Grantmaking FAQ

Click to be taken to the Management Assistance FAQ.

Submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

To whom should we address our letter of inquiry?
Please address your letter of inquiry to Julie Rogers, President and CEO of the Meyer Foundation. You do not need to research the interest areas of our program officers to address it to a particular individual. Once we receive a letter of inquiry we assign it internally according to each program officer's area of expertise.

Can our letter of inquiry (LOI) be longer than two pages and can we submit additional information not asked for on the checklist?
We request that you keep your letter to two pages, using standard font sizes and margins.

If we have more than one concept for a proposal, what is the best way to submit alternative ideas and get feedback on which would be of most interest to Meyer?
You can include more than one idea in any given LOI as long as you still fit everything within the two page limit. It is generally better to focus on one or two ideas so you're able to thoroughly explain each one and make a compelling case for why your organization or project needs funding.

How much funding should we ask for?
Meyer grants range from $1,500 to $50,000 and higher. Grants above this amount typically support capital campaigns. The average grant is approximately $25,000 (except for capital campaign grants). Your project budget should be an accurate description of the real cost of running your project.

Should we apply for general operating or program support?
Meyer provides both general operating and program support. You should apply for the kind of support you believe your organization most needs.

Does Meyer make multiyear grants?
Meyer makes multiyear grants only in limited cases. However, nonprofit organizations are welcome to reapply in subsequent years for additional support for the same programs Meyer has supported in the past. Keep in mind that past support does not guarantee continued funding.

Do we have to select the program area we're applying in (e.g. education, healthy communities, etc.) or may we propose a cross-cutting concept that would apply to more than one program area?
Please specify the program area to which you are applying.

We are a national organization that has a program in the DC metropolitan area. Can we submit an LOI to support our local work?
The Meyer Foundation values community-based organizations that work in concert with members of the community. If your national organization runs a program that operates in and with the cooperation of our local community, we will consider your LOI.

If we have a completed common grant application, can we submit this instead of a LOI?
No. The Meyer Foundation no longer accepts the common grant application.

How long do we have to wait after receiving a grant from Meyer to submit a new LOI?
You must wait a year after receiving a Meyer grant before you can receive another grant. For example, if you receive a grant in April, you can apply for another grant no earlier than the following January, for an April decision. If you have questions about transitioning from the old grant cycle, please contact your program officer.

May we submit an LOI for a MAP or capital campaign grant during the grant period of a current general grant?
Yes, an organization may apply for a MAP or capital campign grant while a general grant is still active.

May we meet with a program officer to discuss our LOI before we submit it?
Meyer generally does meetings or site visits with selected organizations after they've submitted their LOIs. If you wish to discuss your LOI before submitting it, Meyer Foundation program assistants will be able to answer most of your LOI-related questions. We also publish detailed funding guidelines on our website for each of our program areas. These will give you further guidance about how to write your LOI. Some program officers might, if their schedules permit, answer specific LOI-related questions over the phone. Please contact a Meyer Foundation program assistant for guidance or to inquire about the possibility of arranging a telephone meeting with a program officer.

When we apply for a grant, do we need to specify the time period for which we're applying? If we receive a grant from Meyer, do we need to spend it in the current calendar year, the fiscal year in which we apply, or the fiscal year in which we receive the grant?
You will need to specify, in months, the grant period for your request. Meyer typically awards grants that cover a 12-month period from when the funds are awarded. If you apply for a grant in January, the grant would be awarded in April, so the grant period would go from April to the following April. It does not matter when your organization's fiscal year is. The funds should be used within the 12-month period that starts at the time you receive your grant. You may spend the grant funds any time during that period.

Meyer expects to receive a report at the end of the grant period that explains how the funds have been spent. If, for any reason, all funds have not been spent, you must inform the Foundation in your final report and make arrangements for an extension of the grant period.

When we write our grant proposal, what time period should our narrative cover?
The grant period begins at the time your grant is awarded and goes for one year. Describe activities that will happen during that 12-month period (and during any additional time periods you believe are relevant to your proposal).

After You've Submitted a Letter of Inquiry

What happens after we submit a letter of inquiry?
Program officers read and review hundreds of LOIs each grant round. We will contact you if there are any questions about your submission. You will be notified two months after the LOI deadline whether or not a proposal will be invited.

When will we receive confirmation that Meyer has received our letter of inquiry?
You should receive an email confirming receipt of your LOI within two to three weeks of the LOI deadline.

If our LOI is denied, how long do we have to wait to resubmit?
You can submit another LOI in the next grant round.

What happens after we've submitted a proposal?
Program officers read and review the invited proposals and prepare to present them to the board of trustees.  Proposals that are recommended are presented at board meetings approximately 6-8 weeks after they are received. The Meyer board will review grants at meetings in April and October.

When will we be notified if a grant has been awarded?  Should I contact the foundation?
Typically, organizations with pending proposals are notified of their grant status by their program officer the day after the Meyer board meeting. You do not need to contact the foundation directly.

If awarded, when and how will we receive the grant?
Along with an award letter and final report guidelines, grant checks are mailed to the attention of the CEO at the organization’s main address. Award letters are mailed out approximately 2-3 weeks after the board meeting.

Can we submit an LOI before we've given Meyer our final report on our current grant?
Yes.

How do we report on our grant?
Your award letter will include any reporting dates and guidelines for required narrative and financial reports. Please make note of the following:

• If your organization recevied a grant before January 2012, please refer to these report guidelines.
• For all other groups, please review these report guidelines and submit your final report online.

The timely submission of a final report is an important part of the grant process. Please contact the Foundation's grants manager if you believe you will not be able to submit your final report by the due date.

What should we do if we can't meet the deadline for submitting our final report?
The timely submission of a final report is an important part of the grant process. Please contact the Foundation's grants manager if you believe you will not be able to submit your final report in a timely manner.

Financial Information

What should we do if our organization has not been audited? Can we submit a copy of our IRS 990?
If your organization does not have a formal audit from an independent accounting firm, please submit your most recent internal financial statements.

How will Meyer evaluate our organization's finances?
When they look at grant proposals, Meyer staff pay careful attention to an organization's financial statements. When staff examine your organization's finances, they will look for indicators of financial health such as:

• Did revenues equal or exceed expenses?
• Did the organization end the year with positive unrestricted net assets?
• Is the annual budget approved by the board?
• Do budgeted revenues equal or exceed budgeted expenses?
• Are revenues and expenses (from the interim statement of activities) tracking in accordance with the annual budget—i.e. if the interim statement of activities reports on N percent of the fiscal year, do the reported revenues and expenses represent N percent of the revenues and expenses projected in the annual budget?
• Does the board have a finance committee?
• Are interim financial statements presented to the board periodically?
• Does the organization have written internal financial control policies and procedures?

If we have received grants from Meyer before, do we still need to resubmit a copy of our financial statements?
Yes. Even previous or current grantees must submit complete LOIs for each grant round.

What do you mean by a year-to-date financial statement? How is this different from a budget?
A budget shows an organization's revenue and expense goals for the current year. A year-to-date financial statement (also known as an interim financial statement) shows how the organization is progressing against its budget goals. Interim financial statements can include any number of reports but must, at a minimum, include a Statement of Financial Position (also known as a Balance Sheet) and a Statement of Activity (also known as a profit and loss or income and expense statement ).

501(c)(3) Status

If our organization does not yet have a 501(c)(3) ruling from the IRS, but has applied for one, can we apply for a grant from Meyer?
No. Meyer will only accept applications from organizations that have already received tax exemption status from the IRS.

Submitting an Online Application

How do I begin the online application process?
Please click here to view our Online Application Instructions.

Do I have to create an account to access the online application?
Yes. An account is required in order to access and submit an online application.

How can I retrieve my forgotten password?
If you have forgotten your password, click on the FORGOT PASSWORD? link underneath the password field on the login screen. You will be prompted to enter your e-mail address. Once you click the SEND PASSWORD button, your e-mail address will be verified and your password will be sent immediately.

How can I retrieve my forgotten username?
Your username is the same as the e-mail address you used to create your online application.

What if my organization currently does not have a Federal Tax ID Number?
Your organization must have a Federal Tax ID Number in order to receive a grant from the Meyer Foundation.

If we have a fiscal sponsor, how should we fill out the application fields?
Please submit the required attachments (budget, audit, and other financial statements) for the fiscal sponsor. In the online application, please insert your fiscal sponsor's contact information under Organization Information and your project's information under Additional Grant Contact.

Can I save and continue my application at a later time?
Yes. At the bottom of any page you can save your work to continue the application at a later time by clicking SAVE AND FINISH LATER.

How do I get back to a saved application?
To access an application that is in progress, you may either use the link that was e-mailed with your account confirmation or click here to log back in. (You will need the e-mail and password used to create the account.)

Why is my application not listed after I log in?
First check the view you have selected in the drop down menu. You can either choose to view applications that have already been submitted or applications that are still in progress. If the application is in neither of those fields, you may not have saved your application before exiting.

How do I submit attachments in the online application?
In the online application, select the title of the document you would like to submit from the drop down menu. In the FILE NAME field, click the BROWSE button and choose your file. Click the UPLOAD button. Uploaded files will appear at the top of the current screen.

What file formats can be attached to the online application?
Files with certain extensions (such as “exe”, “com”, “vbs”, or “bat”) cannot be uploaded. The most typical types of files we can receive include Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PDFs.

How much space is available for me when adding attachments?
The maximum size for all attachments combined is 8MB.

I submitted an application but forgot to add an attachment. What should I do?
If you forgot to submit an attachment, please e-mail them to apply@meyerfdn.org. We ask that you include your tracking number in the email subject line.

Can I submit another application if there was a mistake on a previously submitted one?
No. You cannot submit another application. Please contact us at apply@meyerfdn.org if you have questions or concerns regarding your application.

Will I receive a confirmation that my application has been submitted?
Yes. The Foundation will e-mail you to confirm that we've received your Letter of Inquiry.

Do I receive a copy of the application after it is submitted?
A copy of your submitted application will be sent to your e-mail immediately.

Once I have submitted my application, can I retrieve and edit it?
When you have completed your Letter of Inquiry, click REVIEW AND SUBMIT. You will be able to review your application one last time before submitting it to the Foundation. Submitted inquiries are final and can no longer be edited.

Can I track the progress of the application online?
No. You will receive a confirmation e-mail immediately after submitting your online application.

When should I expect to hear back in regards to my submitted application?
The Meyer Foundation will contact you within four to six weeks about your request.

What happens to my application if my system crashes while completing it?
Your application will not be saved unless you click SAVE AND FINISH LATER. We recommend you do not leave your application open for an extended period of time if you need to move on to other work.

Are there any system requirements for submitting an online application?
There are no special system requirements for completing an online grant application. Although high-speed Internet access will make the process much faster, it is not required.

Is my organization’s information kept private when I apply online?
The Meyer Foundation takes your privacy seriously. We do not rent, sell, or share personal information about you or your grant application with other people or with nonaffiliated companies or organizations. Click here for the Meyer Foundation’s privacy policy.

How secure is my submitted information on the website that hosts the online application process?
Very secure. The provider of the online application, MicroEdge, uses SSL data encryption which keeps your information extremely safe.

Who should I contact if I have a question concerning the online application?
E-mail apply@meyerfdn.org with any technical questions or problems. If you have any concerns about funding strategies, please contact the appropriate program staff.