International Foundation for Gender Education
Winslow Street Fund
Guidelines for Grant Seekers
INTRODUCTION
The Winslow Street Fund is the permanent endowment fund of the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE). IFGE qualifies as a tax exempt organization under International Revenue Code (IRC) section 501(c)(3). Therefore, all gifts and donations to IFGE, the Winslow Street Fund (WSF), or any special fund of IFGE are tax deductible pursuant to IRC section 170(b).
It was conceived in 1990 during a series of historical meetings that took place during Fantasia Fair at the Chicago House on Winslow Street. A group of dedicated leaders spent most of their week in Provincetown developing a three year strategic plan to enable IFGE to meet the growing needs and demands of our community; and to meet the increasing financial demands of serving our community and educating the business, political, medical, and general community leaders.
An important part of this strategy was the creation of the WSF whose primary purpose is to ensure the long term financial stability of our community and IFGE.
The WSF is managed and governed by an independent Board of Trustees approved by the IFGE Board of Directors. The Trustees are responsible for all policy decisions, investment decisions, the allocation of Fund income and principal, as well as grant making decisions.
The WSF accepts gifts and donations of cash, property, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, etc. Donations may be made currently or through your will, the creation of a trust, or other estate planning document. All documentation necessary to any type of gift or donation is available from the IFGE office. Since only the income generated by investing the gifts and donations received is used for most grants, donations to the WSF serve the TG community in perpetuity.
All 501(c)(3) organizations, support groups, services, and special projects providing a benefit to the TG community are invited to apply to the WSF for financial support for its projects and other appropriate programs. The trustees will also give consideration to certain grant requests by individuals, provided the guidelines set forth herein are met.
The WSF is committed to serving the TG community and its success will help determine IFGE's ability to serve our community and meet the needs and demands of our community in the future.
INFORMATION FOR GRANT SEEKERS
The WSF is looking for worthy grant recipients, whether they are well-established, emerging or grassroots organizations, or individuals, whose primary purpose is to benefit the TG community. When awarding grants, the Trustees will carefully weigh each proposal against the following list of objectives. Your grant proposal should address each of these important points:
1. Will a broad sector of the TG community benefit and will your proposal assist those not adequately served by existing community resources?
2. Is your proposal a demonstration project which proposes practical approaches to specific community problems?
3. How does your proposal respond to known community needs, coordinate and consolidate community services to increase efficiency and minimize operating costs, and avoid unnecessary duplication of other existing programs or services?
4. How will you provide or attract additional funds and community support?
5. How will you improve the quality of life for members of the TG community through your endeavors?
6. Will your project or program help bring dignity and respect to the TG community?
7. Can you or your organization verify a need for WSFs and demonstrate sound fiscal management practices?
The WSF Trustees believe they have a responsibility to lead as well as support our community. Occasionally, we will seek special opportunities, initiate studies, foster collaborative efforts among support organizations, and take risks to achieve one or more particular objectives on behalf of the TG community.
All decisions of the Trustees shall be guided by their independent judgment and perception of the TG community's needs. and the potential benefits to our community. All decisions of the Board of Trustees of the WSF shall be publicized as "Board Decisions" and all individual votes and vote tallies shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed. All trustees pledge confidentiality to each other. It is the policy of the Trustees that votes will not be discussed with anyone after the vote has been taken.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A GRANT
The most important part of your grant proposal is its content and not its form. However, your proposal should contain all of the following elements. Proposals will not be considered until all needed documentation has been submitted. Each proposal should include the following:
1. A cover letter including:
- The purpose of the request.
- The time span involved.
- The priority within your organization, if applicable.
- Amount of money being requested.
2. A brief summary of your proposal including the following:
- A narrative description of the proposal.
- Income and expense budget for your proposal, if applicable.
- Future funding plans for your proposal, if applicable.
- A narrative description of the need.
- A narrative description of the benefit to the TG community.
3. Information about you or your organization, specifically:
- Current Board of Directors or Board of Trustees roster, if applicable.
- IRS Tax Status ruling letter.
- Mission statement or statement of organizational purpose.
- Brief history of you or your organization.
- Annual report or brief description of your achievements during the most recently completed calendar year.
4. Financial information about you or your organization, including:
- For budgets over $600,000 annually, an audit for the most recently completed fiscal year.
- For budgets between $100,000 and $600,000 annually, a financial review of the most recently completed fiscal year.
- For budgets under $100,000 annually, balance sheet and end of year financial statement for the most recently completed fiscal year.
- A balance sheet for the most recently completed operating month.
- Cumulative income and expense report for the most recently completed operating month.
- Prior year’s operating budget, if applicable, or a copy of your organization’s most recent form 990 filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
- Current year’s operating budget, if applicable.
The WSF will accept grant proposals throughout the year. Submitted proposals will be reviewed by the Trustees within six months of receipt of all required information. Grants will be announced at the IFGE Convention in March/April of any given year and/or in October of any given year.
All grant proposals should be submitted to the WSF in care of the IFGE, PO Box 229, Waltham, MA 02454-0229. The IFGE office will transmit your grant proposal to the Chair of the WSF Trustees, who, in turn, will distribute to the other Trustees for review and consideration. You will be advised in writing of whether funding for your proposal has been approved or denied. You should not expect a decision in less than six months after the entire application is submitted.