FUNDING PRIORITIES

• Education: the improvement of teaching and learning
• Human Services: serving those in need
• Arts and Humanities: providing more arts and humanities experiences for more people
• Environment: protection of endangered species and the natural systems in which they survive

• In Lancaster County, Nebraska
• Classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and as public charities under 509(a)(1) of that code

We rarely:

• Are the sole funder of a proposal
• Make multi-year grants
• Consider requests for construction or renovation

Collaborative Requests: The intended result must have substantially greater impact than if the project were undertaken by a single organization. Organizations receiving a collaborative grant may apply separately for other purposes.

Re-application: Re-application cannot be made sooner than twelve months after grant approval or decline or the final payment date, whichever is later. Organizations submitting a collaborative grant may apply on their own, but not during the same grant application cycle.

We do not fund: individuals; businesses; health organizations or issues; churches; religious organizations or issues; travel; memberships; endowments; non-501(c)(3) organizations; 509(a)(3) supporting organizations; fiscal agents; private foundations.

We do not accept unsolicited proposals. We accept applications only from organizations that have contacted us and been asked to submit.

YOUR PROPOSAL

• Grant Inquiry
  • Determine if your organization and proposal meet our guidelines.
  • If so, contact us by letter, email, phone or in person before you do anything else.
• Communication
  • Be prepared to discuss your organization, the purpose for which you want to apply, the difference it would make, your budget, and how you will measure success.
  • If we agree, we will ask you to submit the Lincoln/Lancaster County Grantmakers Common Application Form.
  • Let us know if you have questions as you prepare the application. We are happy to consult at any stage in the application process.
• Proposal Narrative
  • Make your proposal easy to read.
  • Use plain language, simple declarative sentences, and single spaced,12-point type with normal margins.
  • Number and restate the headings from the application form.
• Request Amount
  • Most of our grants are for $5,000 or less, with a range of $1,000 - $15,000.
• Project Budget
  • Provide a complete project budget, including sources and amounts of income and detailed expenses. We are rarely the sole funder of a project.
  • Your request should make sense in relation to your objectives, project and operating budgets, and expected outcome.
• Development Plan
  • Tell us how, from whom and in what amounts you will raise the necessary funds.
  • Explain your plan to sustain the project after the grant period.
• Evaluation
  • Explain your plan to evaluate the effectiveness of your project during the grant period.
  • Your evaluation should relate to the stated objectives and activities of the project.
• Financial Information
  • Provide clear, complete financial information and be sure that it matches the supporting documentation. Accuracy and evidence of good financial management is important.

• Submit one unbound, signed original and email one electronic copy of the Lincoln/Lancaster County Grantmakers Common Application Form and the required supporting information by the dates listed below. We accept multiple file formats, including Word, Excel, and PDF files. If you are unable to provide any required documents and attachments electronically please let us know.
• If the application deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline is the next business day.
• All materials submitted in the application process become the property of the Cooper Foundation.

• January 15 for our February meeting
• April 1 for our May meeting
• August 1 for our September meeting
• October 1 for our December meeting