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 Program Officer, Carole Gibison or the 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 will not be considered.
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)
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.
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
- The Foundation’s grant proposal financial analysis, using data from a current Audited Financial Statement 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 all board members have made an actual financial contribution in the current year, before the Grant Application is submitted
- 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, permission to document and permission to mention such award in press releases, our annual report, our web site, etc.
Deadlines for receipt of materials at the foundation
| Funding | Letters of Inquiry | Draft Proposal* | Full Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2008 | June 13 | July 15 | July 28 |
| February 2009 | October 15 | November 13 | November 24 |
| June 2009 | February 12 | March 16 | March 30 |
* Should you wish, we will review a DRAFT of the Body (part C) of your proposal and the Financial Analysis Form.
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 organizations can reapply after 2 years.