Q. How do I apply for a grant?
All organizations must meet with Foundation staff for an Intake Meeting and will be informed within several weeks whether a proposal is invited.
Q. Who is eligible to apply?
Non-profit organizations with up-to-date 501-c-3 documentation from the Internal Revenue Services (or organizations that have a 501-c-3 fiscal agent). We cannot provide grants to individuals.
Q. How may I prepare for an Intake Meeting? Who should attend?
At that meeting we will discuss not only potential projects, but also aim to learn more about your organization as a whole. In fact, even if you do not have a project in mind as yet we still welcome the opportunity to chat. The conversation is based on a 360º look at your organization, touching on the five areas of organizational capacity: programming, governance, management, financial resources and administrative systems. If you are discussing a grant under our Neighborhood Initiative see below. At the very minimum the organization's leader must be present; we encourage organizations to also include board members as well.
Q. I am interested in funding for a project within your neighborhood initiative area. How is this different from a capacity building grant?
Neighborhood grants have a different process and set of guidelines. You should refer to the Initiatives section of the website for details on the Foundation's current focus. Guidelines and invitations to submit proposals are only available after you meet with staff. An integral part of these grants is an indication that neighborhood residents have been consulted and will benefit. The ways in which we can assist with this aspect would be discussed at the initial meeting.
Q. I'm not sure I understand exactly what kind of grants are considered "Capacity Building?"
Capacity grants are usually organizational, not programmatic. Many nonprofits quite rightly note that need is increasing in their areas of service; however it is the view of the Gifford Foundation that fulfilling the needs of the community may best be met by strengthening organizations at their core. Instead of, for example, adding a staff member to increase your organization’s “capacity” to serve a target population, what if existing systems can become more efficient or steamlined so that existing staff have the time and resources to serve the target population more effectively? Perhaps a new software system, or increased staff training, or more effective collaborations…
Q. May I apply for a grant to cover a new or continuing staff position?
As the example above shows, requesting funding for staffing can be problematic. We will consider such requests, but you should know that it is essential that you describe in detail how you will sustain such a position over time. We rarely fund 100% of any salary.
Q. If I am invited to submit a proposal, does this mean a grant will be awarded?
No, submission of a proposal is not a guarantee of funding. In addition, not all grant requests are funded at the full amount requested.
Q. Is there a geographic focus?
The Gifford Foundation provides grants to organizations situated in or serving Onondaga, Madison and Oswego Counties. Our current neighborhood initiative focuses are the Southside and the near Westside of Syracuse.
Q. Is there a deadline for applying?
The deadlines for all grants are now rolling. Please be aware that it will mostly like be at least two months before you receive a final answer. As you begin to think about making a request, please be conscious of the time needed to meet with staff, prepare and submit a proposal, and find out the results.
Q. What is the expected size of grant awards?
We are not assigning limits on grant requests, but you should be aware that over the past years the average Gifford grant has been roughly $15,000.
Q. Does The Gifford Foundation fund multi-year grants?
We do not provide multi-year funding as part of our regular grantmaking. The Foundation is, however, supporting nine local nonprofits as part of a multi-year capacity building initiative called ADVANS: Advancing and Developing the Value and Assets of Nonprofits in Syracuse.
Q. How can I apply to be part of the ADVANS Initiative?
There is no application procedure in this first three-year pilot. The Foundation has pre-selected particular organizations which range in budget, size, discipline and leadership. The primary criteria was sharing a development stage, the ability to handle the intensive nature of the work and being receptive to change.
Q. Does The Gifford Foundation conduct site visits?
We welcome the opportunity to visit your organization. Please add us to your mailing list so that we can become familiar with your activities. At times a site visit will also be a requirement of a particular grant award, in which case you will be contacted by staff.
Q. When will I find out if my application was successful?
Please be aware that usually it takes about two months after formal submittal of a full proposal for grant notification. This is assuming that the application is complete and that there are few outstanding questions to be addressed. The board meets monthly to vote on grants - you will be contacted by staff after the board meeting. You will also receive a letter of approval for your signature.
Q. What if I have a grant awarded under your former guidelines?
The same criteria will apply for reporting procedures, etc.
Q. What if I have a report due from a previous grant?
It is the Foundation's policy that all outstanding reports must be submitted before proposals will be reviewed.
Q. What is the Cultural Data Project?
The Cultural Data Project (CDP) is a free, web-based system designed to capture and standardize in-depth, historical financial information from nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. Put more simply, the CDP website enables organizations to create detailed reports of their past financial data at no cost. By registering with CDP and completing a Data Profile, organizations have the ability to streamline grant applications to participating funders (all Onondaga County funders, including the County, are requiring a CDP report with grant applications); generate any of 77 on-demand reports; ensure inclusion in major advocacy efforts and participate and benefit from the system regardless of whether they are a recipient of support from any of the participating funders.
Q. Will the Foundation be able to see the raw data on my organization? How do you get a report?
Each organization creates a data profile - the raw data is submitted by you and will never be seen by any funder. The Foundation has created a Report form - the information we need as part of our review process. When you are submitting a grant to Gifford, you generate the Report yourself and send it along with the proposal. In almost all cases the information in the CDP will replace information required as part of our regular guidelines.