Grants

• Community & Economic Development

• Human and Social Needs

• Environmental Protection, Conservation, and Enjoyment

• Cultural and Artistic Projects

There are 2 grant cycles per year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

• Fall Cycle: Deadline October 1

• Spring Cycle: Deadline April 1

Grant Requests

Please include the following:

1. Letter of Request

There is no formal application process. To apply, simply mail or email a letter of request – briefly, clearly stating the purpose of your organization’s project and the amount of the grant you’re requesting. Make your request concise and include only necessary supporting documents. The Foundation committee that screens requests will ask for additional documentation if needed. Remember – all requests must be in writing. The screening committee evaluates grant requests on how well they meet Foundation objectives. During the evaluation, committee members may request an interview with representatives of an organization that has applied and may even schedule a visit to the organization to help determine the organization’s ability to complete the project for which the grant is being requested.

When reviewing written requests, the screening committee will look for information from the organization that clearly shows:

• What problem the project addresses, why the issue is significant and how it relates to issues reflecting Foundation concerns.

• What the project is intended to accomplish in dealing with the problem and what means your organization will use. If the project is already under way, what has been accomplished so far?

• What immediate and long-term outcomes are expected from the project and how success or effectiveness will be measured.

• Why your organization is the right choice to conduct the project, i.e., the strengths and skills that your organization and its people bring to the project and how the project fits into your organization’s overall mission.

• The overall cost of the project: How much is being requested from The Charter Foundation, what other sources of support are being tapped and how the project will be funded in the future.
  

2. Evidence of Non-Profit Status

Please note that the Charter Foundation can only provide grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. As evidence of this, please include a copy of your organization’s 501(c)(3) authorization letter or other acceptable evidence of your qualified nonprofit status.

Grant Request Submission

Grant requests may be submitted by e-mail or by U.S. mail to the following:

Email

The Charter Foundation

P.O. Box 5

Valley, AL 36854

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding grant requests, please direct them to:

Bonnie Bonner

PHONE: (706) 518-9440

Email

Grant requests are reviewed by a screening committee from the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Board of Directors make the final decisions on grant selection based on the evaluation and recommendations of the screening committee. However, immediate needs for grants do arise unexpectedly at other times in the year. When a request is submitted on an immediate-need basis, there must be an accompanying explanation of why the timing of the grant is critical. Grants considered and denied on the immediate-need basis will not be reviewed again during the next cycle but must be resubmitted for further consideration.

In selecting those organizations and programs to be supported by grants, The Charter Foundation must make difficult choices regarding the most effective use of its resources. Many meritorious applications for grants may be denied simply due to the volume of requests evaluated. Grants to certain programs over others are not a judgment of the merit of those that are not supported. An organization that does not receive a grant from The Charter Foundation should not be discouraged from pursuing its project or from seeking aid from another source.