Grant Guidelines and Application
You may download this Word Document from http://www.heliosnetwork.org/helios-grants/.
"Community Fund for Social Change" - A community matching grants program
Helios proudly announces the "Community Fund for Social Change", a philanthropic fund distributing grants to local nonprofit groups working to secure social change.
Our goal is to do more than provide grant money. We want to increase the impact of the grants we make, broaden the base
of public support for worthwhile projects, and help develop the fundraising capacity of grantees. To these ends, we will be
using a “matching grant” model for the distribution of grants.
Here’s what the matching grant model will involve:
bringing the total to $1,000.
be made through the Helios website set up for the grantee or by sending checks to Helios with
the grantee’s name on the memo.
-month time period following notification of grantee status.
Key to the accomplishment of our grant model is the use of the Helios website to develop the matching portion of the
grant. Our website (www.heliosnetwork.org) links community groups and offers networking opportunities to the broader
public. We will establish and publicize an access portal for community members to participate as grantees or donors. The
public will be able to learn about the specific projects chosen, contribute financial gifts directly to the project(s) that they
wish to support, and know that their gift has doubled because of the Helios matching funds. Grantees will be encouraged
to develop their donor base by using the matching funds to attract individual donors..
The Helios website will include three pages of grantee information:
- A page focused on raising matching funds support for the current monthly grantees.
- A page for grantees from the previous two months’ who are continuing to receive funds for their matching grants.
- A historical page listing all past grantee projects.
Please note the following clarifications regarding the matching grants:
1) Groups who raise their matching funds in less than three months time will have the option of continuing to receive
donations via the Helios website, if they believe this process would contribute to their fundraising development. However,
Helios will not match moneys raised beyond the initial $500 commitment. All matching grants - and the ability to use the
website for fundraising - end after three months.
2) $500 is the minimum that needs to be raised to receive the matching amount. At least half of $500 must come from
new donors, i.e. people who have never made financial contributions to the group - this is to assist grantees in adding new
supporters to their donor base.
3) Grantees will direct donors to support their work through the Helios website, in order for the gift to count toward the
Helios matching grant. Cumulative totals will be updated and can be viewed on the Helios website.
4) If a group is unsuccessful in receiving their matching portion, the Helios matching grant will not be made. Any public
donations received through Helios will be sent to the group, following receipt of a signed Letter of Agreement assuring
that the funds will be spent as the public donors’ intended.
5) Matching donations can be made with a credit card at the Helios website, or by check to Helios Resource Network, but
the gift must be made directly to Helios - and not the grantee. The memo line of the check should designate the group or
project. Receipts for tax-deductible donations will be sent when requested by donor.
6) Upon request, matching donors may remain anonymous on the website and to the grantee. We respect the
confidentiality of all donors and will not share donor information with any other group without donor permission. Donors
should note that all contributions go directly to the grantees when the match is completed; Helios does not charge any
administrative fees. Helios will not use donor names for any fundraising purposes.
Grant Guidelines
Grant decisions are made by a committee comprised of community volunteers who will use the following guidelines in
our grant-making process.
Helios offers two matching grant programs:
1) Non-Profit Support Program (The donor may claim a tax deduction for the gift.)
2) Emerging Causes (These groups do not have non-profit status therefore it’s donations are not tax deductible.)
1) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS:
 Grants will be made to organizations located in Lane County, Oregon for projects that take place in Lane County.
 Matching contributions may be accepted from outside Lane County.
 Groups with a 501(c)(3) must supply the cover to their IRS tax status determination letter with their proposal.
 These grants will be labeled as “Non-Profit Support” eligible for tax deductible donations.
 Donors can request a receipt for gifts to these non-profit organizations.
2) EMERGING CAUSES ORGANIZATIONS:
 Grants will be made to organizations located in Lane County, Oregon for projects that take place in Lane County.
 Matching contributions may be accepted from outside Lane County.
 Groups do not need to have an IRS tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status in order to apply.
 Those grants will be clearly noted as ineligible for tax-deductible donations.
 Helios labels these as grants for “Emerging Causes” organizations.
General Grant Information:
 Grants can be made for any type of program needs; funding will be given for both general support and special
project proposals. Depending on the groups’ ability to generate matching gifts on the Helios website, these grants
may serve as emergency grants that enable groups to respond to new developments in their issues of concern.
 We give special attention to progressive issues not currently receiving sufficient public attention and funding. We
seek proposals with visionary and yet realistic goals to create tangible change. All proposals must be highly cost
effective.
 We do not fund proposals from organizations with annual budgets greater than $150,000.
 We will only accept proposals using the provided application format. The narrative portion of the grant
application can be no longer than three pages.
 Applicants will be notified of grant decisions within one month from receipt of applications.
 Grant funds will be released to the grantee only after a Letter of Agreement has been signed by the recipient.
Otherwise, the grant will be in default and the grant will not be made. Any moneys raised for grantees who do not
return the IRS-mandated Letter of Agreement will be transferred to the general grant-making program.
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Results of the grant must be reported within three months of the funding award to be eligible for any future grants.
A grant report form will be furnished for this purpose.
After receiving a grant and submitting a grant report, grantees may apply for additional grants. Each grantee can
receive a maximum of two grants per year.
Funding Criteria:
Projects responding to the following criteria will be given preference. We do not require that projects meet all criteria,
and the criteria are not listed in order of importance. Please note that there are insufficient grant funds to support all
groups who might meet the criteria; it is the grant committee’s task to determine which groups meet the criteria to the
fullest extent.
Preference will be given to:
1) Complete projects, or well-defined parts of larger projects. If your project is for general support, it should be for a
defined purpose within your general operations.
2) Collaborative projects with other community groups.
Projects should:
1) Have a strong focus on sustainability issues.
2) Be concerned with economic equity, social justice, and/or environmental protection.
3) Be solution oriented.
4) Encourage diversity and/or have diverse participants (economic, ethnic, sexual orientation etc.).
Note: Please do not contact Helios to inquire about grant status. Decisions will be made directly from the application
form below. We may call potential recipients for further information. Grant status will be posted on the Helios website.
Grant Application
GROUP
NAME:
DATE:
GROUP
CONTACT:
TELEPHONE:
ADDRESS:
FAX:
CITY, STATE:
WEBSITE:
ZIP CODE:
EMAIL #1:
501c3# IF A
NONPROFIT:
EMAIL #2:
Two References (Lane County residents familiar with your work):
REFERENCE
#1 NAME:
REFERENCE
#2 NAME:
ADDRESS:
ADDRESS:
CITY, STATE:
CITY, STATE:
ZIP CODE:
ZIP CODE:
PHONE:
PHONE:
EMAIL:
EMAIL:
Organization Direction
MISSION OF
ORGANIZATION:
Grant Application Narrative
(You may submit up to three single-sided pages in response to the questions below)
1) Describe the project you wish to fund (If this project is selected, we will use this exact description on the Helios
donation page for public view. Please use 250 words or less. Please include the objective/purpose of your project,
an implementation plan, and the a description of theexpected outcome(s).):
2) What will be the outcome of the project? Please include a description of how the project will benefit the local
community.
3) Describe how your group meets any of the specific criteria described above, e.g. social change, sustainability,
social and economic justice, environmental protection, encouragement of diversity, fills a gap, provides a solution
to a problem, is unique.
4) Describe how your group works in cooperation with other organizations in our community.
5) Please describe in detail how the funds will be spent, itemize as specifically as possible.
6) What is the size of your organization? Number of paid staff? Number of volunteers?
7) What is the overall budget for all areas of your work for the current year?
Send Your Grant Application
Your completed application consists of:
1) This cover sheet
2) Up to three pages of narrative responses
3) If applicable, the cover to your IRS taxdetermination letter
Email your application to:
[email protected].
Mail your application to:
Helios Resource Network
454 Willamette St. #215
Eugene, OR 97401
We encourage emailed applications; if you submit
by e-mail, you can mail the cover to your IRS taxdetermination letter (if you have one) through the
post office.
Good Luck!