The foundation welcomes proposals that are accurately aimed. The procedures explained below are meant to expedite the work of matching the policies and resources of the grantor with the needs of the grantee. In past years, a letter of inquiry was required prior to the submission of a complete application. Please note that such an inquiry is no longer necessary, and that a full proposal (as described below) should be sent if an organization believes its needs are aligned with the foundation’s policies and funding interests.

Although grant decisions are made once a year, in June (and are paid in August or early September), applications may be submitted at any time over the course of the year. However, applications received after March 1 (or which are incomplete at that date) cannot be considered for decision during the current fiscal year, and the foundation suggests that proposals be sent as early in the calendar year as is possible. The foundation has no printed forms or applications.

An applicant can best serve itself and aid the foundation by (a) reviewing the foundation’s policies and guidelines in detail; and if a proposal seems warranted by (b) compiling an application package containing TWO copies of EACH of the following items:

1) A succinct, factual letter describing the project, the organization, and the EXACT amount of funds being requested. This letter should include a full description of what the project intends to accomplish, a discussion of whom it will benefit, an explanation of the managers who will execute the project, and a discussion of how the project fits within the organization’s mission. Please also state how long the organization has been in existence and how long the project for which funds are sought has been underway.

2) A copy of the organization’s determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service demonstrating tax-exempt status (please note that a tax identification number by itself is not sufficient proof of such status).

3) A copy of the budget for the project for which funds are requested, explaining in some detail how the funds will be spent.

4) A copy of the organization’s financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year (these statements should include income and expense figures, and should include a list of other contribution support).

5) A copy of the organization’s budget for the current year (this full budget should be included in addition to the project budget).

6) Any short, printed material that is pertinent should be included (brochures, catalogs, etc.).

Applicants (except those on behalf of government subdivisions) must include a copy of their Internal Revenue Service letter demonstrating current tax-exempt status. Please note that neither state designation as a non-profit corporation nor an organization’s tax identification number alone are sufficient proof of exempt status. This IRS letter must be included with the organization’s application package. If an organization is a government subdivision, or is being sponsored by a government body, a letter from the office sponsoring the project, on official letterhead, must be included.

In the case of Kentucky organizations, these materials should be addressed to:

Judy Owens
Appalachian Director
The Steele-Reese Foundation
2613 Clubside Court
Lexington, KY 40513
E-mail: jkowensjd@aol.com
Phone & Fax: (859) 313-5225

In the case of Idaho and Montana organizations, these materials should be addressed to:

Linda Tracy
Western Program Director
The Steele-Reese Foundation
PO Box 8311
Missoula, MT 59807-8311
E-mail: linda@steele-reese.org
Phone: (406) 207-7984
Fax: (207) 470-3872

Please note that TWO hard copies of all materials should be sent to the regional director’s mailing address. E-mail may be used for brief initial inquiries to determine whether formal applications are warranted, and for follow-up correspondence.

In the case of general matters, or questions about the foundation’s policies, organizations may contact:

William T. Buice, III
The Steele-Reese Foundation
32 Washington Square West
New York, New York 10011

The foundation will acknowledge receipt of all proposals, and will request any additional information as needed. In its response to the organization, the foundation will inform the applicant whether the proposal is to be pursued for formal consideration for a grant.

Because of the heavy demand for its limited funds, the foundation has no choice but to reject scores of proposals each year – most of them extremely meritorious. The foundation’s inability to fund a project is not a judgment of an applicant’s mission or an organization’s effectiveness; it is simply a statement that the foundation’s special cloth can not be tailored to the applicant’s particular needs. Generally, the trustees will not consider a new proposal from a funded grantee organization until FIVE years have elapsed since the final and complete payment of a grant.

Applicants are assured that every proposal received by the foundation will be considered thoroughly.