FUNDING GUIDELINES
The Fund for Southern Communities (FSC or the Fund) is a publicly supported foundation established in 1981 to provide grants and technical assistance to progressive grassroots social change organizations that:

q	Work against discrimination based on race, sex, age, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, ethnic background or physical and mental disabilities;
q	Stand for  workers’ rights;
q	Promote self-determination in low-income and disenfranchised areas;
q	Protect the environment;
q	Promote and create non-traditional arts and media;
q	Promote peace;
q	Are located in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina;
q	Are working for equitable distribution of economic and/or political power;
§	Involving new people in social, economic or political change,
§	Challenge anti or undemocratic systems with public education and organizing efforts.
q	Are unlikely to be funded by more traditional funding sources, including those whose geographic location limits funding opportunities.  Applicants receiving funds from more traditional funding sources may be given a lower priority for funding from FSC.

THE FUND FOR SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES:

q	Gives grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
q	Provides seed grants to new projects, or general or project support to small organizations (with a total organizational budget of $150,000 or less).
q	Limits funding to once per 12 month period and for no more than three (3) times total, per organization. When special targeted funds are available, groups may be eligible for more than three (3) cycles of grants.  FSC should not be considered a long-term funding source

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Proposals must be in the FSC office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date, to be considered for funding the respective cycle.  Deadline dates are announced annually.  No faxed or emailed proposals are accepted.
Please send your complete application to: The Fund for Southern Communities
315 West Ponce De Leon Ave, Suite 1061
 Decatur, GA 30030.
Please note: Any proposals that are incomplete and/or submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

Ten (10) copies of your application are needed in addition to all attachments, including any brochures and news clippings.  Only one copy of your IRS 501(c) 3 determination letter, most recent 990 Form and a letter of support from your fiscal sponsor is required.

If you have any questions regarding eligibility, preparation of the application, or the funding process, please call 
404-371-8404 or write the Fund at  grants@fundforsouth.org.

PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

Each complete submission must include the following:

___  10 collated copies of the entire proposal, this includes the Grant Application Cover  Sheet, the proposal narrative, board list and budget/ financial information.

___  The list of committed and potential funding sources.

___ (1) One copy of your tax-exempt letter or fiscal sponsor’s letter.

___ (1) One copy of your organization’s current state registration letter.

____ (1) One copy of recent year’s 990  Form.

Please make sure that you have included everything on this checklist.  Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered for funding.
Fund for Southern Communities
Proposal Narrative
Not to exceed 10 pages (The 10 page limit does not include the attachments)

1. History and Purpose

§	Briefly describe your organization’s history and mission.

§	 Describe current programs and activities.

§	List some major accomplishments.

2.	Describe the work for which you are seeking funding.  Be sure to include the following points:

§	What is the problem/issue your project/organization addresses?

§	What does the organization want to accomplish with this project?

§	How will you go about accomplishing your objectives? 

§	What is your timeline?

3.  Social Change

§	Describe the systematic or social change your organization is trying to achieve.  

§	How does your work address and change the underlying root causes of the problem?

§	Does your organization work or partner with groups that are working on similar issues.

4.	Organizational Structure and Process

§	Briefly describe how your organization works.  What are the responsibilities of board, 
staff, volunteers and members where applicable?

§	How representative is your board and staff of the communities with which you work?

§	Provide a list of your Board of Directors.  Include first and last name, address, race, sex, related community and employment affiliations.

5.	Finances
§	Organization’s current operating budget and project budget. (You may use the attached budget form.)

§	List individually other funding sources for this request.  Include amount and whether received, committed or pending.

6.  Attachments (will not be counted in 10 page limit)

§	A copy of your IRS 501(c)3 letter. If you do not have 501(c)3 status, please submit IRS 501(c)3 letter from your fiscal sponsor; along with a letter from your fiscal sponsor

§	Most recent year’s organizational financial statement, audited if available or your latest 990 Form.    

§	A copy of your organization’s State Registration.

7.	Other Supporting Materials

§	Are welcome as long as you do not exceed total 10 page limit.  

§	We welcome photos demonstrating your work included in your proposal and progress reports, but we cannot return them to you.  

 THE FUND FOR SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES GRANT APPLICATION COVER SHEET

A.	Requesting Organization’s Information

Date Founded or Incorporated: ________________			Today’s Date____________			

Organization: ____________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________ City: __________________ State: ___ County_________  Zip:________

Contact Person & Position: ___________________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________ 		Fax: ________________________________
Email:______________________________ 		Website:_____________________________ 

Summarize the organization’s mission (2-3 sentences):  _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Is your organization registered with the State as non-profit? (Are you a 501(c)3?)	q Yes		q  No
			If no, Do you have a fiscal sponsor?			q Yes		q  No

Organizational Budget: $____________	 Project Budget: $ _____________  Fiscal Year Start Date:__________

If you have a fiscal sponsor, please complete the information in Section B. (If not, go straight to Section C).

B. Fiscal Sponsor Information
(A fiscal sponsor is an organization that allows your organization to use their Tax Exempt ID number) 

Organization: _____________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person & Position:___________________________________________________________________

Address :_____________________________________City/ST/Zip___________________________________

Phone: ___________________ Fax: _____________________ Email: _____________________________

C. Proposal Information

Type of Grant: q General Support  q Start-Up Costs  qProject Support  q  Other _________________________

Summary of project or grant request (2-3 sentences): ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Amount Requested: $____________________ 

Have you applied to the Fund for Southern Communities before?	q  Yes		q No
Have you ever received funding from the Fund for Southern Communities? q  Yes	q No
If yes, list dates and amounts of previous FSC grants:__________________________________
Have you filed the progress report for your most recent grant?  q  Yes	q No**
** If  no, please enclose a copy of the progress report with this request.  Your proposal will not be considered for funding without a progress report for your most recent grant from FSC.

Fund for Southern Communities Grant Application – Organizational/Project Budget
If you already prepare organizational and project budgets that are similar to this format, please feel free to submit them in their original form.  You may reproduce this form on your computer.

Budget for the period :_________________________________ to _____________________________________.

EXPENSES								REVENUE

ITEM			AMOUNT 					SOURCE			AMOUNT
						Position FT/PT
Salaries & wages		$___________     	_____________		Government Grants/Contracts	$_____________
(breakdown by 		
position and indicate 	____________		_____________		Foundations			$_____________
full or part time)
			____________		_____________		Corporations			$_____________

____________		_____________		Earned Income			$_____________

____________		_____________		United Way, Combined		$_____________
									Federal Campaign & 
Fringe Benefits &	$___________					Other Federated Campaigns	
Payroll Taxes
Consultants & 		$___________					Individual Contributions		$_____________
Professional Fees					

Travel			$___________					Fundraising events & products	$_____________

Equipment		$___________					Membership Income		$_____________

Supplies			$___________					In-Kind Support			$_____________

Printing & Copying	$___________					Other (specify)			$_____________

Postage & Delivery	$___________					____________			$______________

Rent & Utilities		$___________					TOTAL REVENUE: $ _________________________

In-Kind expense		$___________					BALANCE: $_________________________________

Other (specify)		$___________					

____________		$___________					

TOTAL EXPENSE: 	 $_________________						
									
PROJECT BUDGET
Description								Expense Cost

_________________________________________________________		$________________

_________________________________________________________		$________________

_________________________________________________________		$________________

_________________________________________________________		$________________

_________________________________________________________		$________________

TOTAL EXPENSE							$________________