Prepare Before You Apply
Grants for the Common Good applications are accepted in two cycles each year. The cycles address different Foundation focus areas. Knowing in which focus area your program falls may eliminate wasted effort on your part.
The Five Focus Areas of the Foundation's Mission
The Foundation defines the five areas upon which it focuses as follows.
Addressing the root causes of poverty
Includes circumstances or inequities such as illiteracy, teen pregnancy, poor parenting, or catastrophic life events.
Meeting basic human needs
Includes subsistence needs such as food, clean water and sanitation, shelter, health care, safety, and clothing.
Encouraging positive youth development
Includes access to opportunities, programs, and resources that help youth reach their full potential.
Promoting economic vitality
Promoting economic vitality includes opportunities for asset-building such as fair lending practices, access to transportation, or new business development.
Preserving the environment
Preserving the environment includes the protection, preservation, management or restoration of natural resources.
Current Timeline
Spring Cycle
Applications are accepted for proposals in two focus areas: encouraging positive youth development and addressing the root causes of poverty. The cycle begins in early January.
Fall Cycle
Applications are accepted for proposals in three focus areas: meeting basic human needs, advancing equitable economic growth, and promoting environmental conservation. The cycle begins in July.
Eligibility
The applying organization should be located in or serve Georgetown County, SC. Generally, an organization is eligible to apply for funding if it is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). Incorporated organizations may also apply while awaiting recognition by the IRS under the fiscal sponsorship of a 501(c)(3). Houses of worship and local government agencies may also apply.
The Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation does not support political or lobbying organizations, fund-raising events, religious activities, or eradication of deficits or loans.
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Qualifying organizations may submit a brief Letter of Intent and other documents when a grant cycle begins. The Call for Submissions will be announced on the News page of this Web site, on the Common Issues / Common Threads Groupsite, and in local newspapers. Unsolicited submissions at any other time will not be acknowledged. Specific instructions will be included in the announcement.
The following types of proposals will be considered.
- General operating support provides the working capital the organization needs to effectively carry out its mission. Included in this category are capacity building proposals, which expand or enhance an organization's operations in order to serve more people, provide more services, and/or reach a broader geographic area.
- Special projects expand existing programs in an innovative way or use Bunnelle Foundation funds to leverage and secure support from other funders.
Information Needed When You Apply
- IRS assigned Employer ID Number, if applicable
- Organization goals and the methods that will be used to evaluate success
- Beneficiary information - who you will help, how many will benefit, and how?
- Leader's experience and qualifications
- Brief history of the organization, its mission, goals, and objectives
The Full Proposal
You will be notified if your organization is selected to submit a full proposal. Additional information will be needed.
- Board-approved annual organizational line-item budget (income and expenses) for the current fiscal year and a projected budget for the next fiscal year
- List of the current Board of Directors, number of meetings each has attended, and whether they have contributed money to your organization in the past year
- Five largest funders, whether individuals or businesses, in the past 24 months and amounts each has given
- Detailed proposal information to include
- Services offered by the organization
- Total number of full and part-time employees and the number of active volunteers
- The organization's experience in collaborating with other organizations
- A clear, concise description of the proposal
- A list of specific anticipated measurable outcomes and objectives
- A timeline of project activities
- Additional details about measuring success, about the partners involved, the leadership staff, and how the project or organization will be funded in the future
Application Process
In the first stage of the grant process applicants will complete an online form, called a "Letter of Intent" (LOI). In the next stage, if invited, applicants will complete a full proposal form. During the submission process, applicants may copy and paste from existing documents. Revisions may be made to draft documents until the final submission.
Applicant Guidelines
Applicants may want to download draft versions of the Letter of Intent forms and view the Applicant Tutorial video; use the links below. These documents should help you get started. The Tutorial video is highly recommended.
When you are ready, set up your organization’s account. Start at the Apply link, on the Apply page. The Letter of Intent will not be accessible until the opening date of the cycle.
Consider creating a document on your computer before starting your submission. It can be used as a source to copy and paste responses into the online form. You may reverse that process; copy responses from the online form into a document on your computer. In any case, use the Save As Draft button on the form often.
Tip: Given adequate lead time Foundation staff will review your LOI or application and provide feedback. Call 237-1222 for more information
You may work on the form over several days. Use the Save As Draft button at the bottom of the page often and before you log off. Once you click the Submit button the form is locked and may no longer be edited.
Note: on both the LOI and Application you may find buttons to upload files labeled Browse rather than Choose File as stated in the form.
Log on - Create a New Account
- Go to the Apply page at www.bunnelle.org and click the Apply button.
- Log on if you already have an account. To create a new account, click the Create New Account button at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions in the remainder of this section.
- Note: You may access your account from any computer with an Internet connection. More than one person may access the account if you share the user name and password. Only one person at a time should work on the account.
- Continue creating a new account by entering your business contact information in the top portion of the page. It is assumed that you will be responsible for completing applications so be sure to supply an email address you check often.
- Enter the organization’s contact information on the bottom portion of the page. Re-enter your name and title if you are the Executive Director, the CEO, or President of the organization.
- On the next page you will create a password. Your password and user name will be emailed to the email address you supplied. Print a copy and keep it in a safe place.
Creating PDF Files
You will be required to upload some files in PDF format (Portable Document Format) when you apply for a grant. You can easily create PDFs with the online Fax to File service. The only equipment needed is a fax machine near the computer that you use to access the website. Once you begin the Fax to File process you will have 20 minutes to fax documents for conversion.
- Sign in at the Logon page.
- Click the Fax to File link on the left side of the page.
- Instructions will appear on the next page. You will be supplied with a toll-free fax number.
Uploading Files
Follow the instructions below to upload your PDF file or other file. Note that you will not see confirmation that the file has uploaded until you click the Save as Draft button on the submission form.
- Click the Choose File button beneath the question.
- Click the file name in the dialog box, then click the Open button.
- Click the Save as Draft button at the bottom of the page.
- Click Continue to return to the submission form.
Keep in Mind
Submissions will be evaluated with these points in mind, either in the LOI or Application stage:
- Is this project in alignment with the Program Areas the Foundation targets?
- Has the applicant demonstrated that this project will be relevant to the target community?
- Has the applicant demonstrated a valid plan for evaluating the success of the project?
- Even if the project can be done, SHOULD IT be done?
- Does the organization have enough people to successfully complete the project?
- Can the organization successfully support the project over the long term?
- Are the goals of the organization made clear in the proposal? Do the stated goals relate to the organization's mission?
- Are the board members active and engaged in the work of the organization? Do they contribute financially? Do they share the passion for the work of the organization? How is this evident?