Muskegon Rotary

Guidelines for Grant Making

Principles and Priorities:

Muskegon Rotary provides funding for programs and projects primarily in Muskegon County. Funding derives from annual earnings held in the Muskegon Rotary Foundation and from various fundraising activities, including Grape Escape, Parties in the Park, and the 50/50 raffle held at weekly club meetings.

Our priority areas for funding are based on priorities established both by Rotary International (global areas of interest) and Muskegon Rotary’s 2007 Visioning Process (local areas of interest).

The Muskegon Community Fund Committee meets two times per year, in the spring and fall. Grant making decisions will be made at those times.

Rotary International Priorities:

• Club Service, strengthening fellowship and ensuring effective functioning of the club
• Vocational Service, encouraging Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards
• Community Service, covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community
• International Service, encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe

Muskegon Rotary Priorities:

• Community development projects which enhance the downtown and lakeshore areas.
• Activities that benefit youth.
• Appreciation and celebration of diversity.
• Leadership training for members and students.

Muskegon Rotary is interested in fresh, innovative approaches to addressing community needs that emulate the values of the Rotary four-way test and grants that create a multiplier effect by leveraging other funding sources:

Rotary Four-Way Test:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Grant Making Criteria:

Grant applications will be evaluated, in part, on the following criteria:

• Clarity of proposal and the ability to describe the relationship between the proposed project and how it will benefit the community
• Staff capacity/organizational capacity to complete project
• Sound fiscal policy and responsible financial management
• Capacity to measure results and conduct an evaluation of how the funding was used.
• Evidence of collaboration and cooperation with other organizations where appropriate
• Muskegon Rotary welcomes applications from organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and other similar charitable entities, and that serve the greater Muskegon area.

Muskegon Rotary Generally will Not Fund:

• Grants or loans to individuals. Grants that support religious activities or programs that serve, or appear to serve, specific religious groups or denominations.
• Capital campaigns or ongoing support of a program or local school district. An exception can be granted with the unanimous agreement of the endowment committee.
• Grants for multiple year projects.
• Grants for capital projects; however, these grants may be considered if the project is a civic improvement that benefits that entire community and has high visibility.

Application Process:

• To submit an application to the Muskegon Rotary Club, visit our website at www.muskegonrotary.org. Applications must be submitted electronically.
• Depending on the amount of funding being requested, applications should be submitted in the following manner:
  1. For proposals to the Rotary Foundation that are less than $1,000:
     1. Proposals may be sent directly to the Rotary Club President for consideration by the Rotary Club Board of Directors. These proposals will not be reviewed by the Muskegon Community Fund Committee.
     2. For proposals to the Rotary Foundation that are more than $1,000:
     3. Proposals should be sent directly to the Muskegon Community Fund Committee. These proposals will be reviewed electronically by Committee members and a recommendation will be forwarded to the Muskegon Rotary Board of Directors for decision at their next monthly meeting.
• The appropriate review entity (i.e., Muskegon Board of Directors or Muskegon Community Fund Committee) carefully review all applications. The Committee meets twice per year, in the spring and fall, to review proposals.
• The Board of Directors makes all final funding decisions.

Muskegon Rotary

Proposal Details (please address all three requested tasks)

1. Provide a concise statement describing the following elements: a) need for the grant, b) what the grant will accomplish, c) the population that will be served by the grant, and d) how the outcome(s) of the project will be evaluated. Please include in your statement if you have received funding from Muskegon Rotary in the past 5 years, and if so, in what amount and for what project (name of project is sufficient).

2. Provide a line item budget for the program or project (see example to use as template).

Submitter's Name:
Contact Email:
Grant Start Date:
Grant End Date:
	Request from Rotary	In-kind Match	Total Costs
A. Project Expenses
Salaries and Wages (list by individual or category if appropriate)
Travel
Supplies (list by item if appropriate)
Other expenses (please specify)
B. Other Funding Sources (list as many as applicable)
1.	N/A
2.	N/A
3.	N/A
Total Project Expenses: