Is My Organization Eligible for a Grant?

Please take a moment to review the following discretionary grant eligibility qualifications and guidelines to determine whether or not your organization is eligible to apply for a discretionary grant from The Dayton Foundation.

To be eligible for a grant, your organization must:

• be recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, according to the Internal Revenue Code (established for at least two years and have a track record of sustainability) or have a fiscal agent with such status,
• benefit the citizens in the Greater Dayton Region, (Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble and Warren (north) counties),
• demonstrate diversity, equity and inclusion in organizational strategic plans, policies or other documents such as an equity statement (For an example, review The Dayton Foundation’s commitment on diversity),
• demonstrate systemic collaboration, and
• address needs that are not met fully by existing organizational or community resources.

DISCRETIONARY GRANT GUIDELINES

The Foundation gives priority to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• provide for more efficient use of community resources, promote coordination, cooperation and sharing among organizations and reduce the duplication of services in our community;
• test or demonstrate new approaches and techniques for solving important community problems;
• promote volunteer participation and citizen involvement in community affairs; and
• strengthen not-for-profit agencies and institutions by reducing operating costs, increasing public financial support and/or improving internal management.

We generally do not award discretionary grants for:

general organizational operations and ongoing programs, operational deficits or reduced or lost funding individuals, scholarship, travel religious/sectarian causes fundraising drives special or one-time events, annual fundraising drives, ceremonies, conferences and workshops political activities public or private schools endowment funds

hospitals and universities for internal programs matching grants (unless local dollars are needed to fulfill a condition for a state or federal grant) neighborhood or local jurisdiction projects newly organized not-for-profit organizations publications, scientific, medical or academic research projects, research papers art exhibits

In addition, multi-year commitments rarely are considered.