This section describes the requirements for the submission of project and general grant support proposals to The Harder Foundation.  All proposals must meet the postmark deadline. 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. 

Grant requests must include all of the following:

1.  COVER LETTER

a. Primary contact person’s name, title, and email address.

b. Program Area your grant request is targeting:  whether it is Public Lands Conservation, Nearshore Marine and Estuary Conservation, or Conservation Community Effectiveness.

c. Whether you are applying for a General Support, Project, or Emergency/ Opportunity grant. Include the project title, if appropriate.

d. The amount of funding you are requesting from The Harder Foundation.

2.  NARRATIVE PROPOSAL No more than eight pages

a. Briefly summarize your organization’s mission, organizational goals, and the objectives of the project or program for which you request funding.

b. If you are new to the Foundation, please provide brief background information about your organization, including recent accomplishments.

c.  For Project Proposals:  In addition to your project title, include in your narrative a description of the problem to be addressed, a clear statement of objectives and expected outcomes of the project, and your strategy for achieving these objectives.  Please include specific activities, a timeline, key personnel, and how you aim to evaluate the effectiveness of your project.  Your proposal should also explicitly indicate whether or not, within the activities of the proposed project, the organization intends to engage in lobbying activities.

d. For General Support Proposals: In your narrative, please summarize the primary environmental problems that your organization is tackling as well as the strategies and methods you use 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. Organizational budget for the year in which the grant will be spent. The budget should include line item expenses by program area, and the 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. Year to date Statement of Revenue and Expenses and Balance Sheet. 

c. Audited financial statement from the previous year, including the auditor’s management letter.  If you do not have an independent audited financial statement, include your most recent IRS Form 990.    

d. For Project Proposals:  In addition to your organizational budget, please include 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, titles, addresses and phone numbers of the primary organizational or project contact people.  Please include fax numbers, email, and website addresses.  Please also include the name of your organization as it appears on the most recent 501(c)(3) tax determination letter.

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 confirming that your organization’s 501(c)(3) ruling remains in effect as of the date of the proposal.  This statement should be on the organization’s letterhead, and signed by the Executive Director or a member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors.

d. Please indicate whether your organization has made the section 501(h) lobbying expenditure election.

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