Grant application deadlines are September 1 and March 1.


Grant Application Information & Requirements


The Sapelo Foundation makes grants to organizations and projects for work within the state of Georgia that promote progressive social change affecting, in particular, rural communities and the natural environment.

To accomplish this purpose, the Foundation currently gives special attention to these program areas:
Grant Size and Restrictions
  • Grants range from $1,000 to $60,000.
  • The average award is between $5,000 and $25,000.
  • The Foundation will not fund 100% of any organization or project.

Interim and Discretionary Grants
  • There are no interim or discretionary grants with the exception of the Organizational Development Fund offered to current Foundation grantees.

Legal Requirements
  • Only applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations or educational organizations and institutions, which are exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, are accepted.

Application Deadlines
  • Deadlines for submission of applications are September 1 and March 1.
  • When deadlines fall on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the following working day.
  • Applications must be postmarked or delivered to the Foundation's office on or before the deadline dates.

Immediate Declinations
  • Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
  • Applications are not accepted by facsimile (fax) transmission or e-mail.

Preparation & Review Process
  • Foundation staff is available to answer questions concerning application requirements and funding priorities, however, the final decision on funding applications lies with the Board of Trustees of the Foundation.
  • Sapelo Foundation staff offers to review a faxed draft grant application prior to the deadline to ensure that it is complete.

General Instructions
  • One copy of the application is required.
  • Applications must be printed single sided, on 8.5" x 11" paper.
  • Use a font size of at least 12 or larger.
  • Applications should be presented in a format that is easily re-printed.
  • Do not bind or staple applications.
  • Two or three news articles or other attachments may be included.

Notification
  • During the review process additional written information and an interview and/or field visit to the site may be requested at the discretion of the Foundation.
  • The Sapelo Foundation cannot accept the responsibility for keeping grant requests confidential and reserves the right to discuss applications with outside consultants to assist in fair evaluations.
  • Grant award decisions are made at the meeting of the Board of Trustees eight to twelve weeks after each deadline.
  • Prospective grantees are notified of the decision within two weeks.
  • Grant recipients are mailed a Grant Agreement that must be signed by an official representative of the organization.
  • Grant awards are issued after the Foundation receives the signed Grant Agreement.

The Foundation Does Not Fund:
  • Individuals for any purpose.
  • Indirect or overhead expenses for projects at colleges, universities, public schools or governmental units.
  • Projects focusing on and/or implemented in the Metro Atlanta Area.

Application Procedures