we don’t have enough money to fund all worthwhile projects.

7. 2009 Proposal Deadlines:

     Funding Tiers         Applications Due           Funding Decision
          Tier 1                 12 noon, April 1                    May 31
       $15,000+

          Tier 2             12 noon, September 1           October 31
    $7,500-$14,999

          Tier 3                  Year-round              Usually within 4 weeks
    Under $7,500            but proposals                   of request

will not be

accepted after

12 noon, December 1

All proposals are due in the community foundation's office by NOON on the day of the deadline.

B. Field of Interest Grants

The 2009 deadline has not yet been announced for "field of interest" grant proposals that address needs in the areas of children’s music education, children’s needs, and community beautification.

Children’s Needs - Proposal deadline has not yet been announced

for 2009.

2008 grant awards from the Fund for Children’s Needs:

$1,500, childcare for domestic violence shelter residents, YWCA – Domestic Violence Intervention/Prevention Program
$5,634, Hot table and freezer to provide evening meals for youth and families at the South Side Community Center, Community and Family Resource Center, Inc.

2007 grant awards from the Fund for Children’s Needs:

$350, spring break theatre classes, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette.
$2,100, membership fees, uniform pieces, and troop start-up money for 100 Hispanic girls as well as funds for participation in a Piñata Party and Fiesta Camp, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
$5,000, Systems of Care flex fund for small, one-time expenses impacting seriously emotionally disturbed children, Wabash Valley Hospital Department of Child & Adolescent Services.

Music Education for Disadvantaged Youth - Proposal deadline has not yet been announced for 2009.

2008 grant awards from the Louisa Lee France Endowment Fund:

$3,380, Music scholarships for low-income youth, Children's Music Foundation, Inc.

2007 grant awards from the Louisa Lee France Endowment Fund:

$1,400, music lesson scholarships, Children's Music Foundation, Inc.
$2,000, piano Tuning and repair, Children's Music Foundation, Inc.

Community Beautification - Proposal deadline has not yet been announced for 2009.

2008 was the first year for grant awards from the Virginia B. Huth Fund and the George and Betty DeVault Fund.

2008 grant awards for Community Beautification:

$500, Landscaping project, Friends of Columbian Park Zoo
$1,800, landscaping project, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette

The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette
Elmhurst Community Building
1114 East State Street
Lafayette, Indiana 47905-1219
Phone: (765) 742-9078
Fax: (765) 742-2428
Contact us

Grantseekers

Grant Award Process Grant Guidelines Other Grant Opportunities

The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette Elmhurst Community Building 1114 East State Street Lafayette, Indiana 47905-1219 Phone: (765) 742-9078 Fax: (765) 742-2428 Contact us

Grant Award Process Grant Guidelines

Other Grant Opportunities

The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette
Elmhurst Community Building
1114 East State Street
Lafayette, Indiana 47905-1219
Phone: (765) 742-9078
Fax: (765) 742-2428
Contact us