Guidelines
NOT ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS IN 2024
Funding policies and interests
● Grants are awarded to public charities that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are NOT private operating foundations. Fiscal sponsors will be awarded grants directly for distribution only in accordance with written sponsorship agreements.
● The foundation responds more favorably to proposals coming from the Greater Boston area; the Berkshire Region of Massachusetts and Connecticut; and within The Perimeter of metro Atlanta.
● Funding focuses on organizations in service of, and/or with leadership that reflects: low-income communities; immigrants; Black; Indigenous; people of color; women and girls; LGBTQIA+; and other marginalized populations.
● Interests include: arts and culture; environmental protection; health and human services; racial and social justice; and youth development, but can include other areas in which the Advisory Board has special knowledge and interest.
● Grant requests should be within the $5,000 to $25,000 range and should not exceed 50% of the total project budget.
● No grants are made in support of: national organizations and their affiliates; endowments; sponsorships of special events, plays or festivals; or to individuals.
● The foundation prefers to fund organizations that do not receive wide public support and have annual budgets under $3 million.
● Government agencies, political and religious organizations are NOT eligible for consideration. Occasional exceptions have been made for religious groups which provide social services to the community at large without proselytizing. (A secular statement is required with any grant application.)
Grant Application Procedures
Applications should include appropriate attachments.
Executive Summary Cover Sheet:
● Contact information: Full legal organizational name – address – phone – email – names of executive director and board president.
● Amount requested and how funds will be applied - general operating or program specific.
● Brief description of the proposed project (no more than a short paragraph).
Narrative (no more than 2-3 pages):
● Mission statement and a brief organizational history.
● Describe the purpose and goals of the project and the need you are trying to address.
● Description of request including specific activities that will be used to reach goals. General operating requests should highlight organizational needs.
● What community is being served and what outcomes do you seek to achieve?
● If applicable, provide a brief update on how any previous funding from the Homestead Foundation was applied.
Attachments:
● Copy of 501 (c)(3) IRS determination letter. Use of a fiscal sponsor requires the sponsor’s determination letter and a copy of the memorandum of understanding between the organization and its sponsor.
● Current list of board of directors with professional affiliations included.
● Submit a line-item budget for the project described and two overall organizational operating budgets. One showing revenues and expenditures for the current year as projected and the other showing the actual figures from the last completed fiscal year.
Deadlines
Applications must be sent via email by 5:00 pm on March 15, 2025 to our executive director, Sara Cofrin Walsh at hfnd.inc@gmail.com.
Additional Information
Proposals are screened and evaluated upon receipt. Organizations are notified promptly as to the status of each proposal. Funding occurs at the end of each calendar year. Grantees should not expect to receive more than two years of continuous funding unless invited to do so.