We agree that the Principles issued by the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector provide a strong guide for private foundations and public charities that aspire to high standards of governance and ethical practice.  We join in encouraging board and staff leaders of every charitable organization to examine these principles carefully and determine how best they should be applied to their own operations.
GUIDELINES FOR GRANTS

Grants are made upon direction and approval of the Klee Foundation Board of nine members in accordance with the following policies established by the Board:

AREAS OF INTEREST

The Klee Foundation's commitment to "promoting, nurturing and educating a healthy community" guides the board to consider how its grantmaking might reflect that focus. Over the last several years, the board has invested grants in several programs designed to curtail the alarming incidence of childhood obesity.

During 2012, the Foundation expects to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) that will continue this commitment in accordance with two of the four elements of its focus: "educating an promoting healthy lifestyles" and :encouraging synergism that occurs when organizations cooperate to promote these ends.

The Foundation also funds grants in: the arts, humanities, education, health, human services. The Foundation is particularly interested in assisting programs which meet an urgent community need, which do not unnecessarily duplicate programs of other organizations, which have explored alternative funding sources, and which have some reasonable assurance of ongoing support. The board will primarily consider proposals that it determines to be capacity building, or that increase sustainability. A meeting with Klee staff will determine the eligibility of a proposal for submission.


FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

Grants are limited to qualified nonprofit organizations located in Broome County, New York or primarily serving its residents.

The Klee Foundation does not make grants to or for the following:

  1. To individuals;
  2. To organizations with so many counterparts that funding one could lead to an unrealistic number of similar requests, such as scout troops, volunteer fire departments, ambulance squads, individual schools, PTAs, or other similar groups;
  3. For religious purposes (churches or agencies) including programs that have a religious component;
  4. To United Way agencies for general operating support.

     

    OTHER

    The Foundation Board may award a grant on a challenge basis, if it appears that such an award would assist an organization in raising other funds. A grant may also be awarded as matching funds toward a grant from another source.

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2012 PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING GRANT PROPOSALS

Inquiries

Inquiries to determine eligibility must precede submission of a full proposal. Please call the foundation office, (607) 722-2266, or submit a brief written inquiry by email (KleeFoundation@stny.rr.com) or USPS. For most proposals, a meeting of agency representatives with Klee staff is required and must occur no later than one week prior to submission deadline. The Foundation will provide assistance to qualified organizations in the preparation of grant proposals.

Schedule

Grants will be considered at meetings in the spring and in the fall. Proposals should be submitted according to published deadlines (see below for 2012 dates), available at the beginning of each calendar year. With Foundation approval, on a limited basis, grants may be considered at other meetings. Please call the Foundation office for more information.

Applying Organization

The Klee Foundation primarily considers grants for general operating support to:

• Organizations that historically have been funded by Klee, that demonstrate reasonable sustainability and for whom Klee funding has a significant impact.
• Organizations for which a one-time operating grant will increase their capacity to meet a documented community need, and that show the ability to sustain increased capacity without further Klee assistance.

In addition, the Foundation may consider a project grant for one-time support for a program, equipment or other capital need that will increase an organization’s capacity to serve its constituency.

All proposals must be discussed with foundation staff prior to submission. In addition to the information requested on the Uniform Grant Application, all submissions must also include:
• Board information form to be filled out by board officer
• Additional information as requested

Project Grants

In addition to Uniform Grant Application form, the following should be included:

• Board information form to be filled out and signed by board officer

An organization applying for project support should be able to demonstrate the probability of future ongoing funding from other sources to replace any funding the Foundation might provide in the current year.

An agency may not apply annually for a project grant, nor while it has a prior project grant open.

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SCHEDULE FOR GRANT PROPOSALS TO THE KLEE FOUNDATION

Note: all applicants must speak with staff before submitting a grant proposal. Those agencies applying for special project grants will need to schedule a meeting with staff before applying. See guidelines.

March 21 Board meets to consider 2012 annual operating grant requests for eligible agencies with non-calendar fiscal years
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: FEBRUARY 15
November 16 Board meets to consider 2013 annual operating and project grants.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: OCTOBER 15

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