Grant Application Process

Step One

Please make sure your request complies with the Foundation guidelines.

Grant Categories

  • Education (Catholic and nonsectarian, nonpublic schools specifically catering to special education needs)
    • The Foundation will continue to consider private colleges and universities as well as educational programs offered by social and human service organizations
  • Human Services
  • Health Care
  • Catholic Activities
  • Arts and Humanities

Projects funded

  • New and/or ongoing programs
  • Operating expenses
  • Technology
  • Capital expenses

Size and duration of awards

The average grant is between $35,000 and $45,000; multi-year grants are seldom awarded. All construction or renovation work must be competitively bid, and copies of project bids, required permits, licenses, and signed contracts are necessary before funds are released.

Step Two

Contact the Foundation's Executive Director, Greg Cantori by phone at 410-235-7068 at least one week prior to the Letter of Inquiry deadline to discuss your potential request.

NOTE:

  • Any Letters of Inquiry submitted without prior verbal authorization and not including the Financial Analysis Form will not be considered.
  • Submitted Letters of Inquiry must be signed by the submitting organization's Executive Director as well as by one Board member, ideally the Board President.

Step Three

Should your organization meet our grant guidelines and receive pre-approval, send a:

  • One page Letter of Inquiry* (using 12pt Times New Roman or Ariel with 1 inch margins addressed to the Executive Director, M. Gregory Cantori) as well as
  • Financial Analysis Form - We expect to see 100% of your Board giving their personal Time, Talent and Treasure in making your nonprofit effective.

The Letter of Inquiry should, in one or two sentences, clearly state exactly what you need, for what, and the expected outcome(s). We will use that sentence as part of our review process and, if awarded, also on our website. Click here to see some first-rate Letter of Inquiry examples.

Please be mindful that Knott Foundation grants only are awarded for expenses incurred after the awarded funding date. We do not fund reimbursable(s) or any prior expenses.

See: What Should Be Included in a Letter of Inquiry and a Sample Letter of Inquiry for help in writing this important document.

*All inquiries are to be directed to the Executive Director, not Foundation Trustees or Knott family members.

Letters of Inquiry that do not follow the above guidelines will not be considered for review.

Step Four

If you are asked to submit a full proposal, you will be asked to provide the following forms:

  • The Foundation’s grant proposal checklist (standard) or grant proposal checklist (Catholic schools and churches)
  • The Foundation’s grant proposal financial analysis, using data from a current Audited Financial S tatement prepared by an independent Certified Public Accountant or a current IRS Form 990 prepared by an independent Certified Public Accountant. (Catholic elementary schools only may submit their most recent management review conducted by the Archdiocese in lieu of the audited financial statement.)
  • The Viability Assessment Profile form — this applies to Catholic Schools only
  • Budget to actual for previous two (2) years, showing income and expenses for organization
  • A current organizational annual operating budget.
  • Projected two (2) year budget for project income and expenses
  • Certification that your organization has a local governing board and that 100% have personally contributed in the current year, prior to the Grant Application submission
  • A copy of the original IRS determination letter indicating 501(c)(3) public charity status
  • Directions to your organization from the intersection of Jones Falls Expressway (Route I-83) and Cold Spring Lane in North Baltimore.
  • Evidence of Board approval for making the request (statement, minutes, Board president’s signature...)
  • Upon successful awarding of funds, photo release form and information release form such award in press releases, our annual report, our web site, etc.

2010 - 2011 Grantmaking Process & Deadlines

FundingLetters of Inquiry & FinancialsDraft Proposal*Full Proposal
February 2011
 October 18, 2010
 November 15
 November 29
June 2011 February 14, 2011 March 14 March 28
October 2011
 June 13, 2011
 July 11
 July 25

* We strongly encourage you to submit a DRAFT of the Body (Sec. II parts A, B and C only of Grant Checklist) of your proposal and the Financial Analysis Form for our review.  Drafts are due in our office no later than two weeks prior to the full proposal deadline.

SITE VISITS

Site visits are performed for all grant proposals.

SIZE AND DURATION OF AWARDS

The average grant is between $35,000 and $45,000; multi-year grants are seldom awarded. All construction or renovation work must be competitively bid, and copies of project bids, required permits, licenses, and signed contracts are necessary before funds are released.

REPORTING

Interim reports are due six months after grant award. Post-grant reports are due one year after grant award.

REAPPLYING

Organizations denied funding can reapply after one year. Funded o rganizations can reapply after 2 years.

Back to the top