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.

GUIDE TO APPLYING FOR A GRANT

A. History:
The Chestnut Hill Health Care 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 Chestnut Hill Health Care 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 Chestnut Hill Health Care 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 Chestnut Hill Health Care 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 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.

• Persons whose lives and activities are at risk because of heart disease and cancer.
  In particular, programs designed to address the following:
  Educational and screening programs for early detection.
  Educational programs re hypertension.
  Educational programs for exercise and diet.
  Educational programs re diabetes.
  Outreach programs to minorities.
  Social and emotional support for patients and families.

• Children and families at risk.
  In particular, programs designed to address the following:
  Parenting education.
  Prenatal education.
  Quality and availability of day care.
  Physical, social, emotional and cognitive well being.
  Adolescent transition to adulthood.
  Obesity, nutrition, and exercise.
  Asthma, including home assessment and abatement.
  Home safety.
  Lead poisoning prevention, inspection, abatement.
  Access to linkages for un- and under-insured children and families.

• Educational programs supporting healthy life styles.
  In particular, programs designed to address the following:
  Wellness through diet and exercise.
  Smoking cessation.
  Conflict resolution, violence prevention, gun safety.
  Diabetes detection.
  Obesity.
  Substance abuse.
  Mental health screening and management.
  Health insurance opportunities.

In addition, the Chestnut Hill Health Care Foundation may consider other grants to individuals and organizations whose proposals compliment the above.

C. Foundation Procedures and Policies:
The Chestnut Hill Health Care 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 one week.

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.

Fifteen 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. This application is available online at www.dvg.org. Click on quick links and then go to Common Grant 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.

D. Who May Apply:
Grants are limited to organization 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 except 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.

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. 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 timely program reports and detailed explanations of expenditures from the grant. The award letter will indicate who will be the Foundation contact person.

Proposals should be sent to:

Susan Hansen
Executive Director
Chestnut Hill Health Care Foundation
209 W. Chestnut Hill Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118