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| Home | Pharos Fund | Frequently Asked Questions | Grantee Forms | About Us |
| Frequently Asked Questions | ||
| We have compiled a listing of Frequently Asked Questions relating specifically to Bohemian Foundation and the Pharos Fund to answer general questions that are often asked. In addition, we have provided very specific guidance on how to complete certain Application and Budget related questions. We would encourage you to carefully read Frequently Asked Questions prior to contacting us. However, if what we have provided does not fully answer your questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. | ||
| Foundation Related | ||
| Can I donate to your foundation? | ||
| No. We appreciate the thought, but we do not accept donations. | ||
| How many grants do you award each year? | ||
| We do not award a set number of grants each cycle. The total number of grants awarded varies from year to year. Grant cycles are very competitive. Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis in relation to the other requests received for the particular cycle. We typically process around 250 grant requests per year, funding approximately 50 percent of the grant requests at some level. | ||
| What is your average grant-award amount? | ||
| This total varies from year to year. Some proposals receive the full amount requested (any amount up to $30,000) – others are awarded only a portion of their request. The scope of proposals we receive is vast and each is evaluated on a case-by-case basis in relation to the other proposals received for the particular cycle. Thus, it’s difficult to report a meaningful average award amount. | ||
| Do you make any grants outside of the Pharos Fund? | ||
| No. The Pharos Fund is currently the Bohemian Foundation’s only grant-making mechanism. Occasionally, other grants are announced; however, these are initiated at the discretion of the Board and are not the result of unsolicited proposals. All funding requests must come through the Pharos Fund application process. | ||
| Do you fund new or grassroots organizations? | ||
| Yes. We believe valuable work can be done by organizations no matter their size or their organizational maturity. As our guidelines state, “The Pharos Fund looks to support programs which are small, innovative, and perhaps unpopular, in addition to bigger programs and those that are more visible.” We believe “new and creative approaches will be found and embraced to discover solutions to issues and concerns in our community” by all types and sizes of non-profit organizations. | ||
| I have a business/investment opportunity I think will be of interest to you. Can I schedule a meeting with you? | ||
| No. While we appreciate your interest in partnering with the Bohemian Foundation, we do not consider these types of requests. All requests for Bohemian Foundation funding must come from 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and be directed through the Pharos Fund application process. Unsolicited business proposals and investment opportunities will neither be returned nor responded to. | ||
| Do you have an annual report? | ||
| No. At this time, we do not publish an annual report. | ||
| I am an individual. Can I apply for funding? | ||
| No. While the Foundation believes that individuals are capable of making an enormous difference, we are only able to award grant funds to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. | ||
| I have a fund set up in the memory of/for the benefit of/etc. an individual. Will you make a contribution? | ||
| No. Again, while your efforts are to be commended, we only award grant funds to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. | ||
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| Pharos Fund Related | ||
| I was awarded Bohemian Foundation funding. Can you approve the text of my press release and/or send me your logo for our press release/website/brochure/sign? | ||
| Yes. However, prior to us providing you our logo, all publicity including any press release relating to a Bohemian Foundation grant must be reviewed and approved by the Foundation. Simply email us at info@bohemianfoundation.org with your press release for our approval or your request for use of our logo. For logo requests, provide the following details: size of logo needed, color or black and white, name of event, and type of item the logo will be used on (i.e. brochure, sign, website). We will follow-up with our logo and/or approve any press release reference to the Foundation. Please allow at least two weeks to process logo and press release requests. Be sure to note in your signed grant agreement where it states, “You will allow [Bohemian Foundation] to review and approve the text of any proposed publicity concerning the grant prior to its release.” | ||
| What is your geographic funding area? | ||
| The Bohemian Foundation serves the Fort Collins area. The Fort Collins area is defined by the Poudre School District boundaries. Agencies need not be headquartered in Fort Collins to receive funding; the programs themselves, however, must serve clients within the Fort Collins area or have a direct impact on the Fort Collins community to be considered for funding. | ||
| My organization is not based in Fort Collins. Will you fund our project? | ||
| As long as your project serves clients or has a direct impact within the Fort Collins area your application will be considered. For instance, we have funded national organizations that have proposed Fort Collins-specific projects. | ||
| My 501(c)(3) status is pending. Can I still apply? | ||
| The Bohemian Foundation can only award grant funding to designated 501(c)(3) agencies. If your 501(c)(3) status is pending, but you expect to receive notification from the IRS within two months of the application deadline, you may submit an application. However, if you do not receive IRS notification concerning your non-profit status within the two months, the foundation will not consider your application for the current grant cycle. You may have to re-apply for future cycles. | ||
| My organization is a church. Will you fund our project? | ||
| The Bohemian Foundation does not fund activities with a specific religious purpose. However, if your church has a charitable project which does not have a specific religious purpose, it may be eligible for consideration for funding. | ||
| I am from PSD/CSU and plan on submitting an application. Some of my colleagues are also applying. Is there a restriction on the number of applications you will accept from the district/university? | ||
| For PSD, each school may submit one application during each grant cycle. Coordinate all requests both onsite (to ensure only one application is originating from each school) and with Stacy Poncelow, the District Grants Coordinator. For CSU, each department/school may submit one application during each grant cycle. Coordinate all requests both departmentally (to ensure only one application is originating from each department) and with Tim McCune, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations. Bohemian supported district-wide or university-wide initiatives do not preclude applications from individual schools/departments within the district/university. |
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| How many times per year may I apply? | ||
| The Pharos Fund features two grant cycles per year. You may submit one request per cycle. You may not request funding for the same program/project within a single calendar year. General Operating funds may only be requested once per calendar year. | ||
| What if our program/organization requires more than the Pharos Fund allowable request amount of $30,000? | ||
| Organizations can apply to the Pharos Fund up to two times per year – therefore, the maximum Pharos funding an organization can receive in a calendar year is $60,000. However, applicants may not submit the same request two times in a single calendar year. The Foundation will not consider any request in excess of the $30,000 maximum grant amount and will not consider any request outside of the Pharos Grant cycle. | ||
| Why was my project not funded? Is there anything I can do to make my application better? | ||
| We appreciate your desire for input, however, the Bohemian Foundation does not provide direct feedback to grantees regarding their applications. We want organizations to write their requests based on their needs and not tailor requests to our feedback. It is in your best interest to thoroughly read the website and goals; goal fit is the most important factor for consideration. Each grant cycle is highly competitive; less than 50 percent of requests receive funding of any amount. | ||
| I need some pointers. Can you meet with me to discuss our goal fit? | ||
| We appreciate your desire to write the best possible grant application, we do not provide direct feedback or guidance for the reasons stated above. Given the number of requests we receive each cycle we cannot possibly meet with all potential grantees who would like our input. | ||
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| Application Related | ||
| What is the grant "Request Timeline"? | ||
| The “Request Timeline” is the term of your grant. It may be no longer than one year in length. Grantees should select or identify a request timeline taking into account the Pharos Fund Grant timeline. | ||
| I am requesting support for General Operating or an ongoing program. Do I still need to provide a grant request timeline? | ||
| Yes. These types of requests still require a request timeline. For instance, will the funding be used over the course of the entire year, nine months etc.? | ||
| How should I answer question X? | ||
| We don’t give specific guidance on an individual request level, it is helpful to consider the following as you respond: Application questions should be answered in as direct and concise a manner as possible. Not every answer needs to fill the entire space provided; rather than stretching answers, provide only the information being requested. We prefer directness to wordiness. Remember, if your request is a solid goal-fit, the request will speak for itself. | ||
| The following is guidance specifically for Question 2 in each of the applications, “How does your program advance the Bohemian Foundation’s goals and sub-goals: …” | ||
| Here, we are looking for focused examples rather than a broad synopsis of our goals and sub-goals. When providing examples, be specific to the goal area under which you are applying. You may provide specific “on the ground” examples that demonstrate the goal fit. Meeting a single goal is enough for consideration. Equal weight is given to agencies whether they meet one or many of our sub-goals. | ||
| How do I complete question 4d? | ||
| Example Applicant: | ||
| A Youth Leadership program is applying for funds for its upcoming program year. This is a continuing program from prior years. This is not a Poudre School District application, therefore the applicant is not required to complete the Free and Reduced % column. | ||
| Guidelines: | ||
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| Example answers for 4d: | ||
| Note: The figures below are specific to the example program only. No figures are included for other programs run by the agency. | ||
| Geographic Area | Number Served for Recent Year End ____2006(1) (12 month period) |
Projected Number Served during Request Timeline | Free & Reduced % (PSD only) | % of Clients below the Area Median Income | Client Fee Charged | Age Range of Clients |
| Fort Collins (Poudre School District Area) | 73(2) | 80(5) | 62%(8) | $50(10) | 8-13(11) | |
| Larimer County (excluding Ft. Collins) | 18(3) | 19(6) | 82%(9) | $50(10) | 10-14(12) | |
| Outside Larimer County | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||
| TOTAL | 91(4) | 99(7) |
| In the most recently completed program year, 2006(1), the program served 73(2) Fort Collins area youth and 18(3) additional youth from other communities in Larimer County, for a total of 91(4). This example represents a program that does not serve any clients outside of Larimer County. | |
| September 1 through May 31 of 2007, the Request Timeline for this current grant request, the agency expects to serve 80 (5) youth in Fort Collins and 19 (6) additional youth in Larimer County, for a total of 99 (7). | |
| Of the projected clients to be served in Fort Collins, 62% (8) are below the Fort Collins area median income. Of the remaining 18 clients, 82% (9) of those are below the Larimer County area median income. | |
| The agency charges a one-time program enrollment fee of $50 (10), reflected in the Client Fee Charged column. | |
| The program’s clients range in age from 8-13 (11) from Fort Collins and 10-14(12) outside Fort Collins. | |
| Whose signatures do you want on the application? | |
| We require the signature of your organization’s Executive Director and Board Chairperson. We do realize, however, that management-structures take on many forms. If your organization does not have these, or corresponding positions, please contact us for guidance. For Poudre School District requests, we require the signature of the Superintendent and either Department Head or School Principal, as appropriate. |
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| My organization is so small/new that it doesn’t have the financial documents you request. What should I do? | |
| The more complete snapshot you can give us of your organization, the better we are able to understand your unique situation. If your agency isn’t large enough to require an external audit, your most recent 990 will suffice. If your organization does not meet the 990 reporting requirement, an internally prepared profit and loss statement is required for the most recent year ended. If your most recent external audit is not final as of the deadline date, please include your internal financial statements for the year ended and provide the audit when it is finalized. Include a note advising us of this condition and the date we can expect to see the finalized financials. We will also accept “DRAFT” copies of your most recent audit. | |
| How do I fill out the Certificate as to Tax-exempt Status? | |
| It is important that you completely and correctly answer all of the questions on the Certificate as to Tax-exempt Status. Public charities (which have 501(c)(3) status) are further defined as falling under section 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3). There are instructions attached to the Certificate as to Tax-exempt Status itself. Please read these instructions and consult with your legal advisor if you should have any clarification questions. | |
| What are your final report requirements? | |
| Grantees are required to complete and submit a final report using the Colorado Common Grant Report Format within sixty days following the end of the grant term as stipulated in paragraph one of the grant letter agreement. However, if you have an outstanding final report from a previous Bohemian Foundation grant award for the program for which you plan to apply, a final report using the Colorado Common Grant Report Format must be completed and submitted along with, or prior to, any new application for funding. Click on Final Reports to access the Colorado Common Grant Report Format. | |
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| Budget Related | |
| What is the difference between the internal program budget, the detailed agency budget, and the Bohemian budget form? | |
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| Flowchart example printable version (opens new window) | |
| How do I fill out the Bohemian budget form? | |
| The Bohemian budget form must be typed (it is an Excel format document that will automatically tally columns for you). The top section (“Income/Revenue”) is a synopsis of funding sources. If funds have already been committed to the project (grants, fundraising, fees for services, etc.), put these totals in the “Committed” column. Place any outstanding funding requests in the “Pending” column. (Keep in mind, it is possible to have both committed and pending funds from the same organization. Also, as a result of pending funds, it is possible for the “Income/Revenue” total to exceed the “Total Program Expenses.”) The bottom section (“Expenses”) is a breakdown of those expenses for the total program and those specific to the funding request currently being submitted to Bohemian Foundation. (Sometimes funding requests cover an entire program, other times only a portion of the entire program cost is being requested from Bohemian Foundation.) Finally, be sure your pending “Bohemian Request” amount in the top section (“Income/Revenue”) matches the total of the “Expenses Covered by THIS Request” column in the bottom section (“Expenses”). Information provided on the Bohemian Budget form also relates to the following application items:
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| Thank you for taking the time to read our Frequently Asked Questions. If what we have provided does not fully answer your questions, please contact us for further guidance. |
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