CFNCM Grants and Scholarships

CFNCM 2009-2010 GRANT GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

To download the following guidelines in Word, please click here

The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (Foundation) is accepting applications for grant making from its General Endowment Fund. The Foundation anticipates making up to six (6) grants, which in the past have averaged under $20,000.

Funding consideration will be given to, but not limited to, proposals requesting general support for programs/projects pertaining to community development, environment, arts and culture, as well as health and human services. The grant making committee will give greater consideration to those proposals that are strategic, innovative and sustainable. Click here for examples (Word)

Funding awards are made on a year to year basis with no multi-year commitments.

Funding requests that will generally not be considered include loans, attempts to influence legislation, and support where the Foundation may become the predominant long term source of revenue. Proposals for grants that do not directly benefit the geographic service area of the Foundation will not be considered (see a listing of towns at end of this document).

Procedures

The Foundation’s application process has two steps. It utilizes Associated Grant Makers’ (AGM) Common Proposal Forms for both parts of the application process. The proposal forms can be accessed by visiting http://agmconnect.org/cpf/ .

1. The first step is the submission of the Concept Paper and Cover Sheet. The completion of the concept paper should follow the guidelines of AGM. Also when submitting your concept paper, please add a third item to the Concept Paper and identify the intended outcomes that will be produced as a result of the funding. Additionally, the following is required -

a. Proof of IRS Tax Exempt Status

b. Deadline for the submission of the Concept Paper and Cover Sheet is JANUARY 29, 2010.

c. An ORIGINAL plus EIGHT (8) copies must be submitted to –
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
Attn: 2010 Grant Request
285 John Fitch Hwy, Suite 1
Fitchburg, MA 01420-5998

d. Questions regarding this process may be directed to Courtney Snyder, Administrative Assistant at csnyder@cfncm.org or 978-345-8383 x19. Concept Papers will then be reviewed by the Foundation’s staff and the Grant/Program Committee of the Board of Trustees.

2. Upon review of concept papers, a limited number of applicants will then be invited to submit a full RFP in the second step – no later than March 1, 2010 - using Full Proposals and Budget utilizing AGM’s guidelines. ALSO – please include the cover sheet with Full Proposal submission. Additionally,

a. The deadline for submission of the full proposal is APRIL 2, 2010.

b. Most recent financial statements as required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

c. IRS Form 990/990EZ

d. Certificate of Non- Discrimination (attached)

e. Disclosure of any current or prior legal action(s) involving the organization are required.

f. An ORIGINAL plus EIGHT copies of all documents are required.

Subsequent to the two-step process, the following applies:

3. Once full proposals have been received, staff interviews may take place depending on the appropriateness of the Full Proposal or the need for additional information. The Committee will then present recommendations on May 27, 2010 to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

4. Grant notification, along with an agreement form will be sent to grant recipients in early June. Payment of grant will be made immediately following receipt of the signed agreement.

5. Submission of programmatic and financial progress reports will be required on JANUARY 15 and JULY 15, 2011.

6. Funds awarded are restricted for use to the proposal submitted and so are required to be identified as such in the subsequent annual financial statements.

7. A copy of the subsequent financial statement is the final reporting requirement of the Foundation.

Community Foundation’s Service Territory:

The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, with nearly $20 million in charitable assets, was created in 2001 to serve the charitable interests of donors in to provide a means for donors to permanently endow charitable gifts, to increase and stabilize available funding to meet needs and improve the quality of life in Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Barre, Bolton, Clinton, Devens, Erving, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Littleton, Lunenburg, New Salem, Orange, Pepperell, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Shirley, Sterling, Templeton, Townsend, Warwick, Wendell, Westminster and Winchendon.