BACKGROUND

The Montgomery County Foundation, Inc. is a community foundation whose mission it is to receive, administer, and manage under community control, funds, primarily for permanent endowments, received from public and private resources and to distribute grants for charitable purposes, so as to improve the quality of life for people in Montgomery County and the surrounding areas both now and in the future. In partnership with donors and grantees, it seeks to build on community assets and meet community needs through responsible stewardship of funds and effective grantmaking.

Donors establish permanent funds for a number of reasons, ranging from providing scholarships to supporting specific nonprofit agencies or broad charitable purposes. Grants from certain funds may be awarded with the advice from the donor or a committee that advises the fund. Other funds have been earmarked for and are of philanthropic interest such as arts, culture, humanities, human services, community economic development, education, public society benefit, and the environment. These grants are awarded through a review process involving input from the Grantmaking Committee of the Foundation and approval by the Board of Directors.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

THE FOUNDATION DOES NOT FUND THE FOLLOWING

• Organizations outside of Montgomery County, PA; unless their work specifically benefits people in Montgomery County, PA
• Umbrella Funding Organizations for the purpose of re-granting
• Support for religious indoctrination or activities
• Hospitals
• Endowments
• Capital Campaign/improvements
• Deficit Financing
• Individuals
• Support for equipment and supplies except as they are integral to the project/organization budget
• Fundraising campaigns and expenses, and/or fundraising staff
• Salary for new staff positions or for individual staff positions except as they are integral to the organization's budget.
• Lobbying, electioneering, and activities of political nature
• Activities that have the potential to support terrorism
• Political activities of any kind
• Ads, sponsorships, or special events
• Camps

ELIGIBILITY

• Eligibility is limited to nonprofit, 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations with budgets of less than $3,000,000.

TYPES OF GRANTS

• General Distribution Grants (usually due in September of each year) will be for "operating funds for your organization." Specific details will be available each year. General Distribution grants begin with a Letter of Intent (LOI).

ALL FULL PROPOSALS WILL BE JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF SUCH THINGS AS:

• The capacity and past reputation of the agency for the successful achievement of outcomes.
• The clarity and measurability of the outcomes.
• The completeness of the plans to fund the organization beyond the grant period.
• The feasibility of the time frame for the completion of the organizational outcome.
• Costs are commensurate with the benefits.
• Completeness of the proposal.

IF YOUR AGENCY HAS RECEIVED GRANTS FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS, YOU MUST TAKE AN ENTIRE YEAR OFF. YOU MAY APPLY AGAIN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

2024 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION GRANT PROCESS DATES

LOI Opens: August 26, 2024
LOI Deadline: September 6, 2024 by 12:00 PM

If your organization has questions about a proposed grant submission, please call the Foundation at 484-532-7387.