ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS RELATED TO FUNDING PRIORITIES AND RESTRICTIONS
QUESTIONS RELATED TO MULTIPLE GRANT REQUESTS
APPLICATION / PROPOSAL QUESTIONS
ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS
- Who is eligible to apply for a grant from your foundation?
- Organizations are eligible for grants from the Foundation if they have qualified for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code or are public instrumentalities (i.e., a government entity). Grants are not awarded to individuals. Private foundations [as defined by Section 509(a) of the Code] are not eligible for funding. Type III supporting organizations are not eligible for funding.
- If my organization does not have its 501(c)(3) designation, can another organization apply for the money for my organization?
- Grants are not awarded to an organization to be used as pass-through funds for another organization that is not a 501(c)(3) public charity or governmental entity.
- Will my organization be required to submit an audit with its proposal?
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- Organizations with $500,000 or more in annual revenues are required to submit a certified public accounting audit.
- Organizations with at least $100,000, but less than $500,000 in annual revenues are required to submit financial statements reviewed by an independent certified public accountant.
- Organizations with annual revenues less than $100,000 are required to submit a financial statement certified as accurate and complete by the organization's chief executive officer.
- There may be some exceptions to this general rule based on the funding category. Please be sure to check the specific requirements of the focus area for which you are applying.
- If my organization is a governmental entity (such as a health department), will I need to submit our county's audit with our proposal?
- Governmental organizations do not need to submit the entire county audit with the proposal. Given the size of the audits, these entities are required to submit only four components of the audit: 1) the auditor's report (cover letter); 2) the balance sheet; 3) the statement of revenues and expenditures; and 4) the auditor's notes.
QUESTIONS RELATED TO FUNDING PRIORITIES AND RESTRICTIONS
- Does the Foundation fund individuals?
- No, but the Foundation is able to fund agencies that can help individuals.
- Does the Foundation fund indirect costs?
- While the Foundation does not have a strict policy against indirect costs, it does not look favorably upon applications that outline excessive costs in this area. Projects requesting funding for direct service or program-related costs (e.g., supplies, education materials, salaries, etc.) are viewed more favorably.
- Does the Foundation fund capital, either equipment or construction?
- The Foundation will fund acquisition of equipment as it relates
to a specific program. The Foundation typically does not fund construction (a.k.a. bricks and mortar).
- Does the Foundation fund personnel expenses?
- Yes, as they relate to a specific program. For instance,
the Foundation would be unlikely to fund ABC nonprofit's Executive
Director position, but would more likely fund personnel
costs associated with a program (e.g., a nurse to provide diabetes
management classes).
- Would the Foundation fund 100 percent of a program's costs?
- The Foundation prefers to be a funding partner along with
other sources of revenue. An application is strengthened by
seeking multiple sources of support as this is a key indicator of sustainability.
- Is there a limit on the duration or size of a grant award?
- Yes. Grants are limited in scope and duration based on the parameters of each specific focus area. Please refer to the specific focus area funding guidelines on this Web site for specifications.
- Does the Foundation fund existing programs or just new or expanding programs?
- The Foundation provides funding for existing, new, and expanding programs.
QUESTIONS RELATED TO MULTIPLE GRANT REQUESTS
- How often can my organization apply for and receive funding from the Foundation?
- Once a specific program has been funded, it cannot be funded again until after the original grant funding term expires. For example, if ABC nonprofit received a one-year grant for a cardiac rehab program in July 2009, the funding term would expire in July 2010. ABC could not apply for funding again for the rehab program, in any focus area, until July 2010 (once the funding term expired on the original grant).
- Does the Foundation have restrictions on the number of applications submitted in various focus areas?
- Yes, and they are as follows:
- An organization may apply for and receive funding for different programs in multiple focus areas simultaneously.
Different programs within the same organization may receive funding in different focus areas simultaneously. For example, ABC nonprofit may receive funding in the Healthy Active Communities focus areas for a cardiac rehab program and be funded in the Health of Vulnerable Populations focus area for a diabetes-screening program.
- The Foundation encourages organizations to submit only one grant application per focus area per application deadline/cycle.
The number of applications received in each category far exceeds the amount of money available for grants. Therefore, the Foundation recommends that you determine which of your programs is most likely to be funded based on the focus area's criteria, and submit a proposed program for funding.
APPLICATION / PROPOSAL QUESTIONS
- How do I apply for a grant?
- If, after reviewing the Foundation's funding guidelines, you believe that your program/project would qualify for funding, please refer to the process and procedures for applying for a grant available in the grants section of this Web site. Note that application procedures will vary based on the focus area to which you apply.
- What are your proposal submission deadlines?
- Each focus area has different due dates. Please go to each focus area's "How to Apply" section to determine the due date, or check the Foundation calendar.
- Do I need to contact the Foundation prior to submitting an application and/or may I set up a meeting to discuss my proposal?
- All of the information regarding funding priorities and application instructions can be found on the Web site. However, if after carefully reviewing all information provided you still have questions, you may e-mail or call the designated staff member on the contact list. Staff members may help clarify the guidelines and application, but they cannot tell you whether your project will be funded, or how it will fare competitively against other proposals. Discussing your proposal with staff does not guarantee funding. In addition, staff members generally do not meet with organizations to discuss proposals or funding opportunities.
- My organization is a government entity, what do I need to submit in lieu of an IRS tax determination letter?
- If your organization is a government entity, you must provide the BCBSNC Foundation with a statement typed on your organization's official letterhead and signed by a responsible officer or other person authorized to make such representations on behalf of the entity, certifying that the organization (i) is a government unit described in Sections 170(b)(1)(A)(v), 170(c)(1) and 509(a)(1) of the Code and (ii) agrees to use the funds granted for exclusively public purposes within the meaning of Section 170(c)(1) of the Code.
- Will the Foundation fund collaborative Groups?
- Yes, the Foundation encourages collaborations and partnerships, but require the application be completed and grant funds/reports managed by one nonprofit organization.
- May I submit attachments with my request?
- Please submit only the attachments requested with the grant application.
- How do I know if you received my proposal?
- Because of the large number of applications/proposals received in any given grant period, we recommend that proposals be sent with a return receipt, so that you can track your package accordingly. We ask you not to call the Foundation to track a proposal or to discuss the status of the proposal. You will receive electronic confirmation of receipt via email within 10 business days.
- When should I call to find out the status of my request?
- You will be notified in writing about the status of your grant application, regardless of whether it is accepted or declined. We ask you not to call the Foundation to track a proposal or to discuss the status of the proposal. Deadlines are posted under the calendar section of the Web site. If for some unforeseen reason the notification deadline is delayed, the Foundation will contact the grant applicants directly.
- How long does it take to review a proposal?
- Each focus area has its own review cycle. Please refer to
the Foundation calendar for applicable
dates.
- If I receive notification that I have been approved for a grant, when will I receive the actual money?
- Once the grant is approved and the Foundation has all necessary materials, a grant agreement is prepared and sent to the grantee for a signature from the organization's Executive Director and president of the Board of Directors. Once the Foundation receives a signed grant agreement, a check is usually sent within 10 business days.
- How do I learn more about Foundation focus areas and the grant proposal process?
- An interactive presentation has been created to outline the Foundation's focus areas and grant proposal process.
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