1. Strengthening Your Keokuk Area Community Foundation Grant Application

2. Agenda Introductions Competitive Grant Program Overview
Grant Guidelines, Timelines, and Grant Reports
2018 Grant Cycles
Helpful Hints
Question and Answers

3. The Keokuk Area Community Foundation
Established in October 2004, The Keokuk Area Community Foundation receives charitable gifts from donors, individuals, families, businesses, and corporations to establish permanent endowments.
Income from our Endowments is used to fund grants.
Serving Lee County, Hancock County and Clark County.
We have distributed over $750,000 in grants.
Nationally Certified Community Foundation by the National Council of Community Foundations.
16th in State of Iowa.
Endow Iowa Tax Credits.
Recipient of the County Endowment Fund Program.

4. Organization Eligibility
The Community Foundation will consider grant requests from
501(c)(3) organizations.
Government entities for public and charitable purposes.
Religious organizations as defined in 170(b)(1)(A) of IRS Code.
Non eligible organizations may submit requests for charitable purposes under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) organization who has agreed to be the Fiscal Sponsor. (Not Recommended).

5. Organization Eligibility
Requests must fall within the following interest areas:
Arts & Culture
Community Betterment
Education
Health
Human Services
Capital and Program Projects
Program: Funding for a specific activity or program that the charitable organization wants to achieve.
Capital: Infrastructure repairs, and new equipment etc…

6. Charitable Interests
New projects and programs from new organizations and former grant recipients.
Projects that will enable non-profit and charitable agencies to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and move toward self-sufficiency.
Projects that address and help resolve important existing or emerging community issues.
Projects that facilitate cooperation and collaboration among organizations and communities in our area.
Capital expenditures, such as construction, remodeling additions to existing buildings, and equipment purchases.
Projects for which other grants have been approved but require matching funds for completion.

7. Grant Proposals Not Funded
Endowment or scholarship funds.
Annual fund drives or annual giving campaigns-to reduce or erase a budget deficit or any form of a debt reduction campaign.
Capital Campaign Projects are acceptable.
Grants for political campaigns or organizations that directly or indirectly participate in a State, Local or National campaigns for any political party or cause.
Requests for specific sectarian religious purposes (however, requests from religious organizations will be considered for general community and humanitarian programs).
Capital Projects are usually granted to religious organizations.

8. Grant Guidelines Application Review
Applications reviewed by volunteer Grant Committee made of Board Members.
Grant Committee Members sign a conflict of interest.
Final approval by The Keokuk Area Community Foundation Board of Directors.
Recurring grants for the same program are accepted.
No grants for programs, projects or purchases that were completed prior to grant funds being awarded.
Grants are for a period of one year.
Current IRS Determination Letter.
Grant Reports
If awarded and Grant, you must complete a Grant Report the following year BEFORE apply for new funding again. Online form with deadlines.

9. Lee County Charitable Fund
Grant Committee Board made up of Lee County volunteers.
$100,000 will given in grants.
Grant Cycle: February 1, May 11, 2018.
Open to Lee County nonprofit organizations only.
Proposals up to $7,500 in funding accepted.
Apply at

10. Keokuk Area Community Foundation Grant Fund
The Grant Fund Endowment.
Grant Cycle: June 1, 2018 – September 7, 2018.
Open to Lee County, Hancock County and Clark County 501 C 3 organizations.
Proposals up to $5,000 accepted.
Apply at

11. Lee County Youth Services, Inc.
Agency Fund of The Keokuk Area Community Foundation.
Grant Cycle: August 1, 2018 – October 1, 2018.
Separate Board of Directors make decisions on grants.
Funding amounts vary.
Apply at
Grants are awarded to Lee County charitable organizations who specialize in YOUTH programs.
Grants MUST benefit youth ages 6-19.

12. Application Review
Each Proposal should have recognize a COMMUNITY NEED.
How will the community react to your project?
How does your project benefit the community?
What does your organization THINK the community needs?
Applications are reviewed in the following areas:
Contact Information
Accurate, one contact person. WORKING (spam filters on )
Address should be the same as the IRS Determination Letter.
One sentence to describe your project. BE BOLD! (media purposes, internal reports).
Narrative
Scope of Project Program/Project
Impact & Outcomes
Collaboration & Community Support
Diversity
Financial Plan and Budget

13. Project Scope and Outcomes
The overall vision of the project is the SCOPE of the project.
To determine the SCOPE of the project is to concisely explain how your project will WORK for your organization.
What do you need to execute your project?
What are trying to say with your project? Why is it necessary?
OUTCOMES are what happens after the project is completed, they are assumptions or guesses based on what your organizations thinks will happen after the project is completed.
MEASURING OUTCOMES: What ways will your organization determine that their grant proposal is a success?
Data Collection
Interviews
Media Coverage
Collaboration & Community Support Diversity

14. Sound Financial Plan and Budget
The Budget
Simple, concise.
Copies of work orders/receipts are nice, but imputing them on the application form is better.
ADMINSTRATIVE SALARY/ FEES are a red flag to Grant Committee Reviewers.
Good standing with the IRS
Filing a IRS 990.
Staying charitable to maintain your 501 C 3 Status.
Project Funding Shortages/Failure
Some grants are only partially funded.
Some projects require multiple years to fund.
OTHER SOURCES Funding.

15. Helpful Hints
READ the entire Application and Grant Policy & Guidelines before you begin.
Be Clear, Concise. SPECIFIC projects are likely funded.
Letters of Support.
What are the unique characteristics of your Proposal & Organization?
Materials should not be bound, inserted in protective sleeves or prepared in other types of notebook form. Invest your time in content rather than presentation.
Have the Community Foundation review your application before you submit. CALL US, DON’T FOR REVIEW.

16. Additional Tips From Grant Committee Members and Grant Writers
Mark Smidt from Hoerner YMCA
QUESTIONS