Grant FAQs

What types of grants does Impact100 Westchester award?

Impact100 Westchester awards three types of grants to qualified nonprofit organizations whose applications have gone through a thorough and rigorous review process:

1. Transformational Project Grants
2. Core Mission Grants

What is a Transformational Project Grant?

Transformational Project Grants fund projects and programs that are significant to the recipient organizations and their ability to serve the needs of the Westchester community.  Each grantee will be expected to negotiate and sign a Grant Agreement and will be responsible for periodic reporting to Impact100 Westchester.  

What is a Core Mission Grant?

Core Mission Grants are smaller grants that recipients will be entitled to use as they see fit, consistent with their mission.  These grants do not need a Grant Agreement and they do not require ongoing reporting obligations to Impact100 Westchester. 

Can I apply for a Core Mission Grant?  

No, all applicants to Impact100 Westchester apply for a Transformational Project Grant.  The results of the membership vote at the Annual Meeting determine the type of grant the nonprofit is awarded (Transformational Project or Core Mission).

What is a Grant Agreement?

A Grant Agreement is the formal legal document that specifies the various terms of the grant, such as: project details, reporting requirements and payment schedule.  These terms are necessary so we can be sure the grant funds are spent in a responsible manner, consistent with the project that was awarded the grant. 

What is the timing of the application process?

The application process begins in January with submission of an Initial Proposal and finishes in June with membership voting at the Annual Meeting.  All nonprofits interested in applying for an Impact100 Westchester grant are strongly encouraged to attend an information session in late fall, prior to the January they wish to apply.  There will also be an opportunity to attend a workshop in December to receive support in planning and writing a grant application.  Please see our list of Important Dates for details.

What does the application process involve?

The first stage of the application process is the Initial Proposal:  a series of questions to answer and documents to upload, all of which are done online.  The second stage is the Full Proposal, which is by invitation only.  The Full Proposal involves additional questions to answer and documents to upload via the online system.  Site visits will be arranged for a smaller subset of applicants invited to proceed to the next stage of the process.  Finalists will be selected to present at the Annual Meeting.  See the How to Apply page for instructions and guidance and the Important Dates page for specific timing and deadlines. 

May I send additional materials with the Initial Proposal, like one of our brochures or newsletters or a letter of reference?  

No, please only send the information specifically requested.

How many Transformational Project Grants will be awarded? 

The number of Transformational Project Grants vary from year to year, depending upon the number of members.  The number and dollar amount of Transformational Project Grants will be announced in early January; this information will be posted on the Home page and sent by email to nonprofit organizations on our mailing list.

What is the amount of each Transformational Project Grant?

In our prior grant cycles, Transformational Project Grants have been awarded in the $85,000 to $100,000 range.

The funding we need for our project is less than the Transformational Project Grant amount.  Can we submit a proposal for less than the full amount?  

No.  Impact100 Westchester is looking for projects or programs that use the full grant amount.

Can our organization submit multiple Initial Proposals or Full Proposals?  

No, each organization may submit only one grant application each year.

How does Impact100 Westchester decide who receives the grants?  

Impact100 Westchester's review process is rigorous and involves evaluations by Grant Review Committees and the Finance Committee, as well as a Site Visit before finalists are chosen.  The finalists attend the Annual Meeting in June and make presentations about their projects to the entire membership.  Members vote by individual ballot at the Annual Meeting, and that vote determines the grant recipients.  Each finalist will receive either a Transformational Project or Core Mission Grant.

Who can we contact to discuss our grant application after we send it in?  

Contact us with any questions regarding the grant process.  If we have questions about your Initial Proposal or Full Proposal, we will contact you.

Impact100 Westchester is committed to a fair, unbiased process.  We do not accept any unsolicited communication related to topics other than questions about the guidelines, process, or forms.  Applicants should not contact the board or any other members unless we request additional information.  Applicants must not make any attempt to lobby for their proposal.  Any attempt to unfairly influence the process is grounds for elimination from consideration.

Does Impact100 offer any support during the grant application and selection process?

Yes, Impact100 conducts 3 OPTIONAL events during the Grant Cycle to support nonprofits:

1. Two Pitch/Initial Proposal Workshops: to assist nonprofits in shaping and solidifying project ideas
2. Full Proposal Workshop: to help nonprofits from the Initial Proposal to Full Proposal stage
3. Finalist Site Visit: to guide nonprofits in preparing for their Annual Meeting presentations

Do you award grants to programs or projects that expend the funds over a period of years?  

As stated in the grant guidelines, Impact100 Westchester seeks projects or programs that expend grant funds within 18 months of the initial grant installment.

Will you consider a proposal from a group of organizations collaborating on a project or program?  

Yes.  However, one of the collaborating organizations must be the “lead organization” applying as if it were an individual organization on behalf of the collaboration.  The lead organization must be willing to take on all the potential rights, responsibilities, restrictions, and liabilities of the grant if it is received.

Your guidelines indicate you will not fund capital campaigns.  Will you fund capital expenditures as part of a proposal?  

Yes.  We will fund capital expenditures that are clearly related to the proposed project or program.

Your guidelines indicate you will not fund general construction or renovation.  Will you fund construction or renovation as part of a proposal?  

Yes.  We will fund construction or renovation expenditures that are clearly related to the proposed project.

Your guidelines indicate that applicants may allocate up to 15% of the Impact100 Transformational Project Grant toward overhead.  What do you consider as eligible overhead expenses?  Must we itemize these expenses?  

We consider Allocated Organizational Overhead to include rent, utilities and other facility costs, general staff salaries, supplies and other expenses which are allocated to the project but which will be incurred by your organization whether or not the project goes forward.  If you allocate part of your Project Budget in this manner, please include the dollar amount as a line item in the Project Budget, labeled as Organizational Overhead, and provide a brief description explaining the nature of these expenses.

Once an organization receives a grant from Impact100 Westchester, can it reapply the following year?  

An organization that receives a Transformational Project Grant from Impact100 Westchester may not apply again for 36 months after their last grant payment.  If an organization receives a Core Mission Grant, it is not restricted from applying for a Transformational Project Grant in the future.  Organizations that apply but are not selected as finalists, are not restricted from applying in the future.

If we submit a proposal this year that is not funded, how soon can we submit another proposal?  

You may apply again the following year.

What kind of communication can we expect from Impact100 Westchester during the application process? 

Applicants who have submitted Initial Proposal will be notified by mid-February whether or not they have been selected to submit a Full Proposal.  Applicants who have submitted a Full Proposal will be notified by mid-May whether or not they have been selected as finalists.  Please see Important Dates for more specific details.

Will the grant be paid in a lump sum? 

Transformational Project Grants are distributed according to the negotiated terms of the Grant Agreement, which depend upon the nature of the project.  Core Mission Grants are distributed in a lump sum payment within two weeks of the Annual Meeting.

Our organization does not have its own legal nonprofit 501(c)(3) status.  May we apply for a Transformational Project Grant under a Fiscal Sponsor?

Yes, your nonprofit organization may apply under a Fiscal Sponsor PROVIDED

• Your organization has its own separate CPA reviewed/audited financial documents
• The application and project budget are completed under your organization’s name
  
• The Form 990 and 501(c)(3) are in the name of the Fiscal Sponsor

If your organization does not have its own separate CPA reviewed/audited financial statements, the fiscal sponsor must be the applicant.  The fiscal sponsor, as the applicant, must meet the eligibility requirements.

If I am a grant writer, nonprofit employee or nonprofit consultant can I be an Impact100 member and participate on committees?

You may be an Impact100 member and you may attend the finalist site visits that are open to all members. 

However, if you are writing a grant for or working with any nonprofits during a given grant cycle, for that cycle, you may not participate on any Grant Review or Finance committee nor may you attend any of the first round of site visits that are only open to Grant Review committee members.

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