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Merrimack Valley General Fund Grant Guidelines
Application Deadline: October 15, 2008 - Arts and Culture or
Social and Community Service
April 15, 2009 - Youth Development or Education
Grant Notification: December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2009
Grant Range: $1,000 – $5,000
Geographic Limitations
The Merrimack Valley General Fund (MVGF) provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Massachusetts (Eastern) Merrimack Valley communities of: Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill , Andover, North Andover, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, West Newbury, Merrimac, Amesbury, Newburyport, Newbury and Salisbury. The MVGF became a fund of ECCF's when its parent organization, the Merrimack Valley Community Foundation, merged with ECCF in 2004. Because the Merrimack Valley Community Foundation started as the Greater Lawrence Community Foundation there is an emphasis on supporting agencies in the communities of Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Methuen and Haverhill.
Program Priorities
Within the broad fields of Arts and Culture, Education, Social and Community Services and Youth Service, of particular interest are programs that:
- Benefit children, particularly those programs promoting youth development (except summer programs that are already supported by the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund).
- Provide health care services to those without health care coverage.
- Address the needs for affordable housing.
Other areas of interest include programs focusing on:
- Early childhood education
- Adult literacy
- Homelessness
- Elder care
- Job development
- Food
- Arts and Culture
Selection Criteria
When reviewing proposals, the MVGF Advisory Committee looks for:
- Programs that meet a documented need, are well planned, include evaluation procedures, and exhibit one or more of the criteria listed below.
- Organizations that have the capacity to support the proposed project, have a sound financial plan and intend on continuing long term with the proposed project if appropriate.
The MVGF prefers projects that offer the most significant impact for the contribution dollar and considers the following criteria:
- The program's potential impact on the participants.
- The needs of the target population.
- Potential for continuation or impact beyond the grant period.
Proposals should demonstrate how the requested funds will be used directly in the program itself or in the building of the organization's physical or governing capacity.
Usually grants are made for specific programs or activities with objectives that can be assessed within a one-year grant period. General operating support is sometimes provided to small organizations.
One-year grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 are awarded with a limit of one application per agency per year.
Eligibility
Only nonprofit organizations recognized as tax exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible for consideration.
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 MVGF grants are not awarded:
- To individuals
- To state or local government agencies including schools
- For political purposes
- For debt or deficit reduction
- To replace public funding, or for purposes which are generally a public sector responsibility
- To support academic research
- For travel outside the region
Application deadline
There are two grant cycles per year. The application deadlines are October 15th and April 15th. Applications are accepted by Field of Funding Interest; Applications submitted by the October deadline should address Arts and Culture or Social and Community Service interests. April submissions should address Youth Development or Education.
All agencies are limited to one application per year. The deadline is determined by the postal service postmark from the mailing of the paper copy, not the date the electronic copy is sent. Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered.
Proposals are reviewed by the MVGF Advisory Committee and are generally awarded by December 31 for the fall cycle and June 30th for the spring cycle.
Application Procedures
Proposals should be submitted in both paper and electronic format.
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Paper format - One paper copy of the complete proposal including the required attachments. Please do not staple or bind proposals. Mail proposals to: The Essex County Community Foundation, 15 Cherry St. , Danvers , MA 01923.
- Electronic format - The electronic submission must include the MVGF Cover Sheet, Proposal Narrative, and Project Budget. Please include the name of the agency in the file name of any attachments. Email proposals to: response@eccf.org
Proposal Format
The preferred format for submitting proposals is the MVGF format outlined below. Proposals should include four parts: The MVGF Cover Sheet, Proposal Narrative, Project Budget and the required attachments.
1. MVGF COVER SHEET: All proposals must begin with the MVGF cover sheet. Click here to download the cover sheet.
2. PROPOSAL NARRATIVE: A 1-3 page narrative including the following information:
- Organization Description - Briefly describe your organization. Include meaningful statistics on who you are serving and a brief history of the organization, including significant accomplishments.
- Statement of Need - What need(s) or opportunities is this activity/program/project intended to meet? How were these needs determined? Why is this project important?
- Purpose of the Request - Describe specifically what will be accomplished with funding from the MVGF. What is your project’s purpose, goals, and time frame? How many individuals, and which Merrimack Valley communities will it benefit? How does the project coordinate with or enhance other services already being offered in the area?
3. PROJECT OR ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET: Itemized income and expense budget of the project including amounts and sources of other financial support committed or projected. If you are requesting operational support, please submit an organizational budget including information on committed and potential funding sources.
4. ATTACHMENTS:
- Copy of the organization's IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) status (if this is a first time applicant to ECCF or if the tax status has changed).
- Most recent year's audited financial statement. If an audit is not available, please submit an unaudited statement for the past year. If you are using a fiscal sponsor please submit the financials statement for your fiscal sponsor as well.
- Organization's operating budget for the current year.
- Organization's non-discrimination policy.
- List of Board of Directors and their affiliations.
- Optional: additional materials such as program brochures, annual report, news articles, letters of support, bios of key personnel.
Review Process
The MVGF Advisory Committee reviews all proposals and determines grant awards. Grants are distributed by December 31st for the fall cycle and June 30th for the spring cycle.
Reporting Requirements
Grant recipients must submit a final report within 60 days after grant funds have been expended, or within thirteen months of the grant award date. Click here to download the Grant Report Form.
If an organization is requesting a grant in the year after having received a MVGF grant, please file a final report or a progress report for the existing award prior to submitting the new proposal. If the project is not completed and a progress report is filed, a final report should be submitted at the appropriate time.
For More Information
For more information or discussion of a project or program idea please contact:
Julie Bishop
Vice President for Grants and Services
Essex County Community Foundation
15 Cherry Street
Danvers, MA 01923
Tel: 978-777-8876 ext 28
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