Grant Application Guidelines

Mission Statement

The mission of the Norway Community Fund (NCF) is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Town of Norway by encouraging and providing opportunities for charitable giving and by managing funds in a responsible manner.

Grant Application Statement

The NCF supports projects and programs related to arts and culture, community development, education, the environment, heath and human services, and sports.

This document provides guidelines for organizations seeking funding from the Norway Community Fund. The fund cannot fund all the requests it receives and it is possible that funding will be awarded, but not at the full amount requested. In considering grants, the Fund operates without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, genetic information, military service, sexual orientation or marital status and awards grants only to organizations that observe similar nondiscriminatory policies.

Who is eligible to apply for a grant from the NCF?

Applicants must be not-for-profit with 501©(3) status and must have received their tax-exempt determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service. All applicants must be located in, and provide services in the Town of Norway.

What does the NCF typically fund?

The Foundation supports projects and programs related to arts, culture, community development, education, the environment, heath and human services.

Grant proposals should meet the following criteria

• • Attend to basics community needs

  • Demonstrate the ability to achieve and sustain significant and long-term impact

  • Possess well-defined objectives and measurable outcomes that improve the quality of life in our community

  • Include financial commitments from funding organizations other than the NCF

  • Illustrate plans for long-term sustainability that do not depend on recurring support from grant program

What does the NCF typically not fund?

Lobbying efforts or political action groups, labor unions, individuals, multiple-year projects, annual fund drives or fund-raising events or endowment-building campaigns.

The NCF may decline grant proposals for:

Building funds, unanticipated short-term deficits, fraternal organizations, requests solely to defray travel or lodging expenses for either individuals or groups.

To Apply for Funding

Submit a formal written grant request on the Grant Application form between September 1st and September 30 of each calendar year to norwaycommunityfund@gmail.com or the address below:

6419 Heg Park Road

Wind Lake, WI 53185

The application form is available for download at the bottom of this page.

Grant Application Review

• • All applications will be reviewed for their merits

  • A majority vote by the Trustees will be required for final approval or disapproval

  • The NCF Trustees will act upon all Grant Applications no later than October 1st of that year

  • All applicants will be invited to the October Annual Fall Festival where the winning grant will be awarded.

  • Successful and non-successful applicants will be notified by phone and in writing before the event.

Note

• • The funds received must be used as outlined in the grant request, and not for any other purpose. Any portion of the grant not used for the purpose outlined must be returned to the Fund.

  • A grant request by a qualified organization may be denied if funds were provided previously to the organization by the NCF, which will allow grants to other organizations that have not yet benefited from NCF

  • If your organization is denied a grant the organization is encouraged to reapply in the future.

  • All decisions to decline a grant request are made at the sole discretion of the Foundation and may not be appealed.

What is required of organizations that receive a grant from the NCF?

Before an organization’s proposal is funded, a Grant Agreement will be sent along with the notifications letter. This agreement outlines the limits and conditions under which the grant has been authorized. Be sure that your organization can meet the terms of the following items which appear on the Grant Agreement:

• • The funds received must be used as outlined in the grant request, and not for any other purpose. Any portion of the grant not used for the purpose outlined must be returned to the Fund.

  • The NCF’s website will be linked to the organizations’ website within 30 days of receiving the grant.

  • The Fund name and logo must be listed as a funding source on all printed materials referring to the project/program. This includes flyers, programs, posters, ads, press releases, newsletters, brochures and annual reports.

  • The Fund must be listed as a funding source on all forms of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) when referring to the project.

  • An accounting of all expenditures along with a Follow-up Report will be due one month after the project/program is completed.

  • The Fund must be notified of any change in leadership or tax status.

  • The Fund must be allowed to use information about this grant in the Funds’ reports press releases, social media and website. This includes the amount and purpose of the grant.