Grants
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| The Southwest Initiative Foundation’s grants support many programs that make southwest Minnesota an even greater place to live. |
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Guided by our five-year strategic plan and key initiative focus areas, the Southwest Initiative Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, governments and schools that serve residents within our southwest Minnesota service area.
Most of the grants awarded by the Southwest Initiative Foundation have a strong connection to one of our current initiatives. These initiatives include:
View a complete lists of Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009) grants.
Check out our recent edition of Looking Forward, Giving Back to learn more about how SWIF and our fund partners are able to award grants through the generosity of our donors.
How to Apply
The first step to applying for a grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation is to review our grant guidelines to be sure your project fits within our guidelines and criteria.
Next, complete the online pre-application questionnaire. You may complete it online or download a copy and mail or fax it to our office.
After we receive your questionnaire, here’s how the process works:
- You will receive an e-mail confirming our receipt of your pre-application questionnaire.
- Our team meets monthly to review and discuss each grant inquiry. After reviewing your completed questionnaire, we will contact you to either invite or decline a full application.
If we invite a full application, you are still not guaranteed a grant. This is an indication that we want to hear more about your project because it meets the basic requirements for funding.
If we decline a full application, we will share our reasons and may refer you to other potential funders.
- We send you the full application, for you to complete and return.
- Upon receipt, your full application is assigned to a staff grant reviewer. They will contact you with questions and schedule a site visit, if deemed necessary.
- The grant reviewer will make a recommendation to the president or board of directors, depending on the amount requested.
- You will be informed after the final decision is made, which may include a reduction in the amount of requested funding, a full or partial matching challenge, payment schedule or other stipulations.
- Once we receive the required documents, the funds will be distributed as outlined in the grant agreement and announced to the media.
- Project reports will be required as outlined in the grant agreement. This information may be used as a learning tool to help other organizations and guide future foundation funding.
Remember, the grant process begins by completing the pre-application questionnaire. If you have questions, contact us.
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