To begin, we recommend all prospective applicants review these FAQs and view the Grant Application video and slide deck, which will be available in mid-October.
Potential applicants can also check the first part of the 2024 grant application (available in mid-October), which requires the applicant to verify compliance with all eligibility criteria. Applicants cannot proceed to the second part of the grant application unless they meet all eligibility criteria.
Grant applications that meet the eligibility criteria are assigned to a small committee of trained volunteers with various professional backgrounds. Each Grant Review Committee considers the clarity and feasibility of the proposal and the importance of the unmet need. Reviewers want to understand the who, what, when, where, and how of the proposed program. Reviewers also pay close attention to the description of the intended benefits to the population being served and the plan for collecting data to quantify and evaluate results. In addition, reviewers look at the applicant’s financial information and proposed budget to assess the organization’s capacity to manage a $100,000 grant over one to three years.
No. Our goal is to fund organizations that reach underserved populations by providing services in our focus areas of Arts & Culture; Children & Families; Education; Environment, Preservation & Recreation; and Health & Wellness. We do require that all funds benefit residents of one or more of the following counties: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union.
The number of grants we award each year depends on the number of Impact100 Garden State members, each of whom donates at least $1,000, in that year. In recent years, we have been able to award three $100,000 grants. Of the 74 applications we received for the 2023 grant cycle, seven were selected as finalists and Impact members voted to award $100,000 grants to three finalists.
In some years, we may be able to award smaller grants in addition to our $100,000 grants. If this is the case, we will use email and social media to inform the nonprofit community of these additional grant opportunities.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Yes. The application should explain how the organization will manage grant monies so that all Impact funding is used to support services in one or more of our five counties: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union.
The $100,000 grants that we award are restricted to the proposed program.
We do fund all expenses that are necessary to implement the proposed program, including staff salaries/benefits, rent, training, equipment, and supplies. If individuals provide support/oversight, we will fund that portion of their salary/compensation for time spent on the proposed program. If applicants have other expenses that are necessary to implement the program, it is important to explain why the expense is necessary to implement the program.
From time to time, Impact100 has awarded smaller, unrestricted grants. The terms for the use of those grants are clearly identified at the time the award is made.
Our signature grants, awarded annually, are for $100,000 because we are committed to giving meaningful support to nonprofits that propose specific programs to meet unmet needs of residents living in Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, or Union County. We do not accept applications for less than $100,000 for our signature grants.
As our resources allow, we may develop additional grant opportunities for less than $100,000. Should these opportunities arise, we will publicize the eligibility criteria on our website and social media. We also will contact organizations in our database if we believe they meet the eligibility criteria for the grant.
We have no preference. Our application asks whether a proposal is for a new program or an expansion of an existing program so we can better understand the applicant’s intentions.
Yes, if both organizations meet our eligibility criteria as described in these FAQs.
Impact100 Garden State encourages two (or more) 501(c)(3) organizations to work together on a project or program that is supported by a $100,000 grant. We refer to this arrangement as a “Joint Grant.”
The application must identify one entity as the lead organization that will manage the grant funds and be our primary contact.
The responsibilities of both the lead organization and the partner organization should be clearly explained.
No. We accept one application per organization. Similarly, two organizations that apply together may not also submit applications on their own.
No. An organization that has received a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State cannot apply for another grant until two years after receiving our final check. Organizations that do not receive a $100,000 grant may apply again the following year, even if they have received one of our smaller grants or merit awards.
The grant is for $100,000 to spend on a specific program or project. Funds must be spent within three years.
Grant recipients are announced at our Annual Awards Meeting in early June.
No. Impact100 Garden State requires recipients to sign a Grant Agreement that details when funds will be disbursed and how they will be used, as described in the next question.
The grant funds are generally distributed quarterly based on a program budget prepared by the grant recipient. Planned quarterly disbursement amounts may vary according to how the grantee structures the implementation of the program. The first disbursement is made based on the agreed-upon budget for the first quarter of the program.
Disbursements after the first quarter are dependent on completion of the milestones that the grant recipient establishes as key to the successful implementation of the grant program.
Grant recipients submit quarterly reports that summarize budget vs. actual expenditures, the status of milestone achievement, and their request for the next disbursement.
Our Grant Administration team works closely with grantees throughout their one- to three-year grant periods, analyzing quarterly reports of expenditures and milestone completions in order to determine progress toward the implementation of the program and if the next quarter’s disbursement can be approved.
Expect to see the online application, along with a downloadable version for internal use, by mid-October 2023.
Yes. You can use a URL link to embed brochures, annual reports or videos as part of the proposal in the application.
Applications must include a preliminary budget for the proposal. We offer a budget template here. We recommend that applicants follow this template to ensure we can understand the proposed budget.
Occasionally we receive applications for programs that will require more than our $100,000 grant. In these cases, we require applicants to indicate the amount of each expense to be funded by the requested Impact100 Garden State grant and the amount to be funded by other sources. The other sources should be identified specifically and designated as in-hand, committed, or potential.
In the Application Staffing Template, identify the person, position/title, credentials/qualifications, and the percentage of time allocated to the program for each position. For example, a senior staff member of the organization may spend some time managing the proposed program, while other staff members may be hired exclusively to implement the program. Be sure that each individual on the Application Staffing Template has a budget line on the preliminary budget (a full or prorated salary amount, as appropriate) or indicate that the organization is making an in-kind contribution for the individual’s time.
Yes. All information is required at the time of submission and by the grant application deadline. If a dialogue box is empty or an attachment is missing, the applicant will get an error message and the grant application will not be submitted. If you have any questions, please email us at grants@design-proposal.com.
Be sure to name each organization and describe the status of your relationship with each organization. If a cooperative relationship is essential for the implementation of the program, we may ask you for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU is a letter/memorandum indicating that the collaborating partner will fulfill the needs of the applicant.
Email us at grants@Impact100GardenState.org.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept re-submissions so please double-check your application before you submit.
Our system sends a receipt with a copy of the completed application within 24 hours of submission. An applicant that receives an error message can contact grants@Impact100GardenState.org.
We will contact all applicants by late April. We email applicants that are not advancing in the grant review process using the emails listed on the application.
If an application is advancing, an Impact member will call the contact person identified on the grant application to coordinate a site visit. Typically, we tell applicants what questions we have and give them at least two weeks to prepare for a site visit. During the site visit, we will discuss the next steps in the process.
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide personalized feedback.
We continuously review our practices and share lessons learned internally and in relationship with other Impact100 chapters. Please refer to the “Review Process” section of these FAQs.
We do not permit organizations to reach out to our members.