HARDEN FOUNDATION

Common Grant Application & Budget Form

 How to use the Common Grant Application

To save you time and effort in the grant application process, five Monterey County area grantmakers have developed this common application form to help streamline the grant seeking process. All five grantmakers below accept this grant application. Some strategies for successful grant seeking include:

• Research the funding interest of a grantmaker before applying and obtain a copy of its current grant guidelines.

• Familiarize yourself with the funder’s application process and procedures.

• Follow the specified format and any specific instructions from the grantmaker.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMON GRANT APPLICATION FORMAT?

The five participating grantmakers in the Monterey County Area created the Common Grant Application Format in 2005 to simplify the process of requesting and making grants. It is designed to benefit both grantseekers and grantmakers. It is not simply a form to be filled in. It is a format to be used as an outline for organizing and writing proposals.

HOW SHOULD YOU USE THE COMMON GRANT APPLICATION FORMAT?

Read this entire document before you begin. Pay attention to the instructions for preparation that follow. You may duplicate the forms if necessary. Copies can be downloaded at the websites of the participating grantmakers.

HOW SHOULD YOU START?

Know your purpose. Clarify your organization’s priorities and purpose in seeking funds.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NEXT?

Conduct research to identify grantmakers that make grants to your type of organization

and in your geographic area. Review grant guidelines and make certain that the purpose of your proposal fits within the funder’s guidelines.

THE REVIEW PROCESS

During the review process, staff members may ask various people for information, including your organization's board members, other agencies and grantmakers, clients, and members of the community. If you do not wish us to contact any of these sources, please let us know.

Grant Making Guidelines

Print these Guidelines using Microsoft Word

In general, the Foundation seeks to support not-for-profit organizations that will achieve all or some of the following objectives:

• Improve the well-being of young people

• Strengthen the family

• Develop individual self-reliance and health

• Prevent inappropriate institutionalization of individuals

• Improve the quality of life through cultural activities

• Encourage more humane treatment of animals

• Eliminate duplication and improve coordination of social and community services

The Harden Foundation seeks to support 501(C)3 organizations with a demonstrated ability to provide meaningful and measurable ongoing benefits to the people of Monterey County, California and especially the Salinas Valley. It prefers to fund prevention of social problems and enrichment of community life, but will also consider projects to alleviate conditions of deprivation, disability, or suffering.

Geographic Limits:

501(C)3 organizations who provide services or programs in Monterey County, California are eligible to submit grant proposals to the foundation. The foundation will consider grants in the following seven areas: Community Services – Children, Youth, & Families; Community Services - Senior Citizens; Community Services – General; Health; Agricultural Education; Animal Welfare and Environment; and Arts & Culture programs.

Grants will be considered for youth and animal welfare programs or services throughout the entire Monterey County, California area. Grant proposals for other than youth and animal welfare programs or services will have a higher priority if they are for operating or providing services primarily to residents of the Salinas Valley area of Monterey County.

Type of Grants:

The Foundation will consider proposals for one-time capital grants, special projects, and operating support. Requests for ongoing operating support are discouraged. In general, operating grants for start-up programs will be made for a maximum of two (2) years. Thereafter, operating grants will be made at the Board's discretion and, if granted, will be on a matching basis. Operating grants will not be made in amounts exceeding one-third of the operating budget of the organization except for start-up funds.

Grantmaking Procedures:

The Foundation will send grant application guidelines and procedures upon request. The Foundation will consider one request per calendar year per organization. Multi-year grants will be considered only in exceptional cases. Grant requests should not exceed $100,000.

Grants will be reviewed and funded semi-annually, in June and December. Deadlines for submitting grant applications are MARCH 1 and SEPTEMBER 1 of each year.

Exceptions:

Normally, the Harden Foundation will NOT make grants for the following purposes:

a) To support sectarian religious programs

b) To establish or add to endowments

c) To support annual events, conferences, or fund-raising events

d) For academic or medical research or scholarships to individuals

e) For operating support of foundations or associations established for the benefit of an organization which receives substantial tax support.

f) The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from public or private institutions of primary, secondary or higher education. However, Grant proposals from public institutions will be considered for special projects which are agriculture related.