Effective grant making requires close communication between applicants and Foundation Program Staff. Prior to submitting an application, in order to expedite the review process, potential applicants are required to discuss a project or program idea with Program Staff.
Application packets should be submitted by the designated deadline before 12:00 p.m. in the Foundation office. Postmarked materials received after the deadline will not be considered. In the weeks following the receipt of your application, the Program Staff will review the application, conduct site visits, and gather any other pertinent information pertaining to the request. You can assist the process by answering all questions on the Grant Application completely. The Program Committee of the Board of Directors meets several times a year to discuss the requests for funding from the Fund for Chattanooga and makes funding decisions, which are then shared with the Board as grant awards to be made by the Foundation. At the discretion of the Program Committee, a grant application and accompanying funding recommendation may be submitted to the full Board for approval. All applicants will be notified promptly after funding decisions are made. Program Staff will use e-mail or fax, in addition to U.S. mail, for application communications. Therefore, if you provide an e-mail address, please check the address for correspondence.
Application Package Checklist: (Please collate the following documents in this order.)
- General Application
- Detailed Project Budget (listing revenues and expenses)
- Organization's current year operating budget (include most up-to-date budget vs. actual profit & loss statement)
- List of current board members (Highlight Executive Committee Members)
- Letter from IRS certifying 501(c)(3) status
- Supporting Materials which may include: letters from collaborating agencies, community support letters, architectural renderings, SWOT analysis, proposals from consultants, and brochures
- Most recent audit (or audit substitute) and IRS Form 990. If an audit or IRS Form 990 is not available, then internal financial statements (Balance Sheet, Statement of Activities, Statement of Cash Flows, Notes to Financial Statements) and a written statement describing the accounting system (preferably signed by a CFO or CPA) may be submitted. Prior to submitting internal financial statements, please consult with the Program Staff
All materials should be collated in the order listed above and bound using binder clips, paperclips or staples. Binders, notebooks, folders, or other means of binding will not be accepted. Please do not include a cover letter.
Send completed application packets containing the Application and required documentation to:
Attn: Director of Programs
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Inc.
1270 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Please do not fax or e-mail applications.
