GUIDELINES FOR GRANTS

Grants are made upon direction and approval of the Klee Foundation Board of nine members in accordance with the following policies established by the Board:

AREAS OF INTEREST

The Klee Foundation funds grants in: the arts, humanities, education, health, human services. Organizations may submit proposals for capital needs or special projects, including technical assistance. The Foundation is particularly interested in assisting programs which meet an urgent community need, which do not unnecessarily duplicate programs of other organizations, which have explored alternative funding sources, and which have some reasonable assurance of ongoing support.


FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

Grants are limited to qualified nonprofit organizations located in Broome County, New York or primarily serving its residents.

The Klee Foundation does not make grants to or for the following:

  1. To individuals;
  2. To organizations with so many counterparts that funding one could lead to an unrealistic number of similar requests, such as scout troops, volunteer fire departments, ambulance squads, individual schools, PTAs, or other similar groups;
  3. For religious purposes (churches or agencies) including programs that have a religious component;
  4. For annual operating support, unless invited by the Foundation to submit. Special Project proposals may include a reasonable amount for administrative support of the project.

    An agency may not apply annually for a special grant, nor while it has a prior special grant open.

    United Way agencies may apply only for special grants unless told otherwise by the Foundation.

    OTHER

    The Foundation Board may award a grant on a challenge basis, if it appears that such an award would assist an organization in raising other funds. A grant may also be awarded as matching funds toward a grant from another source.

    back to top
PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING GRANT PROPOSALS

Inquiries

Letters or calls of inquiry are encouraged to determine eligibility. The Foundation will provide assistance to qualified organizations in the preparation of grant proposals. For Special Project proposals, a meeting of agency representatives with Klee staff must precede submission of a full proposal and must occur no later than one week prior to submission deadline. Direct inquiries to Judith C. Peckham, Executive Director, (607) 722-2266.

Schedule

Grants will be considered at meetings in the spring and in the fall. Proposals should be submitted according to published deadlines, available at the beginning of each calendar year. With Foundation approval, on a limited basis, grants may be considered at other meetings. Please call the Foundation office for more information.

Applying Organization

All proposals should include the following information about the applying organization, the project, and the finances for the project:
• Proposal cover sheet summary form*
• Board information form to be filled out by board officer
• Copy of letter from Internal Revenue Service recognizing charitable tax exempt status (If submitted within last 3 years, may substitute signed statement that status hasn’t changed)
• Most recent audited financial statements (bound, and including management letter)
• Operational budget for current fiscal year (including YTD), showing prior year budgeted and actual figures
• Current list of Board of Directors and/or Advisory Board, showing affiliations of members
• Copy of most recent Annual Report
• Bylaws (If bylaws have not changed since last submitted to Klee, simply note that)
• Organizational chart
• Copy of most recent form 990 filed (if most recent is available on Guidestar, simply note that)
• Additional information as requested

Special Project Grants In addition to the above documents, the following should be included:

• Brief (1-2 pp.) narrative that answers the following:

  1. What is the need [in the community] that will be met by the proposed project?
  2. What are the agency’s plans for implementing the project?
  3. How will the agency evaluate the project’s success?  What tools and benchmarks will be used? What measurable goals are built into the plan for the project?

• Job descriptions and qualifications for personnel responsible for project
• Copy of budget for project, showing breakout of expenses, earned and contributed income
• List of all sources from whom funds have been or will be sought, and responses to date

An organization applying for project support should be able to demonstrate the probability of future ongoing funding from other sources to replace any funding the Foundation might provide in the current year.

* Provided by Foundation office

back to top
SCHEDULE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS TO THE KLEE FOUNDATION

Note: all applicants must speak with staff before submitting a grant proposal. Those agencies applying for special project grants will need to schedule a meeting with staff before applying. See guidelines.

March 18 Board meets to consider 2008 annual operating grant requests for eligible agencies with non-calendar fiscal years
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: FEBRUARY 15
June 3 Board meets to consider cycle 1 of special project grant requests
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: APRIL 15
October 21 Board meets to consider cycle 2 of special grant requests
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: SEPTEMBER 15
November 18 Board meets to consider 2009 annual operating requests for eligible agencies with 12/31 fiscal year
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: OCTOBER 15

back to top
50 Years of Service