Grant Application FAQ
When am I able to apply for a Foundation grant?
The Foundation grant application portal opens on January 1st. The grant application portal closes on March 15th. No grant applications are accepted after March 15th 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
What is the Foundation’s review and selection process?
After an application is submitted it is pre-screened by Foundation staff to:
– Validate that the submitted budget does not contain disqualifying expenses.
– Verify the organization’s Tax-Exempt ID using Guidestar Charity Check.
– Verify that Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Chapters and Members are not applying for independent grants and independent agencies/organizations are not applying for Chapter grants
If an application meets the pre-screening requirements, the application will be moved to the first of two rounds of scoring.
The first round of scoring is conducted by External Evaluators. Review/scoring begins on March 16th and ends on April 15th. The results of the first round of scoring will provide the top candidates per grant category (semi-finalists) to move on to the second round of scoring.
The second and final round of scoring is conducted by Internal Evaluators. Review/scoring begins on April 16th and ends on April 30th. The results of the second and final round of scoring will provide the finalists (awardees) in each grant category.
My organization applied for a grant, when will we hear back?
Applicants awarded a grant are notified via email from the grant management platform, WizeHive Zengine on May 15th. Applicants not awarded a grant are notified via email from the grant management platform, WizeHive Zengine on or before May 15th.
Are there restrictions on how Foundation grant funding can be spent?
Summary of what the Foundation grant DOES NOT FUND:
-Scholarships and/or Operating Expenses for the organization are not funded, only costs associated with implementing the grant-funded program are funded.
-Capital Costs are not funded.
-Private Foundations, Sorority/Fraternity Foundations are not funded.
-Office equipment, general office supplies are not funded. (Technology specific to the Program is funded).
-Individuals are not funded, only organizations.
-Staff Salaries/Wages are not funded. (Consultant fees are funded).
-Endowments are not funded.
-Political Activities are not funded.
-Religious Activities are not funded.
How can I verify if my non-profit or my Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Chapter are in good standing with the IRS?
Visit the IRS Website: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
How can I find my nonprofit's EIN or my Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Chapter’s 501(c)(4) number?
This information can be found at https://www.guidestar.org/. If you are a Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Chapter, you can find your 501(c)(4) number by searching for the Chapter name, or you can inquire with your Regional Treasurer.
If an application asks for an ‘Optional’ Recommendation Letter from a Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Chapter or ‘Optional’ letter from the applicant’s Executive Director or CEO, will I be penalized if I do not upload a letter?
A grant application request for a Recommendation Letter or other letters that are identified as ‘Optional’ cannot negatively impact your application if you choose not to respond, but keep in mind that other applicants may respond to the ‘Optional’ request which could improve their application.