Funding Guidelines

Program Interests

The particular effort of the Board at this time is to seek out and support approaches addressing the root causes of homelessness and those directed toward enabling homeless people to take self-supporting and productive roles in society. Its primary geographic focus is on the state of Connecticut. The Trust does not fund local programs in other states. Proposals that are national in scope and impact and relevant to the goals of the Trust may also be considered.

Among the key characteristics that the Melville Trust seeks in its funding partners are:

  • Evidence of being a leadership organization;
  • Credibility in the community;
  • Demonstrated ethical and prudent management and governance practices;
  • Commitment to results and to overall assessment of the impact of the program; and
  • Openness to working with other community groups and with other sectors to address the issue of homelessness.

Program Criteria

In its current program area, the Trust is interested in funding projects that fulfill some or all of the following criteria:

  1. Address causes of a problem, rather than treating the symptoms.
  2. Identify and implement reforms that can be appropriately institutionalized; and pilot initiatives to test new program models.
  3. Leverage the financial resources of multiple interests in addressing problems.
  4. Promote collaborative efforts among groups and organizations seeking solutions to problems.
  5. Include the affected population in the planning and implementation of the project.
  6. Reflect sound financial planning, resource development, and management practice in the administration and implementation of the project.
  7. Present opportunities to build organizational capacities in nonprofits which play key roles in addressing community needs.
  8. Stimulate public sector actions and initiatives by providing information about problems and advocating solutions.

Limitations

  1. No application will be considered from an organization unless it has been determined to be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and "not a private foundation" under section 509(a) of the Code.
  2. Grants will not be awarded for:
    • direct support to individuals or scholarships;
    • budget deficits;
    • religious organizations for religious purposes; or
    • general fund raising drives or events.
  3. The Melville Charitable Trust does not fund agencies that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers, selection of vendors, and provision of services.


Types of Support

The Trust will make available money for general purposes, seed money and support for special projects, including technical assistance. Requests for program related investments (non-grant support such as loans - called PRIs) will also be considered. Support will typically be for one year, although multi-year requests will be considered.

Application Procedures

The Trust does not use a formal application form. Instead, applicants are asked to submit a concept paper of not more than three pages describing the project for which the grant or PRI is sought. This proposal should briefly delineate:

  • the project's goals, objectives, and time frame;
  • the project's relevance to the program priorities of the applicant organization;
  • how the project meets one or more of the Trust's program criteria listed above;
  • the anticipated impact of the project and how this will be evaluated;
  • the project budget and the amount requested from the Trust;
  • fund raising plans; and
  • key personnel.

There should be included with this concept paper:

  • a one paragraph abstract of the project which includes the amount of funds requested.

As an appendix, please attach:

  • a very brief statement of the history and mission of the applicant organization;
  • a list of the applicant's Board of Directors and their affiliations;
  • a current operating budget for the organization, and a project budget, if applicable;
  • an audited financial statement for the most recent year; and
  • a copy of the applicant's IRS tax-exempt ruling.

If there is interest in pursuing the request after the concept paper has been reviewed, the applicant organization will be contacted to either submit a more formal proposal and/or provide more detailed information to the Board.

The Trust's Board meets regularly to review applications and will strive to make decisions in a timely manner. Applicants are encouraged to provide the Trust with as much lead time as possible to allow for full due diligence in the analysis of each proposal.

Final approval of each grant or PRI is the responsibility of the Board. Applicants will be notified as promptly as possible of its decisions.

In addition to encouraging organizations to apply for support, the Trust is committed to continuing to learn about the issue of homelessness and asks organizations to share information or research that identifies particular challenges or successful remedies.

Grant submissions and questions should be directed to:

Aimee Hendrigan
Senior Program Officer
The Melville Charitable Trust
c/o The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc.
160 Federal Street, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 338-2590
(617) 338-2591 (fax)
ahendrigan@tpi.org