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Frequently Asked Questions

1) Does HMF have grant deadlines?

2) Is there a best time to submit a grant request?

3) Is HMF looking to fund certain types of requests? 

4) Does HMF limit its funding to certain geographic areas, groups, or causes? 

5) Why does HMF ask for two years of financial statements ? What if we are a new organization?

6) How do we make an appointment with HMF staff and/or directors? 

7) How do we return a completed application?

8) Do you have any tips for our organization to help us improve our chances for funding?

9) If our grant request is declined, will you tell us the reasons?

 

1) Does HMF have grant deadlines?

 No, HMF accepts grant applications year-round.

2)  Is there a best time to submit a grant request?

 No. Typical private foundations are required by law to give away five percent of their assets each year. HMF is cognizant of this requirement and is constantly targeting an average five-percent payout.  Some years we distribute less, some years more; but on average, we fulfill our legal requirement. Grantees can find the level of "undistributed income" in Part 8, line 6F, in IRS Form 990-PF.

3) Is HMF looking to fund certain types of requests? 

We do not fund individuals. We can only support organizations with a valid 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS and cities, counties, library districts, churches and schools recognized by the government. For these organizations, HMF prefers funding one-time projects that have defined parameters and specific timelines. Operating grants are sometimes funded for one to five years, but this is not our normal practice. We generally do not like funding foundations (although we will make exceptions).

4) Does HMF limit its funding to certain geographic areas, organizations, or causes? 

A large majority of HMF funding (more than 90%) is in Idaho. Idaho projects have a higher chance of funding. HMF generally does not support political or contentious issues, but if a grantee can make a case for their cause or project, HMF will consider the request. To get a feel for what type of grants HMF makes, click here to see some prior year's list of grants from our annual report.

5) Why does HMF ask for two years of financial statements? What if we are a new organization? 

HMF considers the efficiency and resources of grantees. In general, organizations with ample resources to operate or with high overhead are less likely to receive funding.  New organizations are eligible for funding. HMF sometimes funds compelling grant request to help new organizations get started. But since these requests are riskier, they will not have the same chance of funding when competing with requests from established nonprofits. 

6) How do we make an appointment with HMF directors?

For an appointment, contact us at 208-345-5225 or grants@harrymorrisonfoundation.org. Please make an appointment as we are a small foundation with no staff and most of our directors have other employment outside the foundation.

7) How do we return a completed application?

You can download our application from this website.  It has two parts; one is a Word document and the other an Excel spreadsheet. Once you have finished the application, return it by email to grants@harrymorrisonfoundation.org.  If you have questions about filling out the application, please contact Justin by phone or email.

8) Do you have any tips for our organization to help us improve our chances for funding? 

Yes. In addition to some of the tips given in the answers above, we have created a table to help you.  It compares some of the qualities and criteria we at looking at when we review a grant.

9) If our grant request is declined, will you tell us the reasons?

No, it is not our policy to discuss the reasons why a grant is declined. We have found this often leads to arguments and ill will. If your grant is turned down, it is likely the request fell too heavily on the "lower chance of funding" side of our scale.

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 Higher Chance of Funding 

Organization or project fills an original niche

HMF is familiar with organization

HMF often funds similar organizations

HMF founders would favor grant

Organization run by effective Executive Director

Organization has community support

Organization has a lot of volunteers

Organization has many funding sources

Mainly dependent on private funding

Has good financial stewardship

Has low administrative costs

Operates to consistently break even

Operates with moderate reserves

HMF donation will make a large impact

Organization has past successful projects

Project is sustainable without our further help

Modest request amount

Request is eligible for matching funds

Large amount of funding is already raised

Request is not from a foundation

Request is kept simple and concise                            Have not applied to HMF in a while

 Lower Chance of Funding 

Organization or project duplicates efforts

HMF is unaware of organization

Grant type not in HMF granting history

HMF founders would not favor this grant

Have new, unproven, or ineffective Executive Director

Organization has minimal community support 

Organization has a small volunteer base or none at all

Is very reliant on HMF for funding

Receives large amount of government funding

Organization has been financially mismanaged

Has high administrative costs

Makes high and consistent profit

Has high investment or reserve surplus

HMF donation has small impact

Request is risky with uncertain success

Project is not sustainable

Large request amount

Request has no matching funds or grants

Minimal funds raised for a large project

Request is from a foundation

Request has pages of additional documentation

Organizations applies frequently

This table is a general guide. If your organization is on the "lower chance" side, we may still make a grant to you. Our directors have different backgrounds, passions, skill sets, emotional triggers, moral imperatives, and worldviews, so we don't work in lock-step with one another. At times, we decide to fund (or not fund) a project for unexpected reasons.

Have further questions? Just contact us!

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