What We Fund/Frequently Asked Questions
Submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
Q: To whom should we address our letter of inquiry?
A: 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.
Q. Can our letter of inquiry (LOI) be longer than two pages and can we submit additional information not asked for on the checklist?
A. We request that you keep your letter to two pages. Use standard font sizes and margins. Limit additional unsolicited attachments to no more than two items. Remember to submit two collated copies of your LOI and required attachments.
Q. 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?
A. 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.
Q. How much funding should we ask for?
A. 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.
Q. Should we apply for general operating or program support?
A. Meyer provides both general operating and program support. You should apply for the kind of support you believe your organization most needs.
Q. Does Meyer make multiyear grants?
A. 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.
Q. Do we have to select the program area we're applying in (e.g. arts, education, etc.) or may we propose a cross-cutting concept that would apply to more than one program area?
A. You do not have to specify a program area when you submit an LOI. Meyer staff will determine where your project might fit into our grantmaking program.
Q. We are a national organization that has a program in the DC metropolitan area. Can we submit an LOI to support our local work?
A. 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.
Q. If we have a completed common grant application, can we submit this instead of a LOI?
A. No. We do not accept full proposals at the LOI stage. Please fulfill the LOI requirements only.
Q. How long do we have to wait after receiving a grant from Meyer to submit a new LOI?
A. You must wait a year after receiving a Meyer grant before you can receive another grant. For example, if you receive a grant in June, you can apply for another grant no earlier than the following February, for a June decision.
Q. May we submit an LOI for a MAP or capital campaign grant during the grant period of a current general grant?
A. Yes, an organization may apply for a MAP or capital campign grant while a general grant is still active.
Q. May we meet with a program officer to discuss our LOI before we submit it?
A. 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.
Q: When we apply for a grant, do we need to specify the time period for which we're applying?
Q: 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?
A: The grant period for any funds awarded through a Meyer grant is always 12 months from when the funds are awarded. If you apply for a grant in February, the grant would be awarded in June, so the grant period would go from June to the following May. 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.
Q: When we write our grant proposal, what time period should our narrative cover?
A: 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
Q. What happens after we submit a letter of inquiry?
A. 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.
Q. When will we receive confirmation that Meyer has received our letter of inquiry?
A. You should receive a postcard confirming receipt of your LOI within two to three weeks of the LOI deadline.
Q. If our LOI is denied, how long do we have to wait to resubmit?
A. You can submit another LOI in the next grant round.
Q. If we were invited to submit a proposal and were denied at the board meeting, how long do we have to wait to resubmit?
A. You must wait one year from when you submitted your original LOI to submit a new letter of inquiry. For example, if you submitted an LOI in February for a June board decision, were invited to submit a proposal, and then were subsequently denied, you may submit a new LOI the following February. This rule does not apply to capital campaign requests or proposals submitted to our Management Assistance Program.
Q. We submitted an LOI to Meyer in February 2005 and were awarded a grant in June 2005. It's now February 2006, and we'd like to submit another LOI, but the grant award letter we received last year told us to send Meyer a final grant report in June of this year. Can we submit another LOI now before we've given Meyer our final report on the June 2005 grant?
A. Yes.
Q. How do we report on our grant?
A. Your award letter will include any reporting dates and guidelines for required narrative and financial reports. A copy of Meyer's final report guidelines may be downloaded here as a Word document or as a PDF document.
Q. What should we do if we can't meet the deadline for submitting our final report?
A. 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.
Q. Our final report is due on or after the Meyer board meets to decide whether or not to fund us this year. Should we try to submit our final report before the board meets?
A. No, this will not affect the board's decision.
Q. What happens after we've submitted a proposal?
A. 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 reviews grants at meetings in February, June, and October.
Q. When will we be notified if a grant has been awarded? Should I contact the foundation?
A. 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.
Q. If awarded, when and how will we receive the grant?
A. 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.
Financial Information
Q. What should we do if our organization has not been audited? Can we submit a copy of our IRS 990?
A. If your organization does not have a formal audit from an independent accounting firm, please submit your most current 990. Much of the information we use from an audit can also be obtained from your organization's tax return.
Q: How will Meyer evaluate our organization's finances?
A: When they look at grant proposals, Meyer staff pay careful attention to an organization's financial status. Your proposal should include:
- a budget for the current fiscal year (must include both revenues and expenses)
- an interim statement of financial position (a.k.a. balance sheet)
- an interim statement of activities (a.k.a. profit and loss statement)
- the most recently completed audit (for organizations with annual revenue in excess of $300,000)
- 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?
Q. If we have received grants from Meyer before, do we still need to resubmit a copy of our financial statements?
A. Yes. Even previous or current grantees must submit complete LOIs for each grant round.
Q. What do you mean by a year-to-date financial statement? How is this different from a budget?
A. 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
Q. 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?
A. Yes, but you must submit with your letter of inquiry (LOI) a copy of your application for tax-exempt status (IRS Form 1023).
Q. If we've lost our federal tax-exemption letter, how do we get a replacement copy?
A. Call the IRS at 1-877-829-5500.
Q. Will you accept a copy of the DC Tax-Exemption Certificate in place of the 501(c)(3) letter?
A. No, we only accept federal tax-exemption letters.
Q. If we have received grants from Meyer before, do we still need to resubmit a copy of the 501(c)(3) letter?
A. Yes. Even previous or current grantees must submit complete LOIs for each grant round.