It is essential that the guidelines outlined in the Grant Process section of this website be followed very carefully. The Foundation receives a large number of grant applications each year. At the same time, the Foundation only employs a small part-time staff. If the guidelines are not followed, the Foundation will return the grant application and ask that it be made complete. Please pay special attention to the requirement that, in addition to the original grant application, three (3) copies, including attachments must be provided.

The grant application must be postmarked by July 1.

No. In fairness to applicants who are able to meet the July 1 deadline, no extensions are permitted.

The Foundation prefers that most mail be sent to its post office box. However, in those extraordinary cases where a grant applicant needs to send an application by Federal Express, the following address may be used: 301 N. Main, Suite 2000, Wichita, KS 67202.

The Foundation strongly prefers that grant applications be filed in hard copy form with the proper number of copies (see Question 1 above). Exceptions will only be made in extraordinary circumstances upon request.

If your grant application package is complete, you will receive a letter from the Foundation confirming its receipt within three weeks from the date the Foundation receives it. If it is not complete, the grant application will be returned and you will be asked that it be made complete. Due to the volume of grant applications received by the Foundation, it is requested that you wait until after the three-week period and only call regarding your application if you do not receive the confirmation letter.

No. Grant applications are only considered once per year, in the Fall. The date of the Foundation's Board of Trustee meeting to approve grants each year varies. It is typically held in either November or early December.

As indicated in the Grant Process section of this website, the presentations are optional. They may be made in-person or by conference call. The Foundation has found the presentations to be very useful to the Board of Trustees in their evaluation of grant proposals. They allow the applicant to supplement the written grant application package and to answer any questions the Board might have. Although not required, most grant applicants take advantage of the opportunity to make a presentation.

The confirmation letter discussed in Question 6 above will inform you of the date and location of the Fall meeting of the Foundation. You will be provided with a Presentation Response Form that you will be asked to return to the Foundation. The form will request certain information and will provide you the opportunity to indicate whether you will make your presentation in-person or by phone. After you return the Presentation Response Form, you will be contacted by the Foundation to schedule the exact time of your presentation.

The Foundation only makes grants out of the earnings on its investments. It does not make grants from its principal. The grant budget each year is dependent on the performance of the Foundation's investments. In years when the American economy is down, the Foundation's budget will typically be down. The contrary is true when the American economy is strong.

The following are among the factors considered by the Foundation when evaluating an organization that submits a grant application:

• Financial transparency and accountability
• Good governance - a committed and advocating board
• Good management from the staff
• Evidence of sound strategic planning
• Strong constituency support through annual giving
• Planned futurity of the project
• A compelling vision of the future
• A demonstrated record of success
• A professional approach to relationships with major donors

These factors are general in nature. Although important, not every organization will be at the stage where it is able to satisfy each one. In addition, not all of the factors will apply to every organization's situation. However, in all requests, the Foundation is looking for projects, programs and organizations with a vision for what they are trying to accomplish and a strategic plan on how they will accomplish that vision. The Foundation often assists projects at their early stages, but looks for evidence that the potential to develop the listed factors is present.

Due to the large number of quality grant applications that the Foundation receives from around the Orthodox world, its ability to fund very large grant requests has been limited in recent years. As a result, grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. On occasion, the Foundation has committed to larger grants, but very few have exceeded $150,000.

The Foundation will occasionally commit to a grant that will extend over a period of years. These have typically been three to five year periods.

No. It is the policy of the Foundation to avoid grants that fund the servicing of debt.

Although the Foundation would like to provide funding for parish building projects, due to its limited resources, the Foundation has had to make the decision that parish building projects are not eligible for grant funds at this time. However, the Foundation is in the process of developing a program that would support a limited number of parish building projects each year. That program will be announced on this website when it has been established.

No, not at this time. Grant requests are only considered once a year in the Fall as described in the Grant Process section of this website.

The Foundation prefers to fund specific projects, programs and initiatives of organizations. It generally does not fund ongoing operating budgetary items.

No. The Foundation only makes grants to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.