FAQs

Find Answers To your Questions

Online Grants Process

Why did you decide to move to an online grants process?

Adding two new board members and now requesting applicants submit 10 paper copies we felt the time had come to make a change. As one of the last hold outs asking for paper submission, we needed to update our process. After much research we made the determination to move forward with Foundant as our online platform. There are several foundations throughout the state that use Foundant so we hope this will be a fairly easy transition for our grantees. We think it will be a more efficient method of submitting the LOI, Application, Grant Agreement and Grantee Status Report. It is our hope that this will be a time saver for you as well as for our staff.

Which browser is most compatible with Foundant, our online grants process?

For the best user experience when applying for a grant, we recommend using Google Chrome 14 or higher, Firefox 9 or higher or Safari 4 or higher. It is fine to use Internet Explorer, but you may encounter some minor technical issues.

Why can’t I find the grant opportunity I am looking for in the online grants process?
After you have logged into the online application process, click the “Apply” link on the upper left. This will take you to the list of grant opportunities currently accepting applications. If you can’t find the opportunity here, its deadline may have already passed, or it might not have opened yet. Check the Dates To Remember section of our Home page.
Do I have to complete my proposal / application all at once?

No. At the bottom of the application is a “Save as Draft” button. We recommend you save your application often and before logging out. You can log in at a later time to continue working on your application. While we don’t foresee any issue, you may also want to cut and paste your application answers after each question into a Word document to save as backup.

Help! Why did I lose my edits?!
There are a few common reasons why this can happen:

  • If you stay on one page for an extended period of time without saving, your account may “time out” without warning.
  • A weak internet connection may momentarily disconnect your computer while you are working on the application.

As a safeguard, we recommend that you:

  • Save your application often.
  • Cut and paste your application answer after each question into a Word document to save a backup.

To restore your edits, try:

  • Re-loading your internet page, as sometimes the browser will cache an older version of your page.
  • Log out, wait a few minutes, and then log back in and re-open your application.
Why are there character limits and file upload maximums on the proposal / application form?

There are limits on the amount of text you can submit. These limits help to give consistency from proposal to proposal. You will see a character counter displayed below the entry field. This will actively tell you how many characters you have entered and will let you know when you are approaching the limit. You will not be able to save a draft of your application if you exceed the character limit. You are not required to reach the character limit. Attachments have a size limit. The file size limit is noted next to the Browse button and the system will not accept files greater than this limit. Please let us know if you had trouble with any of these limits.

Can I upload more than one file upload per category?

Applicants can only upload a single document in response to an upload question. If an applicant has more than one file they need to upload, they need to combine the files or contact our office to discuss alternate methods.

Why am I having trouble uploading a file?
There are a few different reasons one may experience file upload issues:

  • File Names – Remove extra period or replace them with a dash or underscore character
  • File Size – Files that exceed the maximum file size limit will cause an error. Compress the files to create a smaller file or contact our office for assistance.
How do I print my application for my records?

If you would like a paper copy of your application for your own records, login to the application portal and choose the Application Packet link. This will create a PDF of your application. You can print or save this document. You will always have access to your application by logging back into the application portal, even after you submit it.

Grants

Can I apply for Funding?

Organizations should be well established with a strong base of community support. Priority is given to organizations who have been board funded in the past. After three consecutive years of funding organizations must sit out for one year before reapplying. Please review our Priority Areas in the Grants section of the website to determine if your project or programs align with our focus. Also, information in the Grant Policies section may be helpful.

What does “board funded” mean?

When we refer to organizations who have been board funded we are referring to an organization who received grant funds as the result of our grant submission process.

How many board meetings or cycles are there?
We have four issue specific cycles. The first cycle during the calendar year focuses on Education & Youth. Please note, this cycle does begin with letters of intent due in the fall of the previous year with grant awards made in January. The second cycle covers Arts, Culture, & Community Assets. The third cycle is related to Health and the fourth cycle focuses on Community Needs. Important dates for each of these cycles are listed in Dates To Remember section on our Home page.
How do I know if my request is a fit for the Foundation?

Please review the Priority Areas in the Grants section of the website. We have attempted to provide detailed information regarding our priorities. If you still have questions feel free to contact us.

What if I think my project fits in two different cycles?

Please contact Joyce Brasher for a brief conversation to determine where we think your project may fit best. There is only one opportunity each year for an organization to apply given our issue specific cycles. You want to be clear on where you fit so you do not miss the opportunity to apply.

When do you consider multi-year grants?

We will consider multi-year (two or three year) grants on an opportunity by opportunity basis. These grants may be for large capital projects or ongoing program and/or operating support.

When can I submit a Letter of Intent?
We have four deadlines for the letters of intent. These deadlines are posted on the Dates To Remember section on our Home page. Please note that the Letter of Intent is the required first step for our grant making process. We encourage early submission, which can take place anytime after the previous cycle’s LOI deadline. Your LOI must be in by midnight CST on the deadline date.
When will I hear back regarding my Letter of Intent?
All LOIs are considered collectively. Each one submitted will receive a response by the date posted in the Dates To Remember section of our Home page, if not a few days before. The time period between the LOI due date and the response date is approximately 4 weeks.
May I contact Daniel Foundation Board members?

The Foundation will not provide contact information for its board members. If an organization’s staff or board members have a relationship with a Foundation board member they are welcome to use those avenues to make contact with them.

If my LOI or proposal is declined may I submit for another cycle during the year?

If a LOI is declined, and you have a request that would fit into another priority area, you may submit another LOI for that opportunity during the same calendar year. For example, you submit a LOI for a community garden at your school and your LOI is declined in our Education and Youth category. If you have health and nutrition curriculum in connection to your garden project, you could submit a LOI within the Health priority areas. If a LOI submission was moved forward in our process, with a full proposal considered by our Board and declined, the organization must wait until the next calendar year to submit another LOI.