Apply to Responsive Grants Program

Overview

The Responsive Grants Program is a competitive grants program in which applicants can apply for project, capacity building, equipment or technology, small capital projects, or general operating support in support of the organization’s mission.

The Responsive Grants Program is a two-stage process which consists of submitting a letter of inquiry and, if invited, submitting a full application.

Eligibility

• An applicant must be a tax-exempt nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a public institution.
• The project will positively impact residents in one or more counties of our service area:
  • West Virginia: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, Wood
  • Ohio: Athens, Meigs, Washington

However, we are unable to make grants to:

• Endowment funds
• Individuals
• Organizations seeking retroactive funding for projects that have been complete or will be complete prior to the grant decision date
• Organizations that engage in proselytizing as part of their mission or programs

Process Overview

1. Applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry through the online application system in accord with the directions by the stated deadline. E-mailed or hard copy Letters of Inquiry will not be accepted. The purpose of the Letter of Inquiry is to enable any eligible agency or organization to present a project or idea to the Sisters Health Foundation staff for an initial review.
2. Staff reviews the online Letters of Inquiry; for those organizations meeting initial criteria, staff will conduct a meeting/site visit to determine if a project is ready to go forward with a full application.
3. Using the online application system, applicants submit completed grant applications and supporting documents (as requested) by the deadline.
4. The Grants Committee reviews each application and develops a recommendation for consideration by the Board of Directors.
5. The Board reviews the recommendations and determines applications to be funded.
6. Staff notifies each applicant in May (spring cycle) or November (fall cycle) of the Board decision. This is approximately 19 weeks after the deadline for the initial letter of inquiry.

Deadlines

The Sisters Health Foundation has two grant cycles per year. Materials should be submitted online no later than midnight on the respective deadline date.

To Apply

When you are ready, click here to start your Letter of Inquiry or to log-in to your existing account. Please read the instructions and enter the appropriate access code (RESPONSIVE). You will only need to enter this access code once as your saved application can be found under the Dashboard section. You may wish to view the following to assist you in the application process:

• Letter of Inquiry Question List
• Applicant registration tutorial, Applicant workflow and Applicant Dashboard videos
• Frequently asked questions about using the online system

For any questions about using the online application system, please contact Shei Sanchez at 304-424-6080 Ext. 101 or ssanchez@sistershealthfdn.org.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated using the following six criteria:

• Mission Fit – The proposal presents a well-documented statement of a genuine and pressing need that fits into the priorities of the Sisters Health Foundation.
• Project Quality – The project makes sense, showing an understanding of the issues with goals and objectives that are realistic and understandable.
• Project Implementation – The implementation plan makes sense, detailing the steps, resources, and time required to execute the project.
• Budget – The budget is reasonable, matching the program and activities described.
• Organizational Capacity – The organization or collaborative partners are capable of implementing and sustaining the program with adequate funding/staff/organizational commitment and community support.
• Measurable Outcomes – The proposal discusses outcomes and how they would be measured and the project sustained beyond the grant period.