Grant
Application Guidelines
Updates
to Grants Guidelines, effective July 1, 2006
Three important
changes in grant making policy became effective on July 1, 2006.
They are as follows:
1. Up to 50%
of Foundation grant dollars will be made available for general
operating support within the four current funding categories.
2. For grants
of a general operating nature, $50,000 will be the maximum one
year general operating support grant.
3. The Foundation
will consider multi-year grants on a diminishing level of support
basis.
Other available
dollars will be designated for new programs, ideas and initiatives,
either coming from the community or generated by the Foundation
or in collaboration with other grantmakers.
Updates
to Grants Guidelines, effective July 1, 2008
Important changes in grant making policy became effective on July
1, 2008. They are as follows:
1. Multi-year grants will not exceed three years
2. The maximum size of any grant shall not exceed 7.5% of funding
available for grantmaking in that year.
3. Challenge grants must be met within 12 months of initial funding
approval.
GUIDE TO APPLYING FOR A GRANT
A. History:
The Green Tree Community Health Foundation was created in May
2004 as a result of the sale of Chestnut Hill Health Care, a Pennsylvania
nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable,
educational, and scientific purposes within the meaning of section
501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code, to Community Health Services,
Inc., a for-profit health care system headquartered in Brentwood
Tennessee. Chestnut Hill Health Care was an integrated health
care system including the 100-year-old Chestnut Hill Hospital
as well as Chestnut Hill Rehabilitation Hospitals, and other related
entities, all serving the communities of northwest Philadelphia
and Eastern Montgomery County. The Green Tree Community Health
Foundation has received the charitable assets of Chestnut Hill
Health Care as well as assets received from the sale. These assets
include previously donated gifts, including bequests, trusts,
and endowment funds. The Green Tree Community Health Foundation
will use these and additional donated funds to further the health
and well being of the communities of northwest Philadelphia and
Eastern Montgomery County.
B. About Us:
Established in 2004, The Green Tree Community Health Foundation
is a not-for-profit public charity whose purpose is to improve
the health and well being of the communities of northwest Philadelphia
and eastern Montgomery County and is a dedicator of programs that
fulfill this purpose. Through a community needs assessment, it
has identified certain needs of vulnerable portions of those communities,
and will provide funding to organizations whose work will benefit:
- The
Frail Elderly.
In particular, programs designed to address the following:
Keeping the elderly safe and living with dignity in their home
Keeping the elderly in their homes.
Preventing isolation of the elderly.
Preventing elder abuse through respite, education, monitoring,
family support.
Home safety and abatement.
Pharmacy and medication information, safety, and coverage.
Case management.
Home visits.
Telemedicine.
Intergenerational programs.
- The
Under and Uninsured.
In particular, programs designed to address the following:
Providing primary healthcare
- Children
and Families.
A special interest of the Foundation is Childhood obesity.
In addition, programs to address the following:
Maternal health issues
Anti-Violence
Emancipation issues
In addition,
the Green Tree Community Health Foundation may consider other
grants to individuals and organizations whose proposals compliment
the above.
C. Foundation Procedures and Policies:
The Green Tree Community Health Foundation accepts and reviews
written requests for grants throughout the year. There are no
formal deadlines. Since only proposals submitted in writing will
be considered, visits or contact with members of the Board of
Trustees or staff, prior to formal submission are discouraged.
If additional information is required during the review process,
applicants will be contacted. The Foundation acknowledges receipt
of each proposal by email, telephone, or by mail within two weeks.
A response
to a proposal is generally prompt; however the review process
may take several months. Applicants will receive written notice
of a decision as soon as it is reached.
Three copies
of the proposal should be submitted. Only one copy of attachments
is requested. The Foundation has no standard application form
although it will accept the Common Grant Application of the Delaware
Valley Grantmakers (www.dvg.org).
Click
here to view the application. Please note that in addition
a one-page proposal summary and some additional financial information
is requested. The section below, "Elements of a Proposal"
may serve as a guide. There is no reason for a proposal to be
elaborate or expensively packaged.
Organizations
that have previously been funded are welcome to submit another
application one year to the date from the last award.
D. Who May Apply:
Grants are limited to organizations that are identified as tax-exempt
under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that
are not identified as a private foundation. No request will be
considered that is not accompanied by a photocopy of the organizations
most recent determination letter from the IRS.
Grants are
restricted to organizations delivering services in targeted neighborhoods
in northwest Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County. For a
specific list of zip codes, click here
for zip codes served.
The Foundation
prefers to make grants for projects that receive help from several
sources and do not expect total support from the foundation. A
demonstration of multiple supports is interpreted as documentation
of broad interest in the program.
No grants
will be made to institutions which in policy or practice discriminate
on the basis of race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.
Organizations
that have previously been funded are welcome to submit another
application one year to the date from the last award.
In order to
concentrate funds on the types of programs it has identified it
is necessary to specify the kinds of projects it does not fund.
These include but are not limited to: grants to individuals, support
of sectarian religious activities, endowment or debt reduction,
loans, fellowships or out-of-area-travel, proprietary enterprises,
and political lobbying or legislative activities.
E. Elements of a Proposal:
A complete application should have the following:
- A one-page
summary outline (click
here to view). This should include the agency's name,
address, telephone number and an email address along with the
names of a contact person and executive director, the specific
project objective, the target population, the major activities
planned, and a timetable. Also included should be the grant
amount requested, the total project budget, other sources of
support, and the agency's total income in the past fiscal year.
- Information
about the agency submitting the request. The application should
include a brief historical sketch of the agency and a statement
as to current goals and services. The most recent annual program
should also be reported.
- Complete
description of the project proposed. State the problem to be
addressed, the need for the proposed project, and the target
population and geographic area or neighborhood that will be
affected. Include a clear statement of what will be accomplished,
including quantified outcome measures or objectives.
- Complete
financial information. Included should be a detailed budget
for total income and expenses of the project. In addition to
the funds being requested from the Foundation information should
be provided about funds on hand, pledged, as well as funding
potentially available from other sources.
- General
information required as attachments. Included with every application
should be single copies of:
1. The applicant's
Internal Revenue Service letter stating tax-exempt status.
2. A list
of officers and directors of the organization.
3. A copy
of the organization's most recent annual report (if any).
4. A copy
of the most recent audited financial statement and a copy of
the most recent 990 (if the organization does not have an audit,
submit three years of the organizations 990).
F. Proposal Review and Grantee Responsibilities:
Proposals are initially reviewed to determine whether they fall
within the Foundations grant making program areas and whether
they propose services to be provided within the Foundations target
geographic area. Those meeting the criteria are then subject to
further study and investigation. This may include site visits,
meetings in the Foundation's office, or a request for additional
information.
Recipients
of grants are expected to comply with all the conditions set forth
in a grant award letter. These will include the need for a press
release, timely program reports and detailed explanations of expenditures
from the grant.
Organizations
that have previously been funded are welcome to submit another
application one year to the date from the last award.
Proposals
should be sent to:
Susan Hansen
Executive Director and CEO
Green Tree Community Health Foundation
6023
Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
