How and when to apply

Procedures

A simple first step is to send us a letter of inquiry outlining your project and your budget needs. We can often make a quick determination as to whether or not the request fits our guidelines based on a letter rather than a full proposal. We will ask you for additional information if the request is unclear.

If you are preparing a proposal, please use the New York Area Common Application Form.  If you are following another format, please limit your submission to five pages.

Whether you send us a letter of inquiry, or a proposal, three Foundation program staff will review each request. We receive numerous requests for each  cycle, so our staff cannot evaluate each proposed project in person or over the telephone; that is why we will always ask that you put your inquiry in writing. Once the deadline has passed and all pending requests have been read, program staff will meet personally with the strongest applicants to evaluate the proposed projects and will visit the program sites before making recommendations to the Board.

We will not accept proposals by fax or e-mail.

Deadlines

All grants are made by the Board of Trustees, which meets three times a year: in February, June, and October.

Requests for funding must be received by:
November 1 for the February meeting
March 1 for the June meeting
July 1 for the October meeting*

* When any of these dates falls on a weekend, the due date is the Friday before the first of the month.