Foundation Guidelines

​

Before applying, please review the funding guidelines and exclusions. Request for support can only be considered for organizations, programs, and activities that meet the basic criteria provided in the funding guidelines.

All grant requests must include:

• Organization name, address, telephone number, contact person.

• A brief description of your organization, its mission or purpose, population served, and geographic area of service.

• A copy of your organization’s IRS certification of 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(7) nonprofit status.

• A list of your organization’s Board of Directors.

• A description of the need(s) you are addressing, the community or target population being served, and a description of how the grant will be used.

• A description of how the funding request specifically addresses the need(s) in question

• A description of the measurement you will use to determine the program’s success

• Complete budget for the project

• A description of the public relations and/or media plan that will be used to promote the program, if applicable

• Indicate what acknowledgment DSEF will receive for making a donation

 

Exclusions

All grant requests must include:

• Individuals

• Tickets for contests, raffles, or other prize-oriented events

• Religious organizations (unless the request specifically supports a program offered to the general public on a non-discriminatory basis and without regard to the recipient’s religious affiliation)

• Advertising

• Debt-reduction campaigns

• Conferences

• Sports leagues

• Talent or beauty contests

• Political and partisan organizations or events

 

If your contribution request meets the guidelines of DSEF and does not fall within one of the areas of exclusion, please submit your proposal for consideration. Proposals are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Decisions on proposals are generally made within two months of submission.

​

Foundation Request Review Process

The Board sets Foundation budgets, policies, and procedures, and approves all grants. We establish and follow clear processes for receiving, reviewing, and acting upon grant applications that are consistent with our policies and purposes.

The Foundation Board reviews requests monthly.

• Requests are reviewed on the basis of Foundation guidelines.

• The Board can authorize immediate funding, request additional information, if needed to make a decision, or decline funding. Written notification of Board action will be sent to the requesting entity.

• Eligible requests are given full consideration.

• Funding in any annual cycle does not guarantee continued annual funding support.

• Requests must be in writing, and addressed to the Foundation President.

The Foundation reserves the right to give special emphasis to specific categories of funding from time to time, without notice.

​

Conflicts of Interest

The Board carefully reviews all circumstances in which there exists the possibility or appearance of conflict of interest, including the legal requirements that forbid Foundation Board members and their families from profiting financially from any philanthropic grant or activity. Our policies require staff and Board Members to disclose to their governing bodies the nature of any personal or family affiliation or involvement with any organization from which a grant is considered, even though such affiliation may not give rise to any financial or other conflict of interest.