top of page

GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS

Eligibility
 
Please refer to the mission statement and the history to learn about the Foundation's giving priorities.
​
The Foundation provides seed money or partial funding to novel projects and forward-looking leaders and teams. We seek to support projects that enhance national strengths in science and technology, prioritize French-American cooperation, or promote the Foundation's mission in other ways. 
​
The Foundation rarely renews grants for continuing activities and rarely accepts unsolicited proposals.
​
ELIGIBILITY
WE DO NOT FUND
​​​
  • Unsolicited proposals
  • For-profit businesses
  • Capital projects (including construction and renovations of buildings)
  • Capital equipment that will last more than two years
  • Endowments
  • Political campaigns or lobbying efforts
  • Fundraising events
  • Individuals (all grants are made to 501(c)3 organizations or similar charitable organizations for international institutions)
  • Meetings or convenings that account for more than 30% of the total proposal budget
  • Proposals that are strictly for travel
  • The Foundation will not support more than 50% of an individual's annual salary
LETTERS OF INQUIRY
 
The Foundation rarely accepts unsolicited inquiries. Please contact foundation@rlounsbery.org if you believe your work aligns with the Foundation's priorities. Please do not write or submit a proposal without an invitation.
​​
INCLUDE:
  • Grantee name, title, and contact information (grantee must be affiliated with a 501c3 or charitable organization).
  • PI name, title, and link to bio. 
  • A brief description of the project/work to be supported (no more than one page), including the purpose​.
    • Grant seekers should include ​how the project/work aligns with the Foundation's mission and why it should be considered by the Foundation.
  • Approximate budget of proposed project.
  • Expected length of the project (the Foundation prefers projects 1-2 years in length).
​​
RESPONSES:
Due to the small size of our staff, response time may be delayed.
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL

 

Below please find the three required documents to assist in the proposal submission process.  Please click on the link below to read the proposal guidelines first.  

​

​

​

RLF proposals should be no more than ten pages all inclusive of cover sheet, proposal, narrative biographies and budget. All proposals should be submitted electronically as one PDF to foundation@rlounsbery.org. Proposals longer than ten pages will be returned without review.  A cover letter is not required and the proposal administrative form is not included in the page count.

 

DEADLINES:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

SEASON
PROPOSAL DUE DATE
DECISIONS
Winter
December 15
(or closest Friday)
February
Spring
March 15
May
Summer
June 15
July
Autumn
September 15
October
downloadicon_edited.png
downloadicon_edited.png
downloadicon_edited.png
downloadicon_edited.png
FOR GRANTEES: REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
 
1 YEAR AFTER RECEIVING GRANT: 

The Foundation expects most RLF grants will be fully expended in one year from award date. 

One year following the date of receiving the award, all grantees should submit a financial report noting how RLF funds were spent over the past 12 months and clearly noting $0 remains.  Grantees should also submit a 2-3 page narrative progress report on the project. 

If funds still remain at one year, the grantee should apply for a no-cost grant extension (even if the project was approved as 2+ year project - all grantees must report on an annual basis).  To seek a no-cost extension, the grantee must inform the Foundation of the exact unspent balance and provide a budget for how the unspent funds will be used.  The revised budget must show the new plan for use of the funds over the full duration of the grant.  If the expected period is longer than 12 months, the budget must show the year-by-year expenditures.

Grantees should also submit a 1–2-page narrative progress report on the project in addition to financial reporting. The narrative should also include details on the proposed revised budget and expected time line.

The Foundation welcomes high resolution photos of the project to consider for our website.  

All reports and correspondence (including acknowledgement letters) should be submitted electronically. RLF is committed to becoming a paperless organization.

All international grants must submit an extra financial report noting total funds expended by February 15 of each calendar year regardless of grant date. This is required for the Foundation's US Tax return.  

2 YEARS AFTER RECEIVING GRANT: 

The process above repeats each year on an annual basis until the grant has been fully expended. 

*International grantees will receive additional reporting requirements upon receiving their award.  There are no exceptions to reporting requirements for international grants.*
We Do Not Fund
Required Documents
Letters of Inquiry
Submitting a Propsal
Deadlines
Reporting
bottom of page