SELECTION CRITERIA

Beyond our basic guidelines, the Foundation uses a tiered review process to determine whether our collaboration and investment can add value and will measurably improve the applicant's impact. Our selection criteria focus on the overall organization, the project being proposed and the project's likelihood of success.

Assessment of the Organization

We begin with a review of an organization's financial health and leadership, specifically evaluating the following:

Financial history, including evidence of ability to achieve and maintain operating surpluses, as a measure of sound financial management
Strength of the organization's balance sheet, including adequate current and net assets
Senior management team tenure as well as Board Member tenure and professional affiliations, to determine the composition, strength and continuity of leadership
Strategic direction as reflected in a current plan; an accompanying business plan and operating budget as evidence of how the strategy is being implemented

Types of Projects

The Foundation seeks to work with organizations on strategic, transformative projects that have the potential to substantially increase the grantee's impact, efficiency or long-term sustainability. The types of projects we fund and specific points of interest to include in proposals are as follows:

Planning Initiatives:

Funding for project consultants to develop strategic, business, technology and other types of plans.

Points of interest to include in your proposal:

Status of the current plan, if any

When the last plan was completed

Name, background and rationale for the selection of the consultant who will facilitate the proposed plan

A copy of the consultant's work plan

Technology Projects:

High-impact technology projects that can substantially increase an organization's efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability. Projects may include the development of front- and back-end office systems; performance measurement systems; online functionality; and financial accounting, inventory management, point-of-sale and other business systems.

Points of interest to include in your proposal:

Technology project fit within the context of the organization's overall technology plan

Evidence of a plan for integrating maintenance of the new system(s) into the organization's operating budget

Capital Improvements:

Large-scale projects central to the overall health and sustainability of the applicant, such as new construction, renovations, expansions and other initiatives that support the organization's strategic vision.

Points of interest to include in your proposal:

Size, scope and feasibility of the project

Organization's history of successful capital improvements

Organization's history of raising funds for previous and current projects

Size of the organization's endowment and the percentage committed to supporting facilities

Organizational Development:

Projects that involve the recruitment and development of senior management and operating staff.

Points of interest to include in your proposal:

The organization's grant history with the Foundation

How the new hire will help the organization achieve its business plan priorities

The organization's transition plan to sustain new hire's position after the initial funding

Potential for Success

Like an investor, we ultimately seek to understand the potential benefits of a project: Will it work? What will it achieve? What is the return on investment and estimated years to payback? In evaluating a project's potential for success, we seek evidence of the following, which should be included as part of your proposal:

Institutional commitment to the project by the organization's Board
A realistic project budget
A thorough implementation plan
A plan for performance measurement
Post-implementation operating projections

(Please note: A printable PDF of this information, including full proposal instructions, is included with our Proposal Summary Form in the Documents section.)