Emergency Fund Grant Guidelines
Application Deadline: Ongoing
Grant Notification: Ongoing
Grant Range: Up to $5,000
Essex County Community Foundation Emergency Grants offer assistance, on a one-time basis, to non-profit organizations located within Essex County Massachusetts. These selective, modest grants are based on critical need.
Geographic Limitations
Emergency Assistance grants are limited to organizations located in and serving citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts.
Program Priorities
The Emergency Fund assists non-profits with a short-term urgent funding need created by an unforeseen event(s) that has or will significantly interrupt essential services. Examples of unforeseen events include:
- Natural disasters (e.g. fire, flood, tornado, storm damage, loss of utilities)
- Emergency needs (e.g. phase-out costs associated with closing a program due to a sudden loss of funding, equipment failure, civil disturbance).
Eligibility
Requests may be submitted at any time by Massachusetts 501(c)3 agencies Located in and serving Essex County citizens.
ECCF is committed to non-discrimination. We support organizations that use all reasonable efforts to recruit, hire, train, promote and serve persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, except where such status is a bona fide qualification for the service being provided and is related to the organization's mission.
Generally Emergency Fund Grants are not awarded:
- to 'bail out' agencies because of mismanagement or poor planning
- for budget shortfalls
- to assist individuals
- for costs associated with programs or services provided to citizens outside of Essex County
- for sectarian or religious purposes
- for political purposes
- to support ongoing program work
- to pay expenses which a group should have anticipated.
Proposal Review Criteria
When reviewing emergency grant proposals we look for:
- Organizations that have the capacity to respond to the existing emergency, a sensible recovery plan along with a sound financial plan.
- Organizations and programs that meet a documented need of Essex County citizens.
Emergency Fund Grants can be awarded up to $5,000. An agency may not receive Emergency Funds more than once in a five-year period.
Application Deadline
There are no deadlines for Emergency Assistance Grants. Requests can be made at any time.
Application Procedures
To initiate a request an agency representative calls or emails the ECCF Grants Manager and provides an initial explanation of the emergency situation. If the situation is considered to potentially meet Emergency Fund criteria the ECCF Emergency Fund Guidelines are emailed or faxed to the agency representative.
Emergency Fund applications must include the materials outlined below. Additional information may be requested. If the emergency is due to a fire or other disaster which has destroyed all records and/or equipment for producing a proposal, please contact the ECCF Grants Manager.
Proposals should be submitted in paper and electronic format:
- Paper format - One printed copy of the proposal including the cover page, narrative, budget and 501(c)3 determination letter must be mailed or faxed. Please do not staple or bind proposals. Mail proposals to Grants and Nonprofit Services Manager, Essex County Community Foundation, 15 Cherry Street, Danvers, MA 01983. Fax proposals to 978-777-9454.
- Electronic copy - Electronic submission should include the cover page, narrative, and budget, in one Word or text document if possible. Include in the name of this electronic file(s) the name of your organization. Email proposals to j.bishop@eccf.org.
Proposal Format
1. EMERGENCY GRANT COVER SHEET (1-2 pages)
A completed ECCF Emergency Grant cover sheet must be included with all emergency fund proposals. Click here to download the cover sheet.
2. NARRATIVE (1-3 pages)
The proposal narrative briefly introduces the organization and explains what the funds requested would enable it to achieve. It should describe:
- The history and mission of the organization.
- The nature of the emergency, why the situation is an emergency and, if applicable, what services and how many clients, in what geographical area, are at risk of losing services.
- The cause of the unanticipated or non-budgeted costs for which there are no other resources, what needs to be done to address the emergency and why these specific funds will only be needed once.
- The past sources of the agency's resources and attempts to exhaust these and other options to cover the funding need and any other funders sought or already committed to addressing this emergency need. Include in-kind and voluntary contributions and collaborative assistance as well as financial support.
- How ECCF funds will be used.
3. EMERGENCY BUDGET
Provide an itemized expense and income budget for addressing the emergency. Please indicate the time period covered. Be sure to show how ECCF funds will be used.
4. ATTACHMENTS
- Copy of the organization's 501(c)3 IRS Determination letter
- Current year operating budget
- Board of Directors
Review Process
Requests are reviewed on an as needed basis by the ECCF Grants Manager and the Chairperson of the Grants Management Committee. The Grants Manager forwards their recommendation to the Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee for approval. Funds are disbursed upon the Executive Committee’s approval. The process usually takes one-two weeks from receipt of the application.
Reporting Requirements
A simple report describing how the funds were spent and how the agency was impacted, as a result of the grant, will be due one month after the funds have been expended or three months after the Emergency Grant is awarded, whichever is earlier. Click here to download the Grant Report Form.
For More Information
Julie Bishop
Grants and Nonprofit Services Manager
Essex County Community Foundation
15 Cherry Street
Danvers , MA 01923
Tel: 978-777-8876
Email: j.bishop@eccf.org
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