GOAL

To support strong, sustainable organizations, innovative ideas and ventures of significant promise.

FUNDING PRIORITIES

• Education
• Human Services
• Arts
• Humanities
• Environment

GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Highest priority is for organizations based in and serving Lincoln and Lancaster County. Requests from outside this area must serve a regional or statewide area and meet the Foundation’s highest funding priorities.

GRANT GUIDELINES

We accept applications only from non-profit organizations that have contacted us, been asked to submit, are located in Nebraska and classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) and public charities under section 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. We do not accept unsolicited proposals.

• Program or Operating Support: We accept applications for program and operating support. Requests in support of technology must have the promise of significant improvement in organizational effectiveness.
• Challenge and Contingent Grants: The challenge or contingency must be met within one year from the approval date.
• Collaborative Requests: The objective must have substantially greater impact than if 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 while the organization has an active grant with the Foundation. Organizations submitting a collaborative grant may apply on their own, but not during the same grant application cycle.

We rarely:

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

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.

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.
  • 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 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
  • Number and restate the headings from the application form.
  • Make your proposal easy to read (plain language, simple declarative sentences, and single spaced,12-point type with normal margins).
  • Number and restate the headings from the application form.
• Project Budget
  • Provide a complete project budget, including sources and amounts of income and expenses.
  • The grant amount requested 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.
  • If relevant, 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.
  • Organizational Financial Information
  • Provide clear, complete financial information for your organization (current income and expense statement, balance sheet, and an audit or review of financial statements). Accuracy and evidence of good financial management is important.

SUBMISSION

• Email an electronic copy of the Lincoln/Lancaster County Grantmakers Application Form and the required supporting information by the dates listed below and submit one unbound, signed original.
• We accept multiple file formats, including Word, Excel, and PDF files. If you are unable to provide any required documents and attachments electronically please contact us.
• 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.

 DEADLINES

• January 16 for our March meeting
• April 2 for our May meeting
• August 1 for our September meeting
• October 1 for our December meeting

Updated 11/11/2011