These guidelines provide an overview of the Klee Foundation’s grantmaking process and priorities. Potential applicants are encouraged to review our guidelines. If they believe their work fits within Foundation interests, they should contact the office by phone or email to begin a conversation.
AREAS OF INTEREST
The Klee Foundation seeks to improve health and economic vitality in Broome County by investing in the Arts, Education, Health, Human Services, Economic Opportunity, and Workforce Development.
The Foundation is currently offering the following types of support through our biannual grant cycles:
- Capacity Building – Proposals that address the effectiveness and future sustainability of the nonprofit.
- Capital – Proposals for property purchase, equipment purchase, and/or facilities improvement.
- General Operating – Proposals for flexible, short-term assistance that will improve long-term sustainability of established programs.
- Program/Project – Proposals for initiatives that address a specific, demonstrated community need. Requests for pilot-stage, program-specific operating support can be considered.
The Foundation will also consider challenge and matching grants that align with our mission if such an investment would help an organization leverage additional funding.
As a place-based funder striving to improve the quality of life and increase prosperity in Broome County, we are looking for:
- Proposals that align with a timely community need.
- Proposals that build on (and do not unnecessarily duplicate) existing community efforts,
assets, and aspirations. - Proposals that build organizational capacity to serve the community effectively and
efficiently.
FUNDING RESTRICTIONS
Grants are limited to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in Broome County, New York and/or those providing significant services within Broome County.
We do not make grants to or for the following:
- To individuals.
- For religious entities (churches or agencies) or programs that have a religious component.
- To support special events, such as music or arts festivals, conference sponsorships, workshops, etc., unless there is a plan for ancillary or follow-up activities with sustained impact.
Submitting A Grant Proposal
Inquiries
Inquiries to determine eligibility and fit are the first step for those seeking a Klee grant. Please call the foundation office, (607) 722-2266, or submit a brief inquiry by email.
If the applicant meets our criteria and the funding opportunity falls within our guidelines, they will be invited to complete a brief LOI summarizing their proposal. If the proposal aligns with current Klee priorities, applicants will then be asked to submit a full application.
Due to the high volume of inquiries received by the foundation, we strongly advise all prospective applicants to begin the conversation at least six weeks prior to the impending deadline for submissions.
Schedule
Grants will be considered at meetings in the spring and in the fall. Proposals should be submitted according to the schedule below. At the Foundation’s discretion, urgent or timely requests may be considered at other times throughout the year.
Applying for a Grant
The Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation has gone paperless!
To increase access and simplify the application process for our partners, we have implemented an Online Grants Management system. Among the many benefits users appreciate is the ability to control organizational contact information; the opportunity to draft, save and submit applications online; and organizational dashboards to keep grant contracts, reports, and payment requests all in one convenient place.
Before you begin the application process, you must create an account for your organization. To create an account, visit our log-in page.
Your organization will only be required to register once and thereafter will be able to access the system by logging in with the password you have created.
If you do not have access to a computer, or you would like assistance with the online process, please contact Michele Scheddin, Administrative Assistant at 607-722-2266.
Please note: Per our grantmaking process, the Klee Foundation only invites full proposals after reviewing a letter of inquiry (LOI) submitted online by the provided due date.
Grant Cycles
| DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: | |
| Spring Grant Cycle LOI due FEBRUARY 5 Application due MARCH 1 |
Awards decided in March. |
| Fall Grant Cycle LOI due OCTOBER 5 Application due NOVEMBER 1 |
Awards decided in November. |