Fields Pond Foundation
Application
Guidelines
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For an easy-to-print Adobe Acrobat®
(PDF) version of the guidelines brochure, click here. |
- About the
Foundation and its Mission
- Application
Procedures: Introduction
- Grant Sizes
and Types
- Grantmaking
Limitations
- How to contact us
About
the Foundation
Fields
Pond Foundation was established in 1993 as a Private Foundation under
The
Foundation's emphasis stems from its founding Directors' beliefs that the
conservation of special places in our environment, and providing public
accessibility to those conservation areas, is a desirable end in itself; but it
is also a means of building public support for future land and river
conservation by increasing the direct connection between individuals and their
environment, and fostering active participation in the work of conservation.
The Foundation hopes to nurture such efforts by making grants under the
following priorities:
1. Project grants for trailmaking and other
enhancement of public access to conservation lands, rivers, coastlines and
other natural resources;
2. Land acquisition for conservation;
3. Assistance in establishment of endowments
as a means of funding stewardship of conservation areas; and
4. Related education programs and
publications.
The
Foundation encourages proposals from municipal government agencies. The Foundation may also consider short-term
loans to conservation groups for the purpose of acquiring conservation lands. Outside its primary mission, it will also
consider grant requests from other not-for-profit organizations with a
demonstrated local impact in precollegiate education.
The
Foundation is looking for grantmaking opportunities where a modest investment
of grant funds can help in a significant way to improve public access to and
enjoyment of natural areas, while maintaining the health and integrity of the
environment. Projects in which volunteerism is a significant component are more
likely to be funded.
We
hope to make the application process as straightforward as possible. To save
you time, we suggest you first determine whether your proposal falls within our
general guidelines. Organizations with unique or complex projects are welcome
to discuss their proposal plans with us, and may wish to begin the application
process by submitting a one-page proposal outline. Among other purposes, the
proposal outline is intended to save applicants from spending a great deal of
time and expense in preparing elaborate proposals which may not be funded.
Outlines are considered at the regular meetings of Directors, and applicants
will be notified promptly regarding the outcome. If the Directors or staff
believe that the concept merits further consideration, a full proposal will be
requested.
We
encourage applicants to contact us informally before proceeding to prepare a
formal application.
We
are pleased to accept proposals prepared under the Common Proposal Format of
Associated Grant Makers (AGM).
Other
full proposals need not be more than three or four pages long, plus
attachments, but should include the following:
Information
About Your Organization
- History of the organization, its
mission and major accomplishments, its geographic scope and special
populations served, if any.
- Board and staff rosters, and an
indication of the capabilities of key staff to be involved in the proposed
project.
- Current and projected operating
budgets, the most recent financial statement, an annual report (if one is
published), and a complete copy of the most recent
- Current copy of the tax exemption
letter from the
- Concise description of the
purpose for which the grant is sought, including both the general goals
and the specific objectives of the project, and a summary of the
anticipated benefits for the environment, the organization, local
residents and the broader population.
- An indication of how your
proposal is consistent with the Foundation's significant objectives.
- Evidence that the funds will be
used to address an important need that would otherwise remain unmet.
- The project's budget, a
description and summary of other firm or likely sources of funding, and,
for projects that are intended to continue beyond the proposed period of
the Foundation's support, an indication of plans for ongoing funding.
- An indication of plans for
evaluating the project and reporting the results to the Foundation.
- Two copies of your full proposal
should be mailed or delivered to the Foundation office. Proposals must be
complete in order to receive funding consideration. An incoming proposal
is critically assessed to determine whether it meets current guidelines
and interest. If it does not, the proposal may be denied immediately or
following a regular meeting of the Directors. In all other cases,
notification as to the Directors' decision will be given shortly after
regular meetings.
- Proposals and concept papers may
be submitted at any time, since the Directors meet regularly throughout
the year.
The
expected range of grants is $500 to $25,000, with most falling within the range
of $2,000 to $10,000. The Foundation is willing to consider multiple-year
grants.
Whenever
possible we seek to expand the impact of limited funds through challenge
grants, conditional grants, matching grants, and special initiatives, and by
collaborating with other donors in joint funding efforts.
We
welcome joint applications by two or more organizations coordinating their efforts
on a single project.
Although
the Foundation attempts to be as inclusive as possible, there are some
activities and interests that clearly fall outside the scope of these
guidelines. As a normal practice, the Foundation is unlikely to make the
following kinds of grants:
- support for deficits, for routine
operating budgets or general appeals, or where the Foundation may become
the predominant source of an organization's funding.
- for funding efforts usually
supported by public subscription or through national appeals, or for
purposes which are generally understood to be the responsibility of
government.
- support for sectarian religious
activities.
- to individuals, such as for
personal needs, welfare, travel, or research.
Our regular
grantmaking programs are presently limited to organizations in New England and
New York State.
Fields Pond Foundation Inc.
Five
Turner Street, Box 540667
Waltham, MA 02454-0667
Phone 781.899.9990 Fax 781.899.2819
info@fieldspond.org