Grants Checklist and FAQ
Grants Checklist And FAQs
Checklist for Letters of Inquiry (LOIs)
- I have completed the online application form and received the cover sheet via email.
- The cover sheet has been printed on my organization's letterhead and has been signed by the authorized person (1 page).
- The description of my proposed project is no longer than 700 words and fits onto two 8.5” by 11" double-spaced, typed pages with margins of at least 1".
- I have included a projected budget based on best current estimates (1 page).
- I have made six (6) copies of my proposal for The Covenant Foundation and kept one copy for myself.
- I have emailed my completed letter of inquiry (cover sheet, program description, and budget) to grants@covenantfn.org.
- I have postal mailed my letter of inquiry (cover sheet, program description, and budget) to The Covenant Foundation, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 304, New York, NY 10020.
- I sent my letter of inquiry in time to reach the Covenant Foundation by postal mail AND email by the deadline of March 2, 2010 at 5:00 pm.
Frequently Asked Questions for Letters of Inquiry
Q: Do all the pages of my letter of inquiry (LOI) have to be printed on institutional letterhead?
A: No, only the cover sheet.
Q: Do all six copies I send have to be originals?
A: No. One copy must be an original with a signature; the other three may be photocopies. Double-sided copies are acceptable.
Q: How detailed does the budget need to be?
A: At this stage of the process, include three categories: personnel, supplies, and other. Separate the budget into per-year expenditures and include an estimate of other proposed sources of income to support your program, including in-kind support. You may provide additional detail if it is available. If the total amount of your project budget is greater than your request to the Foundation, please be sure to indicate how the funds from a Covenant Grant would be used. Please indicate as well if you are seeking funds from other foundations.
Q: May I send my LOI by fax?
A: No. Only letters received by postal mail (United States Postal Service, UPS, or Fed Ex) and by email will be accepted.
Q: May I hand-deliver my LOI to your office instead of mailing it?
A: Yes, as long as it reaches our office before the deadline. If you choose this method, you are still responsible for sending a copy by email.
Q: Do you accept LOIs from individuals?
A: No. Only organizations with 501(c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service, or proof of nonprofit status from Revenue Canada, will be considered.
Q: When will I hear whether my program was approved?
A: By the end of May in the year you submit your application you will be notified of your status. Final decisions for those who are invited to submit full proposals will be announced in late December of the year you submit your application.
Q: If my grant request is successful, when will I begin to receive funding?
A: The first installment of grant monies will be disbursed in January, approximately one month after the grant is approved. For applicants who apply in March 2010, this will be January 2011.
Q: Should I staple my four-page LOI?
A: You may staple or paperclip the pages together for each of the 4 copies.
Q: Should I include any other materials, such as letters of reference, curriculum samples, books, or DVDs with my LOI?
A: No. At the letter of inquiry stage, we are requesting only the 4-page LOI; additional materials will not be considered. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you may include additional materials at that time.
Q: What format should I use for my attached LOI when I email it to grants@covenantfn.org?
A: Please format it as a PDF document or a format that can be opened in Microsoft Word (such as .doc or .rtf). We prefer to receive all parts of the LOI as a single attachment, but understand if this is not possible.
Q: Can the Covenant Foundation help me think of a program that might receive a Covenant Grant?
A: No. In past years, we have found that most successful applicants come to the Foundation with an existing idea. We do not recommend creating a project specifically to apply for a Covenant Grant. Looking at the list of previously funded projects on our website will demonstrate the types of projects and amounts of funding that have been provided in the past.
Q: May I call to make sure my LOI was received?
A: You may call or email to make sure that your LOI was received. However, if you are calling in the final days before the deadline, please be aware that there may be a backlog of LOIs, and we may not be able to provide immediate confirmation.
Q: Do you fund programming in Israel?
A: No. The Covenant Foundation only funds programming in North America. However, Israeli-based organizations with American branches may be eligible for funding for programming within North America.
Q: What if I email my LOI by the deadline but mail it in late? What if I send the LOI in by postal mail but not by email (or vice versa)?
A: Both the emailed and mailed copies of your LOI must arrive in our office by the deadline. We cannot make exceptions.
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