2024 Grant Workshop

Agenda

• Introductions

•

Competitive Grant Program Overview

• Grant Guidelines, Timelines, and Grant Reports

• 2024 Grant Cycles

• Helpful Hints

• Question and Answers

The Keokuk Area Community Foundation & North Lee Community Foundation

• Established in October 2004, The Keokuk Area Community Foundation receives and invests charitable gifts from donors, individuals, families, businesses, nonprofit organizations and corporations to establish permanent endowments.

• We distributed over $5,000,000.00 in Grants in the last Ten Years.

• Our Endowments

• An endowment fund, quite simply, is money set aside (invested) to earn revenue to fund some type of charitable activity.

• Income from our Endowments is used to fund grants.

• Serving Lee County, Hancock County and Clark County.

• The Keokuk Area Community Foundation is a 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.

Lee County Charitable Fund

• Grant Committee Board made up of Lee County volunteers

• Open to Lee County Nonprofit Organizations only

• Two Lee County Charitable Fund 2024 Grant Cycles:

1. Impact Grant: Up to $25,000 grants, deadline is May 9, 2022

2. Lee County Charitable Fund Grants: Up to $7,500.00 grants

• Apply at leecountycharitablefund.org for both grant cycles.

• Deadline for Grant Applications is June 3, 2024.

Organization Eligibility

• We consider grant projects from:

• 501 (c)(3) organizations

• Government entities for public and charitable purposes

• Schools

• Religious organizations as defined in 170(b)(1)(A) of IRS Code

• We do not accept applications from organizations that submit requests for charitable purposes under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) organization who has agreed to be the Fiscal Sponsor.

What Type of Projects Do We Accept?

• 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.

Interest Areas

• Grant Projects 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…

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.

Grant Guidelines

• Application Review

• Applications reviewed by volunteer Grant Committee made of Board Members.

• Each Grant Cycle has different Grant Committee.

• Grant Committee Members sign a conflict of interest.

• Final approval by The Keokuk Area Community Foundation, North Lee Community Foundation and Lee County Charitable Fund 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.

Lee County Impact Grant

• The Lee County Charitable Fund will distribute up to $25,000.00 in a Community Impact Grant to Lee County nonprofit organization (s).

• Open to Lee County Nonprofit Organizations only.

• The goal of Impact Grant is to make an immediate Impact for Lee County.

• The Impact Grant Project must occur in Lee County.

• Candidates for the Impact Grant are interviewed by the Lee County Charitable Fund prior to receiving a grant.

Keokuk Area Community Foundation

Grant Fund

• The Grant Fund Endowment.

• Grant Cycle: June 7, 2024 – September 6, 2024.

• Open to Lee County, Hancock County and Clark County organizations.

• Proposals up to $5,000 accepted.

• Apply at keokukfoundation.org/grants

Lee County Youth Services, Inc.

• Agency Fund of The Keokuk Area Community Foundation.

• Grant Cycle: July 1, 2024 – September 15, 2024.

• Separate Board of Directors make decisions on grants.

• Funding amounts vary.

• Apply at keokukfoundation.org/lcys

• Grants are awarded to Lee County charitable organizations who specialize in YOUTH programs.

• Grants MUST benefit youth ages 6-19.

North Lee Community Foundation

• Grant Cycle: September 16, 2024 – November 11, 2024.

• Separate Board of Directors make decisions on grants.

• Up to $5,000.00 in grants awarded

• The North Lee Community Foundation makes grants to only North Lee County organizations. 501 (c) (3) organizations from Fort Madison, West Point, Houghton, St. Paul, Denmark or other North Lee County communities may apply. Grant application requests are considered in the fields of arts and culture, community betterment, education, religion, health, and human services.

• Apply at northleecf.org

Grant Application Hints

• One Application for all Grants (Call our Office)

• Be Clear, Concise. SPECIFIC projects are likely funded.

• Letters of Support.

• Have the Community Foundation review your application before you submit. CALL US, DON’T EMAIL FOR REVIEW.

• WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION’S PROJECT? Most important.

Grant Application

• What is the COMMUNITY NEED your project is trying to achieve? Nonprofits are created to address a community need, make a change… give something back. How does you need apply to your mission?

• Does or will your project have community support? Give an example.

• What are the outcomes (results) going to be? Will it affect the community need?

• Budget: Be as simple as possible. What do you need to make your project happen.

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 an 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.

Nonprofit Funds & Services

Nonprofit Funds (Agency Fund) give organizations the opportunity to build a stable funding stream. With a fund at the Community Foundation, your nonprofit will have access to a range of tools and resources to help you and your donors.

How a Nonprofit Fund Works:

• Your Board decides to establish a Nonprofit Fund, and the Community Foundation meets with your organization to decide the type of endowment.

• The Fund is Managed by the Community Foundation

• We invest the Fund (16.9% was our return last year) and donors can add to the fund (they receive tax credits).

• As the fund grows, the organization can receive distributions (grants) that support the organization.