Basic Eligibility
Am I eligible?
We fund only organizations that are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as having 501(c)(3) status that align with our Mission. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals.
Additionally, in order to focus the impact of the Foundation’s giving, beginning July 1, 2021, The Sara Giles Moore Foundation will no longer accept Letters of Inquiry from organizations which have not received funding prior to 2017.
Will my phone call count as my Letter of Inquiry (LOI)?
No, every organization must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) on our website to be considered.
Should I contact individual Trustees to get support for my organization before I submit my Letter of Inquiry (LOI)?
We strongly discourage direct contact with our individual Trustees unless we initiate the communication. We recommend working directly with our Executive Director.
Do you have geographic limitations?
Yes, grant requests from organizations outside of the Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area are not commonly considered for funding. When Mrs. Moore started the Foundation, one of her wishes was that preference be given to organizations operating in or providing programs which are carried out in Metropolitan Atlanta and primarily within the City of Atlanta.
What types of Letters of Inquiry (LOI’s) are ineligible for consideration?
Almost without exception, the Foundation does not fund the following:
- Galas, benefits, and other fundraising events
- Conferences or symposia
- Concerts, theater or media performances, or art exhibitions that are not connected to current grants
- Disease-specific organizations
- Public or private colleges and universities
Additionally, in order to focus the impact of the Foundation’s giving, beginning July 1, 2021, The Sara Giles Moore Foundation will no longer accept Letters of Inquiry from organizations which have not received funding prior to 2017.
What types of requests are eligible for consideration?
The Foundation considers requests for general operating support, capacity building, and capital campaigns.
Why was my Letter of Inquiry (LOI) declined?
Please bear in mind that we receive many Letters of Inquiry (LOI’s) from deserving organizations and unfortunately cannot fund all of them.
Additionally, in order to focus the impact of the Foundation’s giving, beginning July 1, 2021, The Sara Giles Moore Foundation will no longer accept Letters of Inquiry from organizations which have not received funding prior to 2017.
My Letter of Inquiry (LOI) was approved and I have been asked to submit a proposal. What happens now?
Now we will contact you with basic information such as, password to access the on-line proposal form, due dates, and instructions to sign up for a site visit. We strongly recommend that you review the Tips for Writing Proposals sheet.
Proposal Basics
May I hand-deliver my proposal?
No. We only accept proposals via our website's grant portal.
Are there minimums or maximums on the dollar amount of each grant?
No, there are no set minimums or maximums. We look at all requests in proportion to programs, an organization’s budget, and needs. Our Executive Director will guide applicants on the appropriate amount for which to ask.
I can’t access my proposal, where can I get the password?
Please contact the Foundation's Executive Director for assistance.
Should I contact individual Trustees to get support for my grant proposal?
We strongly discourage direct contact with our individual Trustees unless we initiate the communication. We recommend working directly with our Executive Director.
Does the Foundation look for specific items in a proposal?
The Trustees appreciate concise applications that include:
- a clear description of the organization purpose and history
- a well-developed business plan
- well-articulated goals and objectives surrounding impact
- evidence of strong internal fiscal management and long-term fiscal viability
- evidence of personnel with qualifications to achieve organizational goals
- realistic dollar amount of request
- evidence of enhancement of services or enriching the lives of your constituents
- capability to measure results and communicate findings and lessons learned
How do I know what focus area I should be in?
Do not worry, this is an internal decision that the Trustees determine.
Full Proposal
When does the Foundation notify organizations of funding?
We notify the organizations within the week following board meetings. Meetings are held in the spring and fall of each year. Exact due dates and meeting dates will be given to applying organizations.
Are there minimums or maximums on the amount of grants?
The Foundation's Executive Director will guide applicants on the appropriate amount for which to ask.
Do you provide annual grants?
The Foundation's Executive Director will guide applicants on the appropriate time frame for grant requests.
Do you provide operating grants?
Yes. All of our Trustees are actively involved in local nonprofit organizations and understand the challenges of operating a nonprofit as well as the challenges of obtaining operating grants. The majority of the Foundation's grants are provided for general operating support.
May I meet your Executive Director during the proposal process?
Yes. You will work directly with our Executive Director on your proposal. We are here to answer any questions as well as assist with forming an appropriate request.
May I meet with your Trustees regarding my proposal?
We encourage grant seekers to contact our Executive Director directly rather than contacting our Trustees. Frequently, our Trustees will attend meetings or site visits. Our Executive Director coordinates these events.
Will you conduct a site visit?
Yes. We conduct site visits for organizations that have been invited to submit a full proposal. We like to meet with the executive team as well as with board members and constituents of your programs.
How does the Foundation review board contributions?
The Trustees look closely at the dollar amount that each board collectively contributes.
I can’t upload my financials what should I do?
Please contact our office for assistance.
Reporting
Does the Foundation require a Final Grant Report?
Yes, we have a final grant form for you to complete at the end of your grant year. The report is available in the grant portal, associated with the funded request for support. We value your input and would like to learn how our investment was used to help your organization and if it made a difference. Failure to submit a Final Grant Report timely will disqualify an organization from applying in future grant cycles.
How do I access the Final Report?
The final report is available via the Foundation's grant portal.
We have had a change of staff, how do we access our Final Report?
It is imperative to keep the Foundation notified of any changes in staffing. You must contact us so we can add your new user so the Final Report will be visible. We do not recommend using the log-on credentials of a former employee.
What happens if we did not achieve the outcome measure goals on our Proposal?
Setting reasonable goals on your proposal is important. When those goals are not met, the Trustees want to know about the variance of goals to actual. The Final report form has room for explanations. Often, other goals are met beyond the goals set in your proposal. Our Trustees take every opportunity to learn from disappointments. Not meeting outcome measurements does not automatically mean that you will not be considered in the future.