FAQs

I am an individual seeking a grant for personal use. Does the Foundation make available grants to individuals? No. The Foundation guidelines specifically preclude making grants to or in support of individuals and follows official IRS guidelines for such fund requests.

My church has a very worthwhile project for which we are seeking funding. If we submit an application, may we expect it to be granted? No. The Foundations specifically preclude grants to churches and for related church activities. Generally speaking, we are not opposed to “faith-based” organizations and programs as they tend to have higher success rates but the direct funding of a church or official subsidiaries as the financial fiduciary is not allowed by the Board.

My company is in need of extra funds for a special project. Does the Foundation grant funds to private companies? No. The Foundation gives only to non-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code or public governmental agencies. 

I work for a non-profit organization within the local area of the Foundation. Is it possible for me to submit a grant request to renovate our building and maybe add-on? Yes. The Foundation usually has a higher grant funding priority to “brick-and-mortar” projects, capital improvement and renovation projects as long as it meets our criteria which includes a written thought process and its funding for long-term sustainability. As we have seen, it is much easier for nonprofits to raise funds for a building project and yet be very hard to keep the “lights on” year after year if there’s no plan to address on-going maintenance or programming.

What is the grant-giving area of the Foundation? Generally, grants given by the Foundation are given in Clark, Scott, Floyd, Switzerland, Harrison and Washington counties in Indiana. Grants must impact theses Southern Indiana counties and Jefferson County in Kentucky 501c3 organizations can apply but a sizeable portion of their clientele must reside in Indiana.

How long does the grant process usually take? From the initial grant inquiry to completion usually takes no longer than six months but there is no guarantee as the Foundation must due its diligence in assessing all opportunities as well as thoroughly understand what it is being asked to fund in the first place.

If I receive a grant, when can I expect to receive the check from the Foundation? Grant funds are disbursed in June and December of each year. There are some special exceptions but very rare so please plan accordingly in the timing of your initial request and submission.

If I receive a grant from the Foundation, when can I apply for another grant? If you have made a successful grant request, you must wait 36 months to apply for a new grant. The 36 months begins on the date the first grant check is issued.

If I was unsuccessful in receiving grant funds, how long must I wait to reapply? There is a 12 month waiting period if you have been denied a grant. The 12 month period begins on the denial date of the grant.

Must I include a copy of the IRS 501(c)(3) exemption letter with my request? Yes. Grant applications must have the appropriate documents attached for consideration by the Foundation. It is also appreciated by the Foundation if this is also accompanied by a listing of your current Board of Directors and their location of residence.

Do I need to provide a formal letter of inquiry or can I just call the Foundation and explain what I need? A preliminary inquiry is necessary and that can be done by letter, email or phone call. Once you have concurrence on submitting for a grant, those letters of inquiry should be on the requesting organization’s letterhead and should not exceed five pages in length, excluding attachments.

Do I need to know the complete description and budget for the project for which I am submitting an application, or can I just estimate what I think the needs and timeline will be? All applications need to have specific descriptions and budgets for each project, that includes the initial project as well as address its financial sustainability long-term. While we understand some information may not be available at the time of the initial request, you will have to provide us all the requested information in which we can make an informed decision by the Board, otherwise the grant request will be declined based on that lack of information. 

What if my organization is a public charity, but I do not have a 501(c)(3) letter? If your organization is a public charity, not holding a 501(c)(3) letter, then a copy of an IRS letter or a legal opinion certifying that the application is a public charity as described in Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) must be attached to the request. Grant payments cannot be made until we have confidence along with other assurances that such approval will be issued. Note this form of special “early-stage” grantmaking is a rare occasion for the Foundation as we seek to fund organizations that have been in operations for at least five years with a track record of success.   

Once my organization has received a grant, must I make any contact with the Foundation? Yes. The Foundation Board expects a periodic report on how the money has been spent and the impact of the funding on the community. The Conditions of Grant Agreement will be more specific as to the types of reporting we’d like to see and share with the Board.

If my organization is given a grant, can I call the Foundation and ask for the money at a time when it is really needed? No. as stated earlier, typical grant payments are made in June and December of the year so the funds for your organization’s projects should be budgeted accordingly.

If I receive the grant funding and then choose to use the money differently than what was outlined in the grant application, do I have to ask the Foundation? Yes. Grant funds are only to be used for the specific project that was listed in the Grant Application. Any variance from this, or delay, is to be passed along to the Foundation as soon as the organization becomes aware. The Board and/or staff must approve the use of any grant funds for a purpose other than that which was stated in the Grant Application. Failure to inform the Board before using grants funds for purposes not outlined in the Grant Application could result in the Board requesting grant monies to be returned.

If a grant period expires and a program is not completed, as was stated in the Grant Application, do I need to inform the Foundation? Yes. Along with an interim report, the organization must request the Board for a specific amount of additional time to spend the funds. If a request is granted, the Grantee must submit an updated interim reports every 90 days. If the additional time is not granted, the Grantee should be prepared to return the grant funds to the Foundation.

If, during the grant process, my organization loses its 501(c)(3) status, must I let the Foundation know? Yes. The Foundation retains the right to terminate grant funds to an organization if that organization loses its 501(c)(3) status during the a grant payment period.

If something should happen and my organization would be responsible for returning grant funds to the Foundation, how long do we have to return the funds? Once termination of the grant has been established, an organization has thirty days to return the grant money to the Foundation. Organizations must supply documentation for funds spent up until the termination and will be expected to repay funds not used for the intended purpose or not expended before the termination.