Heritage Fund : The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know if I would be eligible to apply for a grant from the Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County?

  We make grants to tax-exempt agencies classified as 501 (c)(3) organizations, which are public charities as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. The Heritage Fund will consider only grant requests that serve residents of Bartholomew County. Not-for-profit organizations without a 501 (c)(3) classification may seek funding with the support of a fiscal agent.

• Can I apply for a grant from the Heritage Fund if I have a personal need?

  The Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County does not make grants or loans to individuals. As a community foundation we support the charitable needs of not-for-profit organizations in Bartholomew County.

• How do I apply for a grant?

  The first step is to call the program officer to discuss your proposed project. The program officer will determine whether your proposed project fits within the Heritage Fund's funding guidelines and will discuss the application process with you.

• How can I reach the program officer?

  Call (812) 376-7772 and ask to speak with Lyn Morgan.

• Can anyone at the Heritage Fund help me write a proposal?

  No, the Foundation does not provide assistance with writing proposals. However the program officer may give advice or suggestions regarding information to include in your proposal.

• What are the deadlines for submitting proposals?

  Proposals are accepted quarterly with deadlines March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1. You must discuss your project with a program officer prior to submitting a proposal.

• Is there a specific application form that must be used?

  Yes. You may download the application form from the Grant Applications, Instructions and Forms section of this website. If you experience any problems call the program officer.

• What is the amount of the average grant?

  There is a wide range in the size of grants awarded. Grants during 2008 range from $2,000 to $40,000. The average being $13,000. Applicants should request the amount actually needed to successfully complete the proposed project.

• Are grants funded over multiple years?

  Grant requests are generally funded for one year. However multiple year grants may be awarded to support new programs.

• How long does it take once a proposal is submitted to go through the approval process and to receive funding?

  The time from submission to approval is 2-3 months. Once the grant is approved, it takes up to 14 days after returning the appropriate forms to receive a check. Release of the check is triggered by returning the signed grant agreement.

• Can I get a grant from a donor advised fund?

  Donors that have established donor advised funds make grants to not-for-profit organizations based on their own areas of interest. Donors make grant recommendations to the Heritage Fund Board for final approval. Donor advised funds do not accept requests.

• Can you refer me to anyone else for funding?

  If your proposal doesn't fit the funding criteria for the Heritage Fund's Unrestricted Fund, the program officer may be able to suggest other funding sources. A list of grant resources is listed under Resource Links on this website.

• I recently received a grant from the Heritage Fund, how long do I need to wait before submitting another grant request?

  The Heritage Fund generally awards only one grant to an organization per year. We recommend that not-for-profit organizations prioritize their funding needs.

• What is a Discretionary Grant?

  The Heritage Fund is able to consider some grant requests of up to $3,000 as Discretionary Grants. If such an application meets all funding requirements it could be reviewed outside of the regular funding cycle. This possibility should be discussed with the Program Officer.