Oswald Supporting Organization Guidelines

At present, the Oswald Supporting Organization does not accept unsolicited grant applications or proposals. These Guidelines are provided only to select nonprofits as determined by the Oswald Supporting Organization's Board of Trustees.

The Oswald Supporting Organization was created under the auspices of the Toledo Community Foundation, Inc. for the purpose of offering grant support for charitable programs that enrich the quality of life for citizens of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

Focus Areas
The Oswald Supporting Organization has a particular interest in providing grants to support projects or programs that:

  • Enable families (both traditional and non-traditional) to develop the skills/resources needed to nurture each member;
  • Promote the advancement, self-sufficiency and intellectual, social, emotional and cultural growth of women and children of all ages.
Contents of a Proposal
The written proposal should be in narrative form and limited to a maximum of five typewritten pages. Please do not bind the proposal (other than stapling in one corner).

The following information should be included in the narrative:
  • Purpose and Need - State the goals (and the activities that will be undertaken to accomplish those goals) of the project or program. Identify the problems/needs that will be addressed, the population that will benefit and the number of individuals to be served.
  • Implementation - Summarize the plans and timeframe for implementing the proposed project or program.
  • Evaluation - Indicate the specific methods that are or will be used to evaluate the success of the project or program. Relate this evaluation to the stated goals. Provide any results of evaluations conducted to date.
  • Budget Information - Provide a one-page line-item budget that indicates all projected sources of income as well as expenses for the project or program. Indicate the time-period covered by the budget as well as the time period (beginning and ending dates) for which funds are being requested from the Supporting Organization. Please also provide a listing of all sources that have been approached (and amounts requested) for funding of the project and the status (i.e. approved, denied, pending) of such requests.
  • Future Support - Identify plans for securing ongoing operational support for the project once the Supporting Organization's grant funds are expended. Include anticipated future financial needs of the program, potential sources of funding, etc.
Attachments
The following attachments must be included with all proposals:
  • Brief summary of the grant request which includes: one or two paragraphs summarizing the proposed project or program; the name, address and telephone number of the requesting organization; the person to contact regarding the proposal; and the dollar amount requested. This summary may be in the form of a cover letter.
  • Names and affiliations of the applicant organization's Board of Trustees;
  • Brief background/history of the requesting organization, including: When and how organization was established; its mission/purpose; accomplishments to date; and a listing of all current programs & services.
  • The applicant organization's most recent financial audit report. If audited financial statements are not available, the most recent year-end unaudited income and expense statement and balance sheet must be provided.
  • The applicant organization's current operating budget.
  • Copy of the organization's tax exemption letter from the Internal Revenue Service.
Grant Review Criteria
The Oswald Supporting Organization's Board of Trustees will place priority on proposals which:
  • Represent an unduplicated opportunity and address a significant community need that falls within the Focus Areas listed in these Guidelines;
  • Propose support for a specific program or project - or the enhancement/expansion of an existing program or project - that addresses the Focus Areas listed in these Guidelines (rather than general operating support for the applicant organization);
  • Do not rely on the Oswald Supporting Organization as the sole source of support for the project or program;
  • Include a thoughtful, reasonable plan for obtaining continuing financial support from internal and/or external sources once grant funds have been expended.

The Oswald Supporting Organization usually will not make grants to:

  • Reduce or eliminate budget deficits for established programs;
  • Annual campaigns;
  • Support sectarian activities of religious organizations.

Review Process
The Toledo Community Foundation's professional staff and the Oswald Supporting Organization's Board of Trustees carefully review all grant proposals. Applicant organizations are notified, in writing, of approval/denial of funding requests within one week after the Oswald Supporting Organization's Board of Trustees takes action. The Oswald Supporting Organization cannot pay project expenses incurred by an applicant organization prior to notification of approval/denial.

Please note that grants are awarded on a competitive basis, may be available for one year only and cannot be counted on as an annual source of support.

For additional information, please write or call:

Sarah Harrison, Senior Program Officer, or
Toledo Community Foundation, Inc.
300 Madison Ave., Suite 1300
Toledo, OH 43604
PH: 419. 241.5049

For answers to additional questions, please consult our Nonprofit FAQ.