Before proceeding with the online application, please be sure to review the details in the Grant Priorities. Please note that the Fund’s grant priorities are restated from time to time and your application will be evaluated in light of the current stated grant priorities.
Grant Cycle Dates
The application is revised annually. Please check on the Foundant Application Site to ensure that the application for the cycle for which your organization wishes to apply is available.
The Fund will review applications and make grant decisions on the following schedule:
- Applications are due March 15th at 5 p.m. for the Fund’s cycle for June decisions;
- Applications are due July 15th at 5 p.m. for the Fund’s cycle for October decisions;
- Applications are due November 15th at 5 p.m. for the Fund’s cycle for February decisions.
Please note that at each year-end the Fund archives any application drafts that were not submitted. If you wish to review or copy and paste the information you had started in a prior year application draft into the new year’s application, you will still be able to do so.
Grant Decision Notifications
After all grant applications for a cycle have been received, the Trustees review the applications for adherence to the guidelines and suitability under the stated priorities. Each cycle a number of applications are determined to fail to meet all of the requirements for funding or to be less appropriate for funding than other applications. In such cases, the applicant will be advised within a few weeks after the application due date.
Final grant decisions are usually made within twelve weeks of the application due date. Notifications will go out promptly by email to the email address provided by the applicant in the application.
If an application is not funded, the applicant may request an explanation of the decision, which may or may not be granted at the sole discretion of the Trustees.
Frequency of Applications Policy
Denied Applicants: You may apply 12 months after your last application due date.
Current Grantees: You may apply for a new grant after you’ve received your final grant payment, fulfilled the purpose of your grant, and filed your final report. However, you may not apply sooner than 9 months after the final grant payment of your previous grant.
Online Application Instructions
First-Time Users: The Betterment Fund uses the Foundant system for its online application process. If you are using the online system for the first time, you may watch this 5-minute video on how to use the system.
Creating Your Account: The Betterment Fund uses the Foundant system for its online application process. If you are using the online system for the first time, you may .
SAVE Your Application As You Go: : Please note that the “Save” button is located at the bottom of the application form. Foundant recommends saving the application each time you complete the uploading of a document as well.
Character Limits: Character limits are given for each response. Please do not feel compelled to use all of the characters allowed. Being concise and clear is good.
Acronyms: If using an acronym in your grant application or any attachments, please note what it stands for.
File Uploads: PDFs are strongly preferred and Word documents are also accepted.
Additional Application Requirements for Fiscal Sponsorship: Any organization that is applying using a Fiscal Sponsor must register under its own name followed by “f/s” and the Fiscal Sponsor’s name. For example, Betty’s Great Organization should register as “Betty’s Great Organization, f/s The Land Trust.” The following information will be requested if you are applying via a Fiscal Sponsor:
- The Fiscal Sponsor’s employer identification number.
- A brief statement addressing the following:
- Why your organization is not itself recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity
- Whether your organization has filed an application for recognition of its tax exemption (Form 1023) with the IRS
- A copy of the Fiscal Sponsorship agreement between your organization and the organization serving as Fiscal Sponsor. The Fiscal Sponsorship agreement must reflect the dedication of grant funds to a tax-exempt purpose and the administrative charge if any. If you are in doubt about what should be included in the agreement, you may download here a sample form of a Fiscal Sponsor agreement.
- In section 6, the financials requested are for your organization, not your fiscal sponsor’s. In section 5a, your fiscal sponsor’s financials are requested, as well.