The Fund for Southern Communities 
q	Gives grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
q	Provides seed grants to new projects, or general or project support to small organizations (with a total organizational budget of $150,000 or less).
q	Limits funding to once per 12 month period and for no more than three (3) times total, per organization. When special targeted funds are available, groups may be eligible for more than three (3) cycles of grants.  FSC should not be considered a long-term funding source.

Funding Guidelines
The Fund for Southern Communities (FSC or the Fund) is a publicly supported foundation established in 1981 to provide grants and technical assistance to progressive grassroots social change organizations that:

q	Work against discrimination based on race, sex, age, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, ethnic  background or physical and mental disabilities;
q	Stand for workers’ rights;
q	Promote self-determination in low-income and disenfranchised areas;
q	Protect the environment;
q	Promote and create non-traditional arts and media;
q	Promote peace;
q	Are located in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina;
q	Are working for equitable distribution of economic and/or political power;
§	Involving new people in social, economic or political change,
§	Challenge anti or undemocratic systems with public education and organizing efforts.
q	Are unlikely to be funded by more traditional funding sources, including those whose geographic location limits funding opportunities.  Applicants receiving funds from more traditional funding sources may be given a lower priority for funding from FSC.

Application Instructions
Deadline dates are announced annually. Proposals and all attachments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., on the deadline date to be considered for funding. Proposals should be mailed to:  
The Fund for Southern Communities
4153 - C Flat Shoals Parkway
Suite 316
 Decatur, GA 30034.
*Please note: Any proposals that are incomplete and/or submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

If you have any questions regarding eligibility, preparation of the application, or the funding process, please call 404-371-8404 or write the Fund at grants@fundforsouth.org.

Section A: If applying for a continuation grant, please skip to Section B

Proposal Checklist

*Below is a list of required documents. Proposals that do not include all of theses documents will be automatically removed from consideration for funding.

___ (8) Eight copies of entire proposal (this includes the Grant Application Cover Sheet, the proposal   narrative, board list and budget/ financial information).

___ The list of committed and potential funding sources.

___ (1) One copy of your 501(c) 3 tax-exempt letter or fiscal sponsor’s letter.

___ (1) One copy of your organization’s current state registration letter.

___ (1) One copy of your organization’s current CPA audited financial statement if available and/0r 990 Form.

Proposal Narrative (Not to exceed 10 pages – the 10 page limit does not include the attachments)

*Please be advised that the following bullets points will be evaluated during the decision making process.

1. History and Purpose (2 page limit)
	
§	Briefly describe your organization’s history and mission.

§	What is your organization’s main focus? Main commitment? 

§  Describe current programs and activities.

§	List some major accomplishments.

§  Does your organization work or partner with groups that are working on similar issues? If so, please        identify.

2.  Social Change (2 page limit)

§	Describe the systematic or social change your organization is trying to achieve.  

§	How does your work address and change the underlying root causes of the problem?

§	Does your organization challenge unjust systems? If so, how?

§   How valuable is your organization/project to the community at large?

§   Will your organization/project have long-term effects on the community?

3.	Describe the work for which you are seeking funding.  Be sure to include the following points: (2 page limit)

§	What is the problem/issue your project/organization addresses?

§	What does the organization want to accomplish with this grant?

§	How will you go about accomplishing your objectives? 

§	What is your timeline?

4.   Organizational Structure and Process (2 page limit)

§	Briefly describe how your organization works.  What are the responsibilities of board, 
staff, volunteers and members where applicable?

§	How representative is your board and staff of the communities with which you work?

§	Provide a list of your Board of Directors.  Include first and last name, address, race, sex, related community and employment affiliations.

5.	Finances
§	Organization’s current operating budget and project budget. 

§	List individually other potential and committed funding sources for this request.  Please be sure to include amount and whether it has been received, committed or pending.
      
6.  Attachments (will not be counted in 10 page limit)

§	(1) One copy of your IRS 501(c)3 letter. If you do not have 501(c)3 status, please submit an IRS 501(c)3 letter from your fiscal sponsor; along with a letter from your fiscal sponsor.

§	(1) One copy of your organization’s current CPA audited financial statement, if available and/or your latest 990 Form.    

§	(1) One copy of your organization’s State Registration.

       7.   Other Supporting Materials

§	Are welcome as long as you do not exceed total 10 page limit.  

§	We welcome photos demonstrating your work included in your proposal and progress reports.

Section B: Continuation Grants
 
Proposal Checklist 

*Below is a list of required documents. Proposals that do not include all of these documents are automatically removed from consideration for funding.

___ (8) Eight copies of entire proposal (this includes the Grant Application Cover Sheet, the proposal   narrative, board list and budget/ financial information, progress report and recent grant award summary).

___ Progress report for the most recent grant award.

___ Summary of most recent grant award.

___ List of committed and potential funding sources.

___ (1) One copy of your organization’s current CPA audited financial statement if available and/or 990 Form.

___ (1) One copy of your organization’s Board of Directors list- be sure to include first and last name, address, race, sex, related community and employment affiliations.

Proposal Narrative (Not to exceed 10 pages - the 10 page limit does not include the attachments)

*Please be advised that the following bullets points will be evaluated during the decision making process.

1. History of Recent Grant Award (2 page limit)

§ Briefly recap the problem/issue being addressed?

§ Briefly provide updates of this grant award – be sure to include the status and progress made.

§ Describe any programs and activities that may be associated with this grant award.

§ List any accomplishments or met goals that have been made with this grant award and/or how you plan to accomplish these goals.

§ If re-granted funding, will funds be used in the same way as the previous grant? If not, how will funds be used differently?

§ What is your timeline?

2. Finances (2 page limit)
      
      §   Organization’s current operating budget and project budget. (You may use the attached budget form.)

      §   List individually other potential and committed funding sources for this request.  Please be sure to                       include the amount and whether it has been received, committed or pending.

3.  Attachments (will not be counted in 10 page limit)
§	(1) One copy of your organization’s current organizational CPA audited financial statement if available and/or your latest 990 Form.    

§   (1) One copy of your organization’s Board of Directors list- be sure to include first and last name, address, race, sex, related community and employment affiliations.

§   List of committed and potential funding sources.

4.  Other Supporting Materials: Are welcome as long as you do not exceed total 10 page limit.  

§	We welcome photos demonstrating your work included in your proposal and progress reports, but we cannot return them to you.  
Revised 07/12

THE FUND FOR SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES GRANT APPLICATION COVER SHEET

A.	Requesting Organization’s Information

Date Founded or Incorporated: ________________			Today’s Date____________		
Organization: __________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________ City: __________________ State: ___ 

County_________  Zip:________ 

Contact Person & Position: _________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________ 		Fax: ________________________________

Email:______________________________ 		Website:_____________________________ 

How many clients does your organization serve annually? ___________

Please list all the counties your organization serves: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Summarize the organization’s mission (2-3 sentences):  ______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please select the appropriate Program Area in which your organization fits: 

§Anti-Racism				§Environment		§Workers Rights
§Community Organizing		§LGBTQ			§Youth
§Constituency Organizing		§Health			§Other_________				          §Culture / Media			§Immigrants Rights
§Disability Rights			§Women’s Rights	

Is your organization registered with the State as non-profit? (Are you a 501(c)3?)	q Yes		q  No
				**If no, do you have a fiscal sponsor?		q Yes		q  No

Organizational Budget: $__________ Project Budget: $ _________ Fiscal Year Start Date: _________

If you have a fiscal sponsor, please complete the information in Section B. (If not, go to Section C).

B. Fiscal Sponsor Information: A fiscal sponsor is an organization that allows your organization to use their Tax Exempt ID number

Organization: _________________________________________________________________

Contact Person & Position:_________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________City/ST/Zip________________________

Phone: ___________________ Fax: __________________ Email: _________________________

C. Proposal Information

Type of Grant: q General Support q Start-Up Costs qProject Support q other ___________________

Summary of project or grant request (2-3 sentences): _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Amount Requested: $____________________ 

Have you applied to the Fund for Southern Communities before?				q Yes		q No
Have you ever received funding from the Fund for Southern Communities?		q Yes		q No
**If yes, are you applying for a continuation of the last grant award?		q Yes		q No
**If yes, list dates and amounts of previous FSC grants: _________________________________
Have you filed the progress report for your most recent grant?  q Yes	q No**
            ** If no, please enclose a copy of the progress report with this request.  Your proposal will not be considered for funding without a progress report for your most recent grant from FSC.

Fund for Southern Communities Grant Application – Organizational/Project Budget
If you already prepare organizational and project budgets that are similar to this format, please feel free to submit them in their original form.  
Budget for the period: ____________________________ to _________________________________.

EXPENSES								REVENUE

ITEM			AMOUNT 					SOURCE			AMOUNT
						Position FT/PT
Salaries & wages	$___________     	_____________	Gov’t. Grants/Contracts		$__________
(breakdown by 		
position and indicate 	$____________	_____________	Foundations			$__________
full or part time)
			$___________	_____________	Corporations			$__________	

$___________	_____________	Earned Income			$__________

$___________	_____________	United Way, Combined 		$__________
									Federal Campaign & 
Fringe Benefits &	$___________				Other Federated Campaigns	
Payroll Taxes
Consultants & 								Individual Contribution		$__________
Professional Fees					

Travel			$___________				Fundraising events & products	$__________

Equipment		$___________				Membership Income		$__________

Supplies		$___________				In-Kind Support		$_________

Printing & Copying	$___________				Other:___________		$__________

Postage & Delivery	$___________						

Rent & Utilities		$___________				TOTAL REVENUE: $_________________

In-Kind expense	$___________				BALANCE: $____________________

Other:____________	$___________					

TOTAL EXPENSE: 	 $_________________						
									
PROJECT BUDGET
Description										Expense Cost

_________________________________________________________	$________________

_________________________________________________________	$________________

_________________________________________________________	$________________

_________________________________________________________	$________________

_________________________________________________________	$________________

TOTAL EXPENSE									$________________