Grant Guidelines & Giving
Grant Guidelines & Giving
Although we are compassionate to the many causes and organizations that meet our mission, we do not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Steps Toward Receiving Funding:
A Brethren Community Foundation Board Member must recommend your organization to the Grant Manager.
Once the recommendation is received, your organization will be invited to submit a Letter of Intent, which includes particular guidelines and attachments.
Please contact Keri Mesina at kmesina@oc-cf.org with any questions.
Funding Guidelines
The Brethren Community Foundation (BCF) will focus their giving to benefit seniors and youth in two philanthropic methods: 1) individual grants and 2) programmatic grants to non-profit organizations and schools who service these target audiences.
The Brethren Community Foundation will donate their funds through a non-profit or school that will administer the programmatic grant and/or individual scholarship.
Funds will not be allocated directly to individuals.
Non-profits and schools who receive programmatic funding and/or request funding for scholarships for “at-risk” individuals will be responsible to submit mid-year and final reports, as well as an Executive summary to the Board of Directors acknowledging the achievements made and outcomes received and if any, complications or roadblocks that were experienced.
"At Risk" is defined as follows:
POVERTY
Youth and seniors that come from low socio-economic status are more likely to be labeled “at-risk.” Youth growing up in poverty is associated with many negative outcomes, which impacts transition into adulthood and may affect later self-sufficiency. The timing, depth, and duration of poverty during adolescence are important when evaluating the likelihood of negative outcomes. Youth living in households with income under 50% of the federal poverty level are those most vulnerable.
MINORITY YOUTH AND ELDERLY
Minority youth, particularly African-Americans and Latino youth, face many barriers to self-sufficiency that white students are less likely to face. Racial discrimination often leads to violence, bullying, and also hinders youth employment opportunities. African-Americans and minorities are more likely to live in high-poverty environments characterized by underperforming schools with limited resources and therefore have a higher chance of academic failure. Immigrant youth also face several challenges with adapting to the culture and experience intensified problems such as language barriers and legal battles.
OTHER ISSUES THAT DEEM “AT RISK” ARE:
- Family instability and dysfunction
- Disadvantaged youth and seniors
- School environment and community resources
All individual scholarships and/or programmatic funding requests need to submit an LOI to BCF at the recommendation of a BCF Board Member.
Individual Grants
PURPOSE AND AMOUNTS OF THE GRANTS:
EDUCATIONAL GRANT AWARDS: The purpose of the educational grants is to financially support education and literacy programs for low-income and “at risk” youth of all backgrounds, races and creeds; in addition to scholarship individual students who show potential through hard work, determination and academic success with scholarships at private schools, colleges and universities.
HEALTH and LONGEVITY AWARDS: A non-profit serving seniors (Ages 65+) may apply for financial aide to help support the health and longevity of a senior “at risk”, with needed life necessities such as glasses, dental work, hearing aids, walkers, electric wheel chairs, transportation services and other needed services.
CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINE WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
A non-profit or educational institution will be responsible for recommending youth scholarships and/or Senior Aide to the Board of Directors in the form of an LOI. The organization and/or educational institution will determine those “at-risk” who are in need of financial support.
CRITERIA USED TO SELECT RECIPIENTS:
Students may be invited to share with the Board of Directors their goals and aspirations as requested by the funded organization and/or school, or as deemed necessary for continued funding. Interviews with youth will not be a normal practice but may be required as deemed necessary in a case-by-case situation, with a representative of the organization and /or school.
A student who may be failing and struggling, yet is diligently working to improve will qualify for a grant as long as they show a 98% attendance rate, record of full class participation in school, and report from a private school, college and/or university that they are receiving academic support/tutoring in areas that need improvement. Academic improvements must be proven and determined by grades, and report of participation in attendance and lack of tardiness.
An organization must be a 501C3 and/or the educational institution must be a department of education certified school, both with a successful history in grant administration and must be in good financial standing with qualified audits and records.
Criteria for Senior Aide will be based on recommendation from non-profit and socio-economic status of the candidate they are submitting.
Program Grant Awards
A non-profit and/or school may apply for a programmatic award under an Educational Grant Award.A non-profit and/or school may apply for a programmatic award under an Educational Grant Award.
DESCRIPTION ON THE PROCEDURES FOR SUPERVISING THE SCHOLARSHIPS:
Once a school year the organization and/or school will send a letter to the Board of Directors with winter and spring grades sharing the students’ progress. For Senior Aide, the non-profit will send a report with a copy of the purchase order and final invoice of purchased items, along with a summary of the status of the individual’s health and functional ability.
- Names of persons on the selection committee: Board Members on the Development Committee
- Criteria for committee membership: Member of Board
- Method of replacing committee members: Annual Election
Whether relatives of members of the election committee, etc. are eligible for awards under the program:
Yes, relatives of Board Members of the election committee are eligible if need is truly tangible, however, the member of the Board has to abstain from voting upon any decisions regarding the potential scholarship of the related student or program.
DESCRIPTION ON THE PROCEDURES FOR SUPERVISING THE SCHOLARSHIPS:
Once a school year the organization and/or school will send a letter to the Board of Directors with winter and spring grades sharing the students’ progress. For Senior Aide, the non-profit will send a report with a copy of the purchase order and final invoice of purchased items, along with summary of the status of the individual’s health and functional ability.
- Names of persons on the selection committee: Board Members on the Development Committee
- Criteria for committee membership: Member of Board
- Method of replacing committee members: Annual Election
Whether relatives of members of the election committee, etc. are eligible for awards under the program:
Yes, relatives of Board Members of the election committee are eligible if need is truly tangible, however, the member of the Board has to abstain from voting upon any decisions regarding the potential scholarship of the related student or program.