Guidelines

Funding Policies and Interests

Grants are awarded to public charities that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are NOT private operating foundations. Fiscal sponsors will be awarded grants directly for distribution in accordance with written sponsorship agreements.

● The foundation funds organizations for whom the majority of their work occurs within The Perimeter of metro Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; and Western MA.

● Funding focuses on organizations in service of, and/or with leadership that reflects: low-income communities; immigrants; Black, Indigenous, people of color; women and girls; and LGBTQIA+.

● Funding Topic, Focus Areas and Funding Ranges include:

● The Foundation accepts proposals from organizations with total annual budgets under $3 million and grant amounts that do not exceed 50% of the total request budget. 

● The Foundation will fund general operating support, program grants, and on a limited basis, capital/special campaigns. Grants from first-time applicants should request a 1-year grant while returning grantees may request 1- or 2-year grants. 

● No grants are made in support of: endowments; annual fund campaigns; re-granting programs; sponsorships of special events, plays or festivals; or individuals.

●Government agencies, local affiliates of national organizations; and religious organizations are NOT eligible for consideration.

Applications should include: Executive Summary Coversheet, Narrative, and Attachments as described below. They must be sent via email by 5:00 pm on March 15th to our executive director, Sara Cofrin Walsh at hfnd.inc@gmail.com. If March 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, proposals are due the following Monday at 5:00 pm.

Decisions will be communicated by email by the end of May with payments processed in June or July.

Executive Summary Coversheet:

● Contact information:  Full legal organizational name – EIN – address – phone – email – names of executive director and board president. Please include the address you would like potential grant payments to be sent if not the organization’s primary address.

● Grant Request Details:  Amount requested, 1 or 2 year request, and how funds will be applied - general operating or program specific.

● Grant Summary:  Brief description of the proposed request (no more than a short paragraph).

Narrative - (no more than 2-3 pages):

● Mission statement and a brief organizational history. 

● Describe the purpose and goals of the project and the need you are trying to address. 

● Description of request including specific activities that will be used to reach goals. General operating requests should highlight organizational needs. 

● What community is being served and what outcomes do you seek to achieve? 

● If applicable, provide a brief update on how any previous funding from the Homestead Foundation was applied. 

Attachments:

● Copy of 501 (c)(3) IRS determination letter. Use of a fiscal sponsor requires the sponsor’s determination letter AND a copy of the memorandum of understanding between the organization and its sponsor. 

● Current list of board of directors with professional affiliations included. 

● Submit two overall organizational operating budgets: one showing revenues and expenditures for the current year as projected, and the other showing the actual figures from the last completed fiscal year. If your organization is submitting a project request, please also include a line-item program budget.