Guidance For Applicants

• All grant applications must be filed on the Foundation’s Application Cover Sheet (please refer to Criteria tab for additional documents to be included) and directly with The Degen Foundation, not with members of the Board of Directors. In fact, lobbying individual Directors may result in the application’s rejection.

• No application will be considered from a non-profit organization unless the non-profit organization is currently recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization in accordance with the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1969.

• In keeping with its mission and with the intent of the Board, all grant funds must be used exclusively within the defined service area (as defined by the attached map) and exclusively for health care or health care educational purposes.

• Approval of a portion of a grant request does not obligate the Foundation to further support that project.

• Healthcare grants are approved only by specific resolution of the Foundation Board and are effective only after a standard Grant Agreement has been executed and delivered to the Foundation by the Applicant and subsequently accepted by the Foundation in writing by the Executive Director. Grants which are not funded within six (6) months of the execution of the Grant Agreement by the Foundation shall be automatically rescinded, and a vote of the Foundation's Board of Directors shall not be required.

• The Foundation does not favor grants to federal, state, or municipal governments and will make such grants only on a three-fourths vote of its Board.

• To conserve its resources and to maximize its support, the Foundation does not grant funds to pay for completed projects, to pay existing debts or deficit funding, to pay for political expenditures or lobbying activities.

• Grants for endowments are not viewed favorably and require a three-fourths vote of the Board of Directors.

• All funds distributed by the Foundation must be used for the project designated in the application and the grant agreement, and any funds not used for the designated project must be returned to the Foundation. Further, all funds not used for the specific project within 12 months following the funding of the project must be returned to the Foundation unless waived by the Board prior to the 12 month period.

• All grant applications will be considered annually starting in 2024. There will be one more December (January really) cycle and applications must be received by September 30^th.

  • The Foundation may at any time make such grants as it deems appropriate by a three-fourths vote of its Board.

  • Applications requesting consideration out of the regular time sequence (June and December) may be considered by the Grants Committee or by the Board. If the Grants Committee or Board declines to act, the application will be processed in the regular manner

  • A grant for emergency relief from an act of God, or a similar unforeseen event, may be approved for charity institutions in the defined service area. Emergency relief grants shall be only for emergency food, shelter, clothing, and medical treatment.

Criteria for Grant Applications

Applications accepted between July 1 through Sept 30 for awards made in January;   

Selection Criteria:

• Organizational Applicants must reside in the 7-county area the Foundation serves (Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Sebastian and Scott Counties in Arkansas; Leflore & Sequoyah Counties in Oklahoma)
• Organization must provide medical/healthcare support or educational services to the underserved and underinsured
• Project should be a “single” project and easily identifiable
• Projects should be medically related (providing a service or health education)

The following items are required for Applications to be considered:

• Application form (provided by the Foundation)
• Brief narrative explaining the project and how the project will further your organization’s mission to include estimated costs of project(see Project Budget form)
• Most recent IRS Forms 990 and/or most recent audited financial statements including, if issued, the independent auditor’s management or reportable concerns letter, and the management response.
• Current operating budget for the organization
• Total project budget (approved format provided by the Foundation)
• Costs of project with estimates
• Copy of organization’s 501 c 3 status/current IRS determination letter (for first time applicants only)
• List of Board Members
• List of key Staff Members (note any changes in staff from last application)
• Website address for access to current information

Reporting

Grant recipients will be required to file Quarterly Progress Reports following approved formats and using forms prepared and provided by the Foundation as applicable. Quarterly reports are due April 15th, July 15th, Oct 15th and Jan 15th. The Foundation will not approve applications from a grant recipient which has failed to file timely status reports for a previous grant.

Format

Please use this format for both Interim Progress Reports and Final Reports.

• Narrative – 2 to 4 pages preferred

• • • Include a brief description of the project.

    • Please restate the goals you set for the project during the grant period.

    • Progress and/or setbacks relative to these goals.

    • How you measured the project’s impact on participants and/or the broader community. Please cite specific indicators of change and the time period over which you measured them.

    • What you learned from this information and how you applied or will apply it to improve future activities or strategy.

    • Significant board and/or staff changes, if any.

• Financial – complete the “Expenditure Report” form provided by the Foundation.

Attachments (Optional)

• The most recent annual report, if not already provided.

• Most recent publications, news articles or other relevant materials about your organization or the funded project. Please be selective. Please Send All Materials To:

Attn: Executive Director
The Degen Foundation
PO Box 10366
Fort Smith, AR 72917