1 When must I submit my grant proposal?
The Foundation has three grant cycles: March 1, June 1, and October 1. The Foundation requests that a grant proposal for any one of the three cycles be submitted during the 4-6 week period that immediately precedes the grant cycle for which it is submitted. For example, if the proposal is for the June 1 cycle, it should be submitted no earlier than April 15 and no later than May 31.
2 Is there a formal application form that I should use?
No, there is no formal application form. The Foundation’s grant guidelines outline the elements that must be provided in a proposal.
3 Where may I obtain a copy of the grant guidelines?
Grant guidelines are available on our website. In addition, we can fax, mail, or e-mail a printed copy to you upon request.
4 Does the Foundation assist applicants with writing the grant proposal?
The Foundation does not provide a grant-writing service. However, we encourage applicants to follow our guidelines in preparing a proposal and to call if they have a question. We also refer potential applicants to the Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center for further assistance.
5 To whom should proposals be addressed?
Ms. Phyllis Woodford
Grants Administrator
The Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation
P.O. Box 909
Orange, TX 77631
6 May I submit my proposal electronically?
No, electronic submission is not permitted. The Foundation requests that all proposals be mailed as indicated above.
7 Does the Stark Foundation need multiple copies of a grant proposal; should the proposal be bound?
No. Only one unbound copy is necessary.
8 How will I know if the Foundation has received my proposal?
We acknowledge receipt of every proposal by letter within two weeks.
9 How often does the Foundation consider proposals?
The Foundation’s grant-making body considers proposals 3 times per year – once during each grant cycle.
10 What if my organization is new and does not have all the information requested in the guidelines. Can I still apply?
Yes. Send the most current information you have. Once your proposal is reviewed, a member of our staff will call you if additional information is required.
11 Does the Foundation require a letter of intent before submitting a proposal?
No. We prefer that applicants submit a complete proposal.
12 Should a grant proposal include letters of support?
Generally, such letters are not necessary. If these materials are needed, the Foundation will contact you with such request.
13 What if my proposal does not contain all of the requirements stated in the grant guidelines?
The Foundation requires that all information and materials noted in the grant guidelines be submitted with a proposal, except as may be otherwise permitted for new organizations. Failure to include all information may result in immediate declination.
14 May I meet with someone to discuss a possible proposal?
It is not necessary to have a meeting before you submit a grant proposal and, in fact, personal contact beyond the submission of a proposal letter is discouraged and may not be acknowledged unless initiated by the Stark Foundation. Likewise, personal visits to the Foundation during the initial review process are generally discouraged as well.
We find that the better approach is for us to schedule any meeting that we determine to be warranted after we have received the proposal and have reviewed the proposed project.
15 When and how will I know if my proposal has been accepted or rejected?
All applicants receive written communication regarding the disposition of their proposal. Proposals are usually processed within 6-10 weeks after the commencement of a cycle.
16 Should we wait to hear from the Stark Foundation before making applications to other organizations?
No. An applicant should submit applications to multiple sources of funding, as doing so will improve its chances of success.
17 May I submit another proposal if I have previously been declined?
Yes. Grant proposals are accepted during each grant cycle submission period as detailed above. However, our guidelines limits grant requests from eligible organizations to one application per 12-month period, regardless of whether an application was approved or declined during the prior 12-month period.
18 Am I eligible to submit another grant proposal if I am currently or recently in receipt of a grant from the Stark Foundation?
No. The Stark Foundation provides a maximum of one grant per calendar year to eligible nonprofit organizations. An organization that has been previously funded must submit a final report and/or an evaluation before additional funds may be requested. Additionally, organizations that have received a grant from the Stark Foundation for three consecutive years may typically reapply only after a one-year hiatus.
19 What legal status or IRS designation must my organization have to be eligible for a grant?
Private foundations such as the Stark Foundation are directed by federal law to make grants only to tax-exempt, IRS qualified 501(c)(3) public charities and qualified public entities. The Stark Foundation does not fund private foundations.
20 What is the maximum/minimum (or average) grant amount that the Foundation funds?
The Foundation has not established maximum or minimum funding amounts, nor does it have a range for grant amounts. Many factors determine funding amounts, including the specific program or project to be funded, the organization making the request, the scope of work and expected outcomes, the organization’s mission, leadership, strategy, financials and budget, and the manner in which the organization’s dollars are invested within the community it serves.
21 Does the Foundation fund general operating expenses?
The Foundation does not normally fund general allocations of overhead or provide a source of funds to maintain the current level of services for an established organization. It instead prefers to help organizations reach more people through new programs or an expansion of existing services. Under limited circumstances, however, the Foundation will support the costs to establish new organizations or efforts to strengthen the capacity of existing ones.
22 Does the Foundation make grants to individuals?
No. In accordance with its charter, the Stark Foundation funds only 501(c)(3) public charities and qualified public entities.
23 Do you give grants to organizations outside of Southeast Texas?
On limited occasions, the Foundation will award grants to organizations outside of Southeast Texas, provided that the funding is directed toward a program or project that will benefit the people of Southeast Texas.
24 Does the Stark Foundation prefer to fund capital projects or program support?
While the applicant should determine its highest priority, it is the Stark Foundation’s preference to fund program support.
25 Does the Stark Foundation make grants to commercial businesses?
No, the Stark Foundation does not fund for-profit organizations.
26 Does the Stark Foundation provide scholarship assistance?
The Stark Foundation funds scholarships but only through (a) the Miriam Lutcher Stark Contest in Reading and Declamation and (b) at times, the Texas Interscholastic Foundation. It does not accept requests for direct scholarship assistance.
27 Are there areas in which the Foundation does not make grants?
Yes. In general, the Foundation does not make grants to underwrite fundraising events, professional conferences, symposia, out-of-state performances or competition expenses. It does not make grants for endowment purposes or to supporting organizations described under 509(a)(3).
28 Before I submit a proposal, can you tell me if the Foundation is interested or would consider the type of grant I am looking for?
The Foundation is able to offer you a better response after reviewing a full proposal. As long as the proposal reflects an area of interest of the Foundation, including geographical limitation, as outlined in the guidelines, we would like the opportunity to review it.
29 Will the Foundation conduct a site visit and/or should we invite Foundation Board members for a visit?
The staff person reviewing the applicant’s proposal will determine the need for a site visit.
30 My grant proposal was declined. Can you tell me why?
The Stark Foundation receives numerous grant proposals for each grant cycle and is simply not able to fund every request that it receives. There is strong competition for grant funds, and a number of factors are weighed in assessing a grant. The Foundation’s grant committee looks for programs and projects that best meet the areas of interest outlined in the grant guidelines. Many worthwhile proposals are declined because they do not fall within the Foundation’s current guidelines or priorities. The Foundation’s inability to provide assistance does not reflect on the merits of proposals; rather, it exemplifies the limitations of our grant resources, which makes it necessary to establish priorities and guidelines for our areas of interest. We encourage those whose requests are declined to submit another proposal at a future time.
31 If my proposal is declined, will the Stark Foundation provide an evaluation of what I could do better?
No. In view of the volume of requests we receive, we are not able to provide evaluative remarks to organizations whose requests have been denied.