General FAQs
|
|
|
For FAQs related to the E-Grant System, click here.
How do I apply for a grant from the Medina Foundation?
All requests must be received through our E-Grant System. The Overview & Guidelines section has an Eligibility Quiz and information on how to apply. More detailed instructions can be found in the Application Process, and you can always contact us for more information.
What is the application review process?
The Medina Foundation has a two-step application process – a letter of inquiry (LOI) and a full application. Before applying, it may be helpful to review our grant guidelines, and you are welcome to schedule a call with one of our program officers to find out more about our priorities.
The first step in the process is to submit an LOI through our E-Grant System. A copy of the LOI questions can be found here.
Upon review of your LOI, the Medina Foundation will invite selected organizations to submit a full grant application through the E-Grant System. Note that as of 2024, all applicants use the same process to apply, but there is question branching that allows for organizations that are smaller (budgets of under $500,000 and requesting $15,000 or less), or those that we are more familiar with (organizations that have received 3 or more grants within the past 7 years), to submit a more streamlined version of our application, with fewer detailed questions.
Because of the volume of requests received, we unfortunately have to decline about half or more of the LOIs that are submitted. A declination does not mean that we don’t think you are doing important work; typically this is simply due to our limited resources.
LOI decisions are typically made within 1-2 months of LOI submission.
If invited, we will review your full application, then request a site visit (or phone call) with the Executive Director of the organization. After the site visit, the trustees meet to make grant decisions.
A final grant decision is typically made within 2-4 months after the receipt of a complete application (depending on the timing of our trustee meetings and the volume of requests received).
If my organization has received a grant from the Medina Foundation in the past, do I still need to submit a letter of inquiry?
Yes. All applications start with an LOI. The LOI is a short form with basic information (Organization General Purpose; Project Description; etc.). If selected to submit a full application, this information is carried over to the application. You can cut and paste any information from previous requests that is still applicable. Typically, LOIs from previous grantees will be invited to submit a full application, although there may be exceptions to this. Please contact your Program Officer if you have any questions.
Are there application deadlines?
No. Trustees typically meet every other month and consider completed applications in the order they were received. LOIs are also reviewed in the order they are received.
We do ask that organizations who are invited to apply (after LOI submission) submit the application within one year of the invitation date, to ensure information is still relevant and up to date. If your organization does not submit the application after one year, you may submit a new LOI any time to restart the process.
If you are ever unsure of your LOI or application status, please contact us. We do our best to make sure all important communications are received by applicants, but it is possible for an organization to miss an email or letter. Please add
“[email protected]” to your list of approved senders.
Do you require the organization budget to be submitted in your own format?
Foundation staff and trustees review a large number of proposals each year, and have found that a side-by-side format -- showing last fiscal year's actual income/expenses next to current year's budget -- is very helpful for our reviewers. Up until 2023, we required that applicants use our budget template for this reason. We make nearly 200 grants per year with only two program officers, so this format allows for greater efficiency in our review process. After considering grantee feedback around this issue and testing out a process wherein applicants could submit their financial documents in their own format, we now ask applicants for a side-by-side budget in their own format, or using our template, whichever is easier. We will continue to evaluate how well this works for our staff, board, and applicants. We encourage you to submit your feedback around this issue.
What do you do with grantee feedback?
You will see that there are places throughout our application and on GrantAdvisor to give us feedback, anonymously or by name. Your feedback is really important to us, and we review it on a regular basis and incorporate your suggestions. You can click here to see how grantees have informed and improved our processes.
Do you have a preference for the types of grants you award?
The Foundation funds general operating expenses, program costs, capital requests, and start-up projects. No one type of support is given priority, but the majority of our funding tends to go towards general operating support since that is so important. We rely on each organization to let us know their greatest area of need. The Trustees give preference to requests that meet critical needs, are directed by the voices of those being served, employ innovative and effective approaches, fill a unique niche in their community, and have a diverse funding base.
Do I need to know which focus area I'm applying for?
The Medina Foundation’s primary areas of grantmaking focus on positive pathways for youth, stabilization for families and individuals, and economic opportunities. We know that there is a lot of overlap within those categories. These categories are primarily for internal use; you do not need to select one, and we don’t give greater priority to any one of them.
What is an average grant size?
Typical grant size varies depending on an organizations size, project and need. However, the median grant range is $15,000 to $25,000. Here is more information on specific grant awards.
How much does the Medina Foundation give away each year?
On average, approximately $4 million is granted each year, depending on the performance of the endowment.
Do you make multi-year gifts?
Up to 20% of our annual payout is committed to multi-year grants. While we recognize the importance of multi-year funding, the fluctuation of our endowment and our interest in making sure we have funding available for new and emerging needs make it challenging for us to commit too much of our funding in advance. If you have a specific project that would require multi-year funding, let us know during the site visit. Please do not submit requests for more than one year of funding. Final decisions on multi-year grants are determined by the Trustees.
Can I apply in consecutive years?
Yes. Because of the volume of requests we receive we are not able to consider a new LOI until a 12-month period has passed since the last decision date. Since we have no deadlines, we have no regular "grant cycles." For organizations that are invited to submit applications in consecutive years, the fastest funding timeline is typically around 15 months or more between grants, based on processing time and other factors. For more information about funding timelines, please contact us.
What should I expect during a site visit?
We schedule site visits to last approximately one hour and are typically arranged as an in-person meeting at your organization's location, between the organization's Executive Director/CEO (or equivalent) and your assigned Program Officer. There is no need to prepare any special presentations or additional information. Our staff appreciates the opportunity to just have a conversation about your work. If your program officer has any questions about your application, they will ask during this time, and if any additional information is needed, they will follow up after the site visit via phone or email. If you prefer a virtual site visit for any reason, just let us know during the scheduling process.
If my organization is awarded a grant, what are the reporting requirements?
A final report is requested one year after a grant is awarded, to be submitted through our E-Grant System. You may preview the final report questions here. You can also submit your own version of a final report (a general status update or a report you have already prepared) as an attachment rather than using our format. We do not require any financial reports as final reporting requirements.
How can we show recognition for your support?
It is reward enough for us to be able to provide support to organizations, and we want you to be able to spend your funding and time on your important work. While we appreciate the thought, any gifts, thank-you cards, or letters are unnecessary.
What if I have more questions?
Please feel free to contact the Grants and Operations Manager at (206) 652-8783 or email us.
For FAQs related to the E-Grant System, click here.
All requests must be received through our E-Grant System. The Overview & Guidelines section has an Eligibility Quiz and information on how to apply. More detailed instructions can be found in the Application Process, and you can always contact us for more information.
What is the application review process?
The Medina Foundation has a two-step application process – a letter of inquiry (LOI) and a full application. Before applying, it may be helpful to review our grant guidelines, and you are welcome to schedule a call with one of our program officers to find out more about our priorities.
The first step in the process is to submit an LOI through our E-Grant System. A copy of the LOI questions can be found here.
Upon review of your LOI, the Medina Foundation will invite selected organizations to submit a full grant application through the E-Grant System. Note that as of 2024, all applicants use the same process to apply, but there is question branching that allows for organizations that are smaller (budgets of under $500,000 and requesting $15,000 or less), or those that we are more familiar with (organizations that have received 3 or more grants within the past 7 years), to submit a more streamlined version of our application, with fewer detailed questions.
Because of the volume of requests received, we unfortunately have to decline about half or more of the LOIs that are submitted. A declination does not mean that we don’t think you are doing important work; typically this is simply due to our limited resources.
LOI decisions are typically made within 1-2 months of LOI submission.
If invited, we will review your full application, then request a site visit (or phone call) with the Executive Director of the organization. After the site visit, the trustees meet to make grant decisions.
A final grant decision is typically made within 2-4 months after the receipt of a complete application (depending on the timing of our trustee meetings and the volume of requests received).
If my organization has received a grant from the Medina Foundation in the past, do I still need to submit a letter of inquiry?
Yes. All applications start with an LOI. The LOI is a short form with basic information (Organization General Purpose; Project Description; etc.). If selected to submit a full application, this information is carried over to the application. You can cut and paste any information from previous requests that is still applicable. Typically, LOIs from previous grantees will be invited to submit a full application, although there may be exceptions to this. Please contact your Program Officer if you have any questions.
Are there application deadlines?
No. Trustees typically meet every other month and consider completed applications in the order they were received. LOIs are also reviewed in the order they are received.
We do ask that organizations who are invited to apply (after LOI submission) submit the application within one year of the invitation date, to ensure information is still relevant and up to date. If your organization does not submit the application after one year, you may submit a new LOI any time to restart the process.
If you are ever unsure of your LOI or application status, please contact us. We do our best to make sure all important communications are received by applicants, but it is possible for an organization to miss an email or letter. Please add
“[email protected]” to your list of approved senders.
Do you require the organization budget to be submitted in your own format?
Foundation staff and trustees review a large number of proposals each year, and have found that a side-by-side format -- showing last fiscal year's actual income/expenses next to current year's budget -- is very helpful for our reviewers. Up until 2023, we required that applicants use our budget template for this reason. We make nearly 200 grants per year with only two program officers, so this format allows for greater efficiency in our review process. After considering grantee feedback around this issue and testing out a process wherein applicants could submit their financial documents in their own format, we now ask applicants for a side-by-side budget in their own format, or using our template, whichever is easier. We will continue to evaluate how well this works for our staff, board, and applicants. We encourage you to submit your feedback around this issue.
What do you do with grantee feedback?
You will see that there are places throughout our application and on GrantAdvisor to give us feedback, anonymously or by name. Your feedback is really important to us, and we review it on a regular basis and incorporate your suggestions. You can click here to see how grantees have informed and improved our processes.
Do you have a preference for the types of grants you award?
The Foundation funds general operating expenses, program costs, capital requests, and start-up projects. No one type of support is given priority, but the majority of our funding tends to go towards general operating support since that is so important. We rely on each organization to let us know their greatest area of need. The Trustees give preference to requests that meet critical needs, are directed by the voices of those being served, employ innovative and effective approaches, fill a unique niche in their community, and have a diverse funding base.
Do I need to know which focus area I'm applying for?
The Medina Foundation’s primary areas of grantmaking focus on positive pathways for youth, stabilization for families and individuals, and economic opportunities. We know that there is a lot of overlap within those categories. These categories are primarily for internal use; you do not need to select one, and we don’t give greater priority to any one of them.
What is an average grant size?
Typical grant size varies depending on an organizations size, project and need. However, the median grant range is $15,000 to $25,000. Here is more information on specific grant awards.
How much does the Medina Foundation give away each year?
On average, approximately $4 million is granted each year, depending on the performance of the endowment.
Do you make multi-year gifts?
Up to 20% of our annual payout is committed to multi-year grants. While we recognize the importance of multi-year funding, the fluctuation of our endowment and our interest in making sure we have funding available for new and emerging needs make it challenging for us to commit too much of our funding in advance. If you have a specific project that would require multi-year funding, let us know during the site visit. Please do not submit requests for more than one year of funding. Final decisions on multi-year grants are determined by the Trustees.
Can I apply in consecutive years?
Yes. Because of the volume of requests we receive we are not able to consider a new LOI until a 12-month period has passed since the last decision date. Since we have no deadlines, we have no regular "grant cycles." For organizations that are invited to submit applications in consecutive years, the fastest funding timeline is typically around 15 months or more between grants, based on processing time and other factors. For more information about funding timelines, please contact us.
What should I expect during a site visit?
We schedule site visits to last approximately one hour and are typically arranged as an in-person meeting at your organization's location, between the organization's Executive Director/CEO (or equivalent) and your assigned Program Officer. There is no need to prepare any special presentations or additional information. Our staff appreciates the opportunity to just have a conversation about your work. If your program officer has any questions about your application, they will ask during this time, and if any additional information is needed, they will follow up after the site visit via phone or email. If you prefer a virtual site visit for any reason, just let us know during the scheduling process.
If my organization is awarded a grant, what are the reporting requirements?
A final report is requested one year after a grant is awarded, to be submitted through our E-Grant System. You may preview the final report questions here. You can also submit your own version of a final report (a general status update or a report you have already prepared) as an attachment rather than using our format. We do not require any financial reports as final reporting requirements.
How can we show recognition for your support?
It is reward enough for us to be able to provide support to organizations, and we want you to be able to spend your funding and time on your important work. While we appreciate the thought, any gifts, thank-you cards, or letters are unnecessary.
What if I have more questions?
Please feel free to contact the Grants and Operations Manager at (206) 652-8783 or email us.
For FAQs related to the E-Grant System, click here.