The following section describes grant proposal submission procedures for The Harder Foundation for project and general support grants.  Please review these procedures and our current funding priorities before contacting the Foundation. 

All proposals must meet the postmark deadline. (Please see the Deadlines page for specific dates) Proposals must be submitted as hard copy.  Proposals submitted by fax or email will not be accepted.  We encourage you to use recycled or tree-free paper.  Thank you.

Grant requests must include the following:

1.  COVER LETTER

a. Primary project or program contact person's name and email address;

b. Whether your proposal is for a specific Focused Funding Area, an Organized Collaborative Campaign, or a state level organization or coalition;

c. Whether your proposal is for a project or general support grant (include the project or program name);

d. The amount of funding you request from The Harder Foundation; and

e. In which grantmaking cycle you would like your proposal considered.

2.  NARRATIVE PROPOSAL

a. Mission statement, organizational goals, and objectives of the project or program for which you are requesting funding.

b. Brief background information about the organization, including past environmental accomplishments.

c.  For Project Proposals:  In addition to your project title, include in your narrative a description of the problem to be addressed, the strategies and methods to be used in the solution, and a clear statement of objectives or expected outcomes of the project.  Please include specific activities, a timeline, key personnel, and how you aim to evaluate the effectiveness of your project. 

d. For General Support Proposals:  In your narrative, please provide a statement summarizing the primary environmental problems that the organization is tackling, and the strategies and methods you apply in seeking solutions.  Also provide an explanation of how the organization has systematically evaluated the effectiveness of its programs.

3.  BUDGET AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

a. Current organizational budget, including line item expenses by program area and secured and anticipated revenue sources.  Please indicate specific foundation sources, as well as other revenue sources (e.g. membership, major donor, and government sources).  

b. For organizations with annual budgets over $400,000, include your most recent audited financial statement.  For organizations with annual budgets under $400,000, if you do not have an audited financial statement, please include your most recent IRS form 990.

c. We seek to understand the organization’s overall financial profile for the previous and current year, including carryover and cash flow.  Please provide sufficient fiscal analysis to explain your full financial position.

d.  For Project Proposals:  A detailed project budget including line item expenses, secured and anticipated revenue including a list of sources, and the amount requested from The Harder Foundation.

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

a. The names, addresses and phone numbers of the organization and the primary program or project contact person.  Please include fax numbers, E-mail and website addresses.

b. Names, occupations, and education of the organization’s directors, officers, and staff, and qualifications of key individuals involved in the work of the specific project or program being proposed.

c.  A copy of the organization’s Internal Revenue Service "501 (c) 3" determination letter accompanied by a statement, on the organization’s letterhead, signed by a member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors, or the Executive Director, confirming that this ruling remains in effect as of the date of the proposal.

d. Relevant supporting documentation, including press clippings or reports.  Please do not send DVDs, CDs, cassettes, videos, or plastic presentation folders.

e. The Foundation cannot accept project proposals that do not explicitly indicate whether or not, within the activities of the proposed project, the organization intends to engage in lobbying activities. Please also indicate whether your organization has made the section 501(h) lobbying expenditure election.

Note:  Although the Foundation does not support projects focused on legislative lobbying, general support grants to Section 501 (c) 3 charities may be used to support a grantee’s overall operations, even if the grantee engages in lobbying as part of its programs.