Common Grant Application

Narrative (maximum of 5 pages)

Describe your organization

• Problem statement: What problems, needs, or issues does it address?

• Briefly describe your organization's history and major accomplishments.

• Describe your current programs and activities.
  

Describe your request

• (If you are requesting general support, you may skip this bullet.) If other than general operating support, describe the program for which you seek funding, why you decided to pursue this project and whether it is a new or ongoing part of your organization.

• What are the goals, objectives and activities/strategies involved in this request? What is your timeline?

• Who is your constituency? (Be specific about demographics such as race, class, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and people with disabilities.) How are they actively involved in your work and how do they benefit from this program and/or your organization?

• If you are a grassroots group, describe your community. If you are a state, regional, or national organization, describe your work with local groups, if applicable, and how other regional and/or national organizations are involved.

• Describe systemic or social change you are trying to achieve.

• Attachments (supply everything checked below by the funder sending this form)
  

Evaluation

• Describe your plan for evaluating the success of the project or for your organization's work. Who will be involved in evaluating this work-staff, board, constituents, community, consultants? How will the evaluation results be used?
  

Organizational Structure/Administration

• Briefly describe how your organization works: What are the responsibilities of the board, staff, volunteers, and, if a membership organization, the members?

• How representative are these groups (board, staff, etc.) of the communities with which you work? Please outline general demographics of the organization.

• Who will be involved in carrying out the plans outlined in this request? Include a brief paragraph summarizing the qualifications of key individuals involved.

• Provide a list of your board of directors with related community and employment affiliations. Organizational chart showing decision-making structure.
  

Finances

• Organization's current annual operating budget. (See attached budget format)

• Current project budget, if other than general support. (See attached budget format)

• List individually other funding sources for this request. Include amounts and whether received, committed, or projected/pending.

• Most recent completed year's organizational financial statement (expenses, revenue and balance sheet), audited, if available.

• A copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) letter. If you do not have 501(c)(3) status, check with the funder to see if they are willing to fund through your fiscal sponsor, or are willing to exercise expenditure responsibility. Additional information may be required to do so.
  

Other Supporting Material

• Letters of support/commitment (up to three)

• Recent newsletter, articles, newspaper clippings, evaluations, or reviews (up to three)

• Recent annual report

• Other

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