Information for Grant Seekers

The La Crosse Community Foundation uses returns on its restricted and unrestricted endowments to support organizations which make contributions for the betterment of the people who live in the greater La Crosse area.

Qualified applicants, representing tax exempt organizations, recognized by the I.R.S. as 501(c)(3) groups, located in La Crosse County, and organizations which serve area residents, request a standard application form available from the Foundation. If the initial proposal meets basic criteria and needs of the community, an application will be mailed to the organization seeking grant support. The application requests additional information regarding the applicant organization, and the proposed program or service, as well as pertinent budget information.

To be eligible for review, the original application and eleven copies need to be returned to the Foundation for Board of Directors' review at quarterly meetings held in February, May, August and November. There are efforts to cycle grant applications on a particular focus for each review cycle. Contact the office for more information regarding these review cycles. Applications not submitted to the Foundation within one year of their issue are withdrawn.

The La Crosse Community Foundation carefully screens requests for funds from community organizations for projects which could enhance the quality of life. General categories of support include: education, health services, cultural activities, social services and civic projects. The Foundation gives priority to those projects which:

• seek to meet a new or growing need of a broad segment of the community consistent with Foundation goals and priorities.
• demonstrate need for extraordinary budget or one-time funds based on careful planning.
• encourage additional funding or matching gifts from other donors, consumers or agencies.
• provide realistic plans for future funding.
• promote cooperation among agencies without duplicating services.
• encourage self-help activities by the population served through the grant program or service.
• utilize volunteers to the extent possible.
• enhance or improve agency self-sufficiency and efficiency.
• yield substantial benefits to the community for the resources invested by the Community Foundation through its grant.

Upon completion of the grant project, an evaluation is required to determine the effectiveness of Foundation support. The Foundation discourages more than one application from the same agency within a twelve-month period. Reconsideration of a denied proposal is made only with significant changes at the request of the Board of Directors.

The Foundation does not make awards to individuals, other than for scholarships. In general, the Foundation does not make grants for the following:

• support for ongoing operating expenses of well established organizations or debt retirement.
• to fund needs more properly funded through the operating budget of the applicant organization or by other sources.
• to mature endowment funds.
• for sectarian or religious purposes.
• for travel by individuals or groups.

These criteria are applied in screening initial requests from organizations for an application prior to review by the Board of Directors. Foundation staff welcomes questions about the application process, as well as other Foundation services. Further information is available from the:

*Donor advised, agency funds, field of interest funds and designated funds may be exceptions to any portion of these guidelines.

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