Application Process
1
PRE-APPLICATION
The first step in our process is a brief pre-application form. The pre-application helps our team evaluate your organization’s eligibility as well as fit with our mission, geographic focus, and priorities. All new applicants must complete the pre-application.
2
DEADLINES
We accept and review pre-applications in four annual cycles, listed in the table to the right. If you are a new applicant, you may apply in any of the 2023-2024 cycles. Current grantees typically should select the cycle closest to your application last year. As needed our staff will advise you on a recommended cycle.
If you submit your pre-application outside of these cycles, your application will be reviewed but remain pending until the next cycle is opened.
CYCLE
CYCLE OPENS
CYCLE CLOSES*
NOTIFY NO LATER THAN**
1
May 1, 2024
May 31, 2024
Oct 31, 2024
2
Jul 1, 2024
Jul 31, 2024
Nov 30, 2024
3
Oct 1, 2024
Oct 31, 2024
Mar 31, 2025
4
Jan 1, 2025
Jan 31, 2025
May 31, 2025
*The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. CST.
**If invited to submit a full grant request.
3
PRE-APPROVAL
After review, our staff will notify you via email if you have been invited to submit a full proposal or if your application has been declined.
4
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
If you have been invited to submit a full proposal, you will receive instructions about how to access our online Grantee Community. Invited applicants will be notified of the final deadline for the full proposal and will have approximately one month to submit a proposal.
5
PROPOSAL REVIEW
Once we receive your full proposal, we begin our review process. During review, our team may request follow-up conversations, site visits, or supplemental data to learn more about your organization, its mission, and its impact.
6
FINAL DECISION
Board members make all final decisions about grants. Once we have made a decision, we will notify you. If you have been awarded a grant, you will receive a grant agreement via DocuSign for review and signature. Once the signed agreement is received, we will process payment of the grant, typically within 30 days.