The Sherwood Foundation Annual Grant Cycle
The Sherwood Foundation employs a letter of inquiry (LOI) process to determine the eligibility of organizations to make a full grant application for operating, program and capital requests. To be considered, please submit a two-page letter providing the following information:
- brief organizational history
- need & description of the project
- number served
- anticipated outcomes
- amount requested
- Contact information including: name, title, mailing address, phone/fax, e-mail, web site
- A budget for the project/program (if applicable), operating budget and IRS letter of 501(c)3 determination should be included as attachments and are not counted as part of the two-page letter.
Postmark deadlines for the LOI are February 15 and August 15. Organizations may apply for more than one category of funding, but should submit a separate letter for each request. Should either of these dates fall upon a holiday or weekend, the deadline is the following business day. No e-mail submissions are accepted. Please staple the document in the upper left corner. Do not include folders, binders, separators, additional handouts or flyers.
Please note the following:
- Multiple year grant requests are accepted for program/project grants.
- Projects or programs that are declined are not eligible for resubmission until one year after the original date of application.
- Applicants will receive written notice of an invitation to submit a full grant proposal within 30 days of the deadline.
- Communication regarding proposals will be provided as a written response. Please understand that, due to high volume, we cannot respond to phone inquiries regarding your proposal.
We favorably consider grant requests which:
- Contain an innovative response to a recognized community need which does not duplicate the efforts
of others; - Are submitted by applicants who have demonstrated the capacity to deliver the service effectively and efficiently.
The Foundation does not provide funds in the following situations:
- Funds to support propaganda influencing specific legislation and/or elections for political candidates, political campaigns or organizations engaged in political activities;
- Organizations which discriminate in hiring staff and/or providing services on the basis on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability;
- Organizations that are not established and current 501c(3) organizations.
- To individuals for any purpose.
Applications may be mailed to:
The Sherwood Foundation
LOI Division
3555 Farnam Street
Omaha, NE 68131
402.341.1717