Application Guidelines

Application Process for New Applicants

New applicants should submit a one-page letter of inquiry to determine if a project falls within our guidelines. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year, but must be received at least two weeks prior to the corresponding proposal submission deadline. Letters of inquiry must be submitted online or emailed without attachments to info@grdodge.org. Following staff review of initial inquiries, applicants will be notified whether or not to submit a full proposal.

All applicants must either have 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code, or be a public entity.

For Current Grantees or New Applicants Invited to Apply

In our efforts to transition to using less paper in our grantmaking process, we are now asking that you submit ONLY an electronic copy of your proposal. A complete application will include one electronic copy of each of the following:

• A proposal cover sheet, including the checklist of required documentation.  This document can be downloaded, and filled out and saved on your computer by clicking here.  Should you experience difficulty opening this link, please send an email to info@grdodge.org and we will email you the cover sheet and check list.
  
• One-page summary of the proposal submitted on the letterhead of the sponsoring organization that includes:
• grant request (include specific amount);
• brief history and mission of organization;
• project description (if requesting general operating support, include description of activities); and
• value and impact of programming.

  A sample of the preferred format for the one-page summary, which will be included in recommendations to our Board of Trustees, can be found here (PDF).

• A narrative no longer than six pages which includes:
  
  • a description of the project and the need for it; (if requesting general operating support, include description of activities);
  • the qualifications and past accomplishments of the sponsoring organization;
  • how the project is to proceed and who is to carry it out;
  • a time-line for the project;
  • the benefits to be gained for the organization, the targeted audience and, if applicable, New Jersey artists;
  • the plans for evaluating the project, including how success is defined and will be measured; and
  • the plans for funding the project in the future.
    
• Project budget for the current year and for the proposed year (if applicable).
  
• Total organizational budget (expenses and income) for current year and proposed year.
  
• The organization’s most recent audited financial statement.
  
• A list of the names and occupations of trustees of the organization.
  
• A copy of the Internal Revenue Service determination letter confirming the organization’s 501(c)3 status. This does not apply to public schools, school districts, and universities or public entities.

Electronic Submission

Please submit electronic copies of proposals in either Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF format. We prefer that zip files not be used. If portions of your proposal are in Excel please feel free to include them as a separate file attachment. We request that you submit your proposal to eproposals@grdodge.org using the following file name conventions:

<organization name>_coversheet
<organization name>_proposal (includes narrative, budgets and trustees list)
<organization name>_summary
<organization name>_report (required for current grantees only)
<organization name>_audit
<organization name>_IRSletter

Proposals should be emailed no later than the deadline dates listed below to allow for staff review. If you have any questions about submitting your proposal electronically please call RoseAnn DeBois at 973-540-8442 x109. We do not accept faxed proposals.

Proposal Review Process

A team of program staff reviews all proposals received. A limited number of applicants will be contacted to schedule a site visit or a telephone interview. As funding decisions are made, applicants will be notified in writing.

Limitations

For effective focus of the Foundation’s energies, it is necessary to exclude from consideration such major fields as higher education, health, and religion. Support for capital programs, equipment purchases, indirect costs, endowment funds, and deficit reduction are outside of the Foundation’s guidelines. Except for Foundation initiatives, the Foundation does not make direct awards to individuals. Also, we do not consider grants to conduit organizations. Because the Foundation’s charter prohibits funding of any efforts to influence legislation,organizations should not request funding for lobbying efforts.

Proposal Due Dates

Whether funded or not, organizations must wait until the next grantmaking cycle for their issue area before submitting a subsequent proposal. Recipients are expected to make periodic progress reports and to submit a narrative and a financial accounting of disbursements at the end of the grant period.