• Contact
• Site Map

GRANTMAKING PROCESS

Grant requests are first screened and evaluated by professional staff. The President & CEO, along with the Chair of the Charitable Giving Committee, make determinations as to which requests will receive a site visit. Written notification will be given for those requests for which a site visit is not made.

For each request that is being considered for funding, the President & CEO and two to three DCF Trustees will conduct a one-hour site visit. DCF requires that, at the site visit, all potential grantees have the Executive Director/President/Chief Executive Officer and two Trustees present, along with any other professional staff necessary, to address any questions regarding the grant request.

Following the site visit, the President & CEO and Trustees from DCF that attended the site visit assess the mission fit with a rating system and make an initial recommendation for funding. These ratings and recommendations are included in the site visit reports prepared by the President & CEO. The site visit reports are then reviewed by the Board of Trustees at Charitable Giving Committee meetings exclusively dedicated to the discussion of grant requests. The Board of Trustees then makes its final funding decisions at Board meetings.

Grant award or declination letters are mailed the day of final funding decisions by the Board of Trustees. The grant award letter contains details of the grant award, requirements for follow-up reporting, and a place for a signature of agreement and acceptance that must be executed and returned to the Foundation. Upon receipt of the signed grant award letter and in accordance with the terms of the grant award, the Foundation will release the appropriate funds. Follow-up reporting (there is no prescribed form) is due six months and one year from the date of the grant award letter.