Applying for a Community Grant

Deadlines

• March 1 (for consideration at the May Trustee meeting)
• September 1 (for consideration at the October Trustee meeting)

Applications are due the next business day if a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday. You will receive email notification that your application has been received within two weeks of its receipt in our office. Organizations may only apply one time in a twelve month period.

 
What to Include in Your Application
Please complete the Community Grant application provided by the Foundation. Each question should be answered in the space provided. Please be sure the application includes the name, phone and e-mail address of a contact person.

Click Here for PDF Application (print and complete) or Word Application (complete digitally and print) and Budget Form

Include the following supporting documents with your application:

• List of current Board of Directors
• Organizational budget to include the current year and year that project will be funded (if different) showing both income and expenses
• Current audited financial statement
• Current 990
• IRS letter confirming Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) status or information confirming status as a governmental unit or agency
• Documentation indicating your organization’s specific IRS designation described in 509 (a) 1, 509 (a) 2 or 509 (a) 3. Your classification type should be noted in the second paragraph of your IRS determination letter. If it is not indicated on your IRS letter, please contact the IRS to receive a letter stating your classification.

Funding Exclusions
It is not our policy to fund:

• Individuals
• Endowments
• Debt reduction
• Political organizations or causes
• Fundraising events
• General operating expenses
• Multi-year grants
• Grants outside of Hamilton County
• Capital campaigns in excess of $50,000 (except for LEED-certified building projects)
• Allied Arts agencies (except for capital campaigns)
• United Way agencies (except for capital campaigns)

DUE TO UNCERTAINTIES CREATED BY FEDERAL LEGISLATION EFFECTIVE AS OF AUGUST 17, 2006, BENWOOD AT PRESENT WILL ONLY CONSIDER GRANT APPLICATIONS FROM CHARITIES ORGANIZED UNDER SECTION 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. GRANTS PRESENTLY ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZED UNDER SECTION 509(a)(3).

Where to Send Your Application

 Applications should be addressed to:

The Benwood Foundation
Suite 1600
736 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402

We currently do not accept faxed or electronically submitted applications.

Final Report

 When the Foundation awards a grant, we enter into a partnership with a non-profit that we hope will provide new insights into effective ways to strengthen our community. Final reports are our primary tool to measure the achievements of the projects we support and to help strengthen the Foundation’s grantmaking program.

We ask for your honest attention in completing the report. We are interested in what contributed to the success of your project, as well as factors that might have made some goals difficult to achieve. Taking time to evaluate your work is an effective way to recognize the hard work contributed by those involved and point the ways to improve an ongoing project.

A final report is due one year after receiving a grant. An e-mail will be sent to your organization requesting this report. An organization must submit this final report before making application for future funding. Applicants receiving funds from the Foundation agree to return any portion of the grant which is not spent for the stated purpose.

Click Here for PDF Final Report (print and complete) or Word Final Report (complete digitally and print) and Budget Form