Building Strong Families Foundation

October 2005 Special Funding Cycle Announcement

Grant Objective :  Increasing Food Availability to Hungry Families/Individuals

The Building Strong Families Foundation has developed a special funding cycle to address the barriers which limit agencies from increasing the amount of food that is available to low-income families.  The Foundation will accept grant applications from agencies that wish to address these issues.  Agencies may apply for up to $10,000. Grants will be due by October 1, 2005.

Guidelines for this special round of funding are:

q All applicants should have contact with the Building Strong Families Foundation before submitting a grant application.

q Complete the two page cover sheet for the Common Application Form.  This includes the Organizational Information (I. a-k including signatures).

q Please answer the following questions.  Keep answers brief and concise:  (Five page limit)

1. The amount of funds your agency is requesting.  Please list each item separately. 

2. What is your current procedure for providing food to those in need.

3. If you receive this grant what are your plans for increasing the amount of food provided to families/individuals by your agency. 

4. How will your agency carry out these plans

5. What does your agency need to expand services (freezers, refrigerators, tables, administrative costs, help with cost of food, etc.) and why is your agency needing these items.  Please provide the cost of each item. 

6. What is the amount of food (in pounds per year) that  you currently give out and what are the projected increases in food given to families/individuals each quarter.

7. Provide program objectives, activities and a timeline for your plans.

8. Names and title of those who will direct the project.

q Financial Plan

ü Project budget.  List expenses, and sources and amounts of all income related to food, including this request and their status: confirmed, pending, or not yet applied.

ü Evidence of financial ability, stability, and planning with reference to the project budget, operating budget, and the organization’s long-range development plan.

q  Evaluation

ü The criteria and plan for measuring the proposed objectives and activities during the grant period

ü Names of those involved in the evaluation

q   Background of the Organization

ü Address the population that your agency serves

ü Current program accomplishments emphasizing the increase of families/individuals requesting food in the past year.

q Required Supporting Materials-unless submitted with a prior grant. 

ü IRS Form 990 (including Schedule A) for the most recent complete fiscal year. 

ü Audited financial statement for the most recent complete fiscal year. 

ü Organizational operating budget for your current fiscal year and the year in which support is requested, if different.

ü Current Organizational Income/Expense statement

ü Your Board of Directors, including addresses, phone numbers, and affiliations. 

ü The most recent IRS letter confirming your agency’s tax exempt status.  . (You only need to submit this information if you have not provided a copy to this foundation.)

Grants are provided through the Building Strong Families Foundation.  We will accept grants proposals from qualified 501 (c)(3) organizations and other organizations that are recognized by the IRS as those which gifts are tax-deductible.  The Foundation does not issue grants to organizations that discriminate as to race, gender, low-income, sexual preference, age, disability, creed or ethnic group.  

The Building Strong Families Foundation prefers not to consider grants in the following areas:

ü For Profit Businesses

ü Religious Programs or Issues

ü Environmental Programs

ü Medical or Scientific Research

ü Private Foundations

ü Endowments

Grantmaking Criteria:

• We prefer that your organization communicates with the Building Strong Families Foundation before completing an application form.  This may save your organization time if the grant proposal does not meet the grant criteria. 

• Initial communication may be in person, by phone, mail, facsimile or by e-mail.  We will be happy to consult at any stage of the process.

• All material submitted for the application process become the property of the Building Strong Families Foundation. 

• Grant applications should be a maximum of 5 pages.  Short precise applications are preferred.

• Four (4) copies of the grant application must be submitted.  Also a copy of the grant and project budget must be e-mailed to ddaily@buildingstrongfamiliesfoundation.org. 

• Grant applications must be postmarked the by submission deadline. 

• Additional contact and correspondence with the applicant, when needed, will be conducted following preliminary review of the grant proposals.

• Formal evaluation of projects funded through the Building Strong Families Foundation may be required as a condition of the grant.  Formal financial accounting of expenditures and regular narrative reports may also be required.

• All final grant decisions are made by the foundation funder. 

• All grant contacts must go through the administrators of the foundation. 

Beatty Brasch bbrasch@buildingstrongfamiliesfoundation.org

Deb Daily  ddaily@buildingstrongfamiliesfoundation.org

                        Building Strong Families Foundation

                        2025 Holdrege Street

                        Lincoln, NE  68503

                        Phone: (402) 476-4364          

Fax: (402) 476-4358 

Please do not hesitate to call our office if you have any questions. 

Ddaily/Building Strong Families Foundation/Food RFP/Food Grant Requirement/8-05