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2007 Grant Guidelines

Mission: The San Juan Island Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life on our island by encouraging philanthropy, growing an endowment for purposeful grants to community charitable organizations, and building partnerships that effectively connect donors with island nonprofit organizations.

General Policy

The San Juan Island Community Foundation supports tax-exempt and nonprofit charitable organizations on San Juan Island in the following areas:  The Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Environment, Education, and Health & Wellness.
Highest priority for funding will be given to requests for specific capital expenditures, special projects, one-time non-recurring expenditures, and those requests not otherwise able to obtain funding. The proposals will be evaluated in terms of number of people served, scope of influence, and the longevity and sustainability of the project.

What is not Funded

- Individuals
- Other endowments
- Religious organizations where the funds would be used to further the organization’s religious purpose
- Political organizations where the funds would be used to further the organization’s political purposes
- Any group that discriminates as to race, creed, ethnic group, or gender


Grants from the San Juan Island Community Foundation accounts will fall into one of the following categories:


In-Cycle Grants

These are grants processed during the normal annual SJICF Grants timeline and are awarded to Grantees who have followed all procedures and timelines. In addition, Grantees are required to comply with all post-funding Reporting Criteria.

Out-of-Cycle Grants

These are grants reviewed and processed after the annual In-Cycle grants have been reviewed and funded. Grantees must also follow all procedures and reporting procedures required of In-Cycle Grants. Please note that, in general, the Board does not fund from the General Endowment for Out of Cycle grants, but will attempt to facilitate funding from some source other than the General Endowment Fund.


Funding occurs from the following:

- Grants from the General Endowment Fund (reviewed and funded by the Board of Directors from our General Endowment Fund earnings
- Grants from Donor Advisors (reviewed and funded by private Donor Advisors)
- Grants from Pass-Through Arrangements (reviewed and funded by individuals in the community

These Grant Reporting Guidelines have been created by the SJICF to ensure proper accountability for granted projects. Each organization that receives a grant award from either the General Endowment or Donor Advised Fund is required to comply with these Grant Reporting Guidelines. The SJICF will use a one-year time period for completion of grant projects.

1. In order to receive grant awards, Grantees must hold, and maintain in good standing, their 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designation.

2. Grantees need to acknowledge receipt of the grant award in writing. The SJICF Grants Committee will forward acknowledgement/thank you letters to the appropriate donor, if applicable. Also, Grantees are encouraged to submit, if applicable and appropriate, progress reports and photos for press release purposes.

3. The Foundation requests that a public acknowledgement in the paper be submitted by your organization. Donors like to hear about how their donations were used and the outcome of the projects they funded.

4. Grantees must identify how granted funds were spent (with itemization) within one year of the grant award. Funds must be spent towards the approved purpose identified in the grant application. Grant Reporting Forms will be mailed at 6 month intervals.

5.Grantees needing extensions, or requesting revisions, must submit written requests in advance. These requests are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

6. Grant requests received after the advertised deadline will be treated as an Out-of-Cycle grant. These grant requests will be reviewed only after the annual review and disbursements have been completed for the current year's grant cycle. Typically, out of cycle grants will not be funded from the General Endowment; instead, outside funding will be sought.

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