Funding Guidelines

The Rockland Community Foundation (RCF) seeks to enrich our community and the lives of its members by investing in programs that promote the common good.

The mission of the Rockland Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for all the people of Rockland County by encouraging philanthropy, providing services to donors and assisting those who serve to meet the needs of the community.

The Rockland Community Foundation promotes the growth of philanthropy in order to strengthen the communities of Rockland County.

We help donors achieve their charitable goals by:

• Serving as a leader, catalyst, and resource for philanthropy;
• Creating and managing charitable funds; and
• Identifying and responding to community needs with initiatives, partnerships and strategic grant making.

RCF Will Give Priority To Projects That:

• Reach a broad segment of the community
• Encourage matching gifts or additional funding
• Assist citizens whose needs are not being met by existing services
• Foster self-reliance and/or reduce dependency
• Focus on prevention, as well as treatment
• Meet emerging needs, are innovative and have a high probability of leading to new solutions to community challenges
• Are collaborative, comprehensive, promote cooperation among organizations within the county and have the potential for ongoing community impact

What RCF Will Not Fund

• While the RCF remains flexible in its approach to meet community needs, the following are areas which will not be considered for funding at this time.
• Sectarian or religious programs that go directly to their members only
• Individuals
• International Organizations
• Endowment Funds
• Administrative costs of fund-raising campaigns
• Annual meetings
• Routine operating expenses
• Existing obligations, debts or liabilities

Guidelines

• Eligible Applicants will only be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in Rockland County, New York. Programs will be considered for the following:
  - Specific program support
  - General operating support
  - Capital support (grants will generally be made contingent on committed funding from other sources and on a challenge basis).

Proposals must have some or all of the following characteristics:

• Projects that have measurable outcomes and a tangible ability to evaluate results and measure success.
• Projects that are supported by other funding sources.
• Projects that have identified potential for ongoing support beyond the life of the grant.

RCF will support programs that fit into the planned Initial Funds that were established by the Board of Directors

Grants Application Procedure

All proposals submitted to the RCF must be less than 10 pages and include the following information:

• Information on the institution or organization submitting the proposal, its mission statement, and activities and/or research that led to the proposal and the need for its implementation.

• A brief overview of the proposal, including the amount and uses of the money requested.

• A complete project description, including objectives, steps and timetable for implementation (operational plan), qualifications of key personnel to be involved, and method of project evaluation.

• A statement as to how the proposal request is a fit to the mission of the RCF.

• Internal Revenue Service determination letter(s) confirming the 501 C (3) status classification of the applicant and a statement that your tax exemption has not been revoked or modified.

• Most current budget for the organization.

• A current listing of the organization's Board of Directors/Trustees.

• A copy of the most recent audit of the organization.

Proposals will be screened and evaluated by the RCF Board of Directors and a site visit may be requested. Written notification regarding the RCF Board of Directors' decision regarding submitted proposals will be given within 90 days of submission.

Organizations seeking funding should submit three copies of their proposal on 8 1/2 by 11 inch white paper on one side only and should be addressed to: Rockland Community Foundation, P.O Box 323, New City, New York 10956