You Can Apply For Discretionary Grants
Foundation for Health Equity is excited to announce that we will now be awarding Discretionary Grants!
Nonprofits can apply for Discretionary Grants through the online portal on a rolling basis. Discretionary grants will be awarded to nonprofits that do not meet F4HE’s traditional grant making criteria for our Hunger/Food Insecurity and Community Health grant cycles. While organizations are welcome to apply at any time, the Foundation will make decisions on a quarterly basis (September, December, March, and June). These grants are small, generally ranging between $500 and $1,500 each.
What are the criteria? Great question!
The Foundation will support nonprofits that work to advance health equity in NW Philadelphia through direct service OR actively creating systemic change*.
Application questions are available prior to applying via the online portal. You are also welcome to reach out to Foundation staff with any questions. (Bonnie@F4HE.org)
*Please see our definition of systems change.
Letter of Intent (LOI) Guidelines
What We Fund
Special emphasis is placed on programs providing the following services among the most needy populations:
- Hunger and food insecurity
- Community health
Who May Apply
Grants are restricted to organizations identified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and serving Northwest Philadelphia in the following zip codes:
- 19150 – Wadsworth
- 19144 – Germantown
- 19138 – East Germantown
- 19128 – Roxborough
- 19119 – Mt. Airy
- 19118 – Chestnut Hill
One LOI per organization may be submitted in a single calendar year. Applicants will be notified directly should there be any exception.
Please Note
Organizations must be identified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and cannot identify as a private foundation. A photocopy of the organization’s most recent IRS determination letter is required for consideration of funding.
Foundation for Health Equity™ operates under a mission-driven strategic plan which guides our grantmaking. Therefore, as a general practice it is outside of our funding scope to provide grants for the following:
- Institutions which in policy or process discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion/non-religion
- Grants to individuals
- Support of the promotion of specific religions
- Loans, endowment, and debt reduction
- Capital campaigns
The LOI Process
Funding Determination (3rd Thursday):
May
September
LOIs will be accepted until the end of business day (5pm EST) on the due date. If LOIs are incomplete they will not be considered for funding.
Contact with members of the board of Directors, prior to formal submission, is discouraged. If additional information is required during the review process, applicants will be contacted.
Elements of the LOI:
- Organizational Information
- Mission Statement
- Request Overview – Direct Service
- Program Description – Systems Level Change
- Break-down of number of clients served within each of the Foundation’s zip codes (see above)
- Goals and Anticipated Outcomes
- Organizational Budget
- IRS Determination Letter
- Most recent Audited Financials
- Most recent 990
- Final Report (Evaluation of the prior year’s funding, if re-applying)
Timeline
Once proposals are received, an email confirmation will be sent. All applicants meeting the initial criteria will be contacted for a site visit or follow-up phone conversation. Foundation staff, committee members, and volunteers will be engaged in requesting further information to move the process forward.
Recipients of grants are expected to comply with all the conditions set forth in the grant award letter. These will include the need for a press release, timely program reports and detailed measurable outcomes. Reports are also encouraged to be submitted via email: info@F4HE.org