About the Grant Process

The FMH Foundation grant-making process is by invitation only. After passing your eligibility quiz, you will be prompted to submit an inquiry. The board will review your inquiry at the next board meeting to determine whether your anticipated request aligns with the foundation’s funding priorities. The Foundation will generally ask that you allow up to three months from the date of inquiry to determine whether or not to extend an invitation. An inquiry may only be submitted once per year. The grant cycle in which an invited agency is placed will be at the discretion of the Board and Staff. Click HERE to access the FMH Foundation Grant Portal.

 The board will review your inquiry at the next quarterly board meeting to determine if your agency will be invited to apply. A foundation staff member will contact you to communicate the next steps if you are invited to apply. 

If your agency has been invited to apply, you will submit a full application in our online portal. We recommend submitting your application ahead of time to reduce obstacles with submission.

Here is some of the information requested in the application: 

1. Organization Overview including a history of the organization, the need being addressed, and a 3-year Master Plan
2. Request information including a description and timeline for the request
3. List of Board Officers and Directors
4. Financial support information
   1. Budget (Operating and/or Project)
   2. Funds Received/Committed to the Project
   3. Funds Requested/Pledges for the Project
   4. The Agency Technology Plan
   5. The Agency Facility Maintenance Plan
   6. Current Financial Audit or a professionally prepared Financial Statement
   7. The most recent Form 990
   8. The most recent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter

In the application, you may be required to download Adobe PDF forms. When you are prompted to do this, please upload the appropriate form. If the appropriate form is not used, the application will be marked incomplete.

After, the FMH Foundation staff reviews your application, you will be contacted by the assigned grant manager to schedule a site visit. The Foundation conducts site visits for each agency who submits an application. Our site visits are a 45-minute, in person discussion and/or tour of the facility. This serves as a touchpoint to help get to know your agency and ask questions pertaining to the request. The FMH Foundation requires that at least one board member be present at the site visit.

Our board meets the second Wednesday of the month on a quarterly basis. During this time, the board will review your request and information gathered from the site visit to determine a decision regarding funding. Whether your request is approved or denied, a foundation staff member will contact you to let you know of the board’s decision. We will also communicate any next steps in the funding process. Submitting an application is not a guarantee of funding. If your agency’s request is awarded, the Foundation desires that all resources of a Grantee be dedicated to accomplishing its mission. Please do not recognize the Foundation, its board members or staff with any commemorative gifts.

Please see the information above regarding our grant cycle timeline.

If you receive a grant from FMH, you will be required to submit interim and/or final reports depending on your project timeline. Failure to submit reports by the deadline, will impact future funding. Your reports will be assigned in the FMH Foundation grant portal. All reports are due by 4:00 PM on the date assigned. Please pay careful attention to due dates and aim to submit reports early.