Grants Overview and Process

The Gamma Mu Foundation provides grants in the following areas:

Community Services

Community Services grants support services to individuals that are provided through community services organizations relating to health, education, or other welfare needs.

Major emphasis is on HIV/AIDS related services in rural settings. This includes direct support to individuals and their families as well as prevention and awareness education to the general population and/or targeted to MSM.

Community services grants also focus on meeting the special needs of GLBT subpopulations such as youth, seniors, and victims of domestic violence. Emphasis is placed on organizations conducting awareness and empowerment work with GLBTQ youth and their families.

Research and Public Education

Research and Public Education grants support programs and projects aimed at helping to make the world a more hospitable place for people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Grants may include research, surveys, studies, conferences, programs, or projects designed to inform and improve understanding and behavior. One outstanding grant recipient each year may be selected to receive the Richard Karpawich Research and Education Award.

Granting Process

The initial approach to the foundation is made by either completing the “grants interest form” or through written correspondence outlining the nature of the applicant organization and how it supports the mission of the Gamma Mu Foundation. That mission is to support the gay and lesbian community and enhance the image of gays and lesbians in the community at large. Receipt of this material indicates that your organization has made the initial approach and your organization is placed on our mailing list.

The Foundation accepts proposals from January 1 through June 1st each year. The Grants Review Committee investigates proposals, requests additional information when necessary, and conducts site visits in some cases. The Board of Directors reviews grant applications and makes funding decisions in July of each year. Applicants receive written notification of Board action usually within two weeks.

The Foundation will not accept proposals for the following purposes:

• Capital Coampaigns
• Physical Plants
• Endowment Funds
• Annual Fund Drives
• Lobbying Activities
• Religious Activities
• Political Activities or Campaign
• Payroll

Proposal Evaluation Factors

The Foundation considers the following factors in proposal review:

• relevance of the proposed project to the Foundation’s funding priorities;
• the need addressed in the proposal, and other past or ongoing attempts to meet it;
• the potential benefit of the project;
• the project’s potential to serve as a model from which others interested in similar issues may learn;
• the capability of the applicant organization and its staff to achieve the desired results;
• the adequacy of the projected activities, budget, and timetable to achieve the desired results;
• the evidence of appropriate cooperation with other organizations working in the same field;
• the likelihood of future support from other sources; and
• the quality of the applicant’s plan for evaluating and disseminating the results of the project.

Gamma Mu Foundation Funding Priorities

The Gamma Mu Foundation, Inc., wishes to provide funding for the following broad program areas:

The Gamma Mu Foundation, Inc., will target its resources to achieve its major goals which are:

• ensuring the ongoing support of gay and lesbian health and social service organizations;
• enhancing the commnuity through support of projects identifying the Foundation as a source of support from the gay and lesbian members of the community, and
• increasing the grantee's organizational capacity and resources to assure continued program viability after Foundation support terminates.

Special Funding Situations

The Foundation may invest a portion of its funds in projects related to its program interests. These program-related investments, which may take the form of low-interest loans, equity, or other finance mechanisms, support projects for which other financing may not be available. Application and decision-making procedures for program-related investments are similar to those for traditional grant proposals, however, in some cases, a business plan may also be required.

Once a Grant is Awarded

The Foundation’s grant period is from 30 September to 1 October of the following year. The Foundation will determine the nature of the award (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement) and provide the awardees any conditions and/or requirements that will apply to the award. Upon acceptance of these conditions and/or requirements, funds will be forwarded to the recipient organization in accordance with the approved budget and any other conditions that the Foundation may establish. Funds are dispersed in two increments. The initial increment in September and the second in April contingent on receipt of an interim report as discussed below. A final report is required in October following the end of the grant period.

Any modifications to the approved project’s scope of activities or to the approved budget must be in writing and formally approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors prior to changes becoming effective.

In addition to any conditions and/or requirements associated with a particular award, the following general conditions apply to all awards:

• Any funds not expended for the approved project must be returned to the Foundation at the end of the award period unless prior arrangements have been made.
• Recipients of funds must maintain account books and records that show and separately account for funds received under the award. These records must be available to the Foundation for a minimum of four years following the completion of the project for which the funds are used.
• Recipients must submit program and financial evaluation reports at an interim time (April) and upon completion of the award period (October). Foundation staff may make periodic site visits and will occasionally enlist the assistance of consultants to evaluate projects.