The first step in applying to the HTR Foundation is a short letter of inquiry. We review letters on a continual basis, and they may be submitted at any time during the year. We try to acknowledge the receipt of all letters of inquiry. If you do not receive notification of receipt within one month of sending your letter, feel free to contact the Foundation.
All letters are first reviewed to determine if they fall within the Foundation’s Program Guidelines. Those that do not are immediately declined. Requests that are within the guidelines are then reviewed to determine the following:
• The priority of the proposed activity within the Foundation’s goals
• The impact of the potential results of the activities
• The availability of the Foundation’s funds
Your letter of inquiry will then be forwarded to The Civil War Trust (CWT), a premier national organization dedicated to the same cause. Our alliance with the CWT allows for all significant grant requests from around the Nation related to this cause to be reviewed and prioritized by experts in this field. The HTR Foundation funds grants prioritized by the CWT, whether received directly or indirectly.
Submitting a Letter of Inquiry
Letters of inquiry should be no more than three pages and should include the following:
• A brief statement of the issues to be addressed, the history and goals of your organization, and your organization’s
involvement with these issues
• A brief summary of the activities for which you are requesting support, including an outline of your objectives,
and anticipated outcomes and implications
• The approximate starting date and duration of the proposed activities
• The total amount of funding needed, the amount requested from the Foundation, and information about other
sources of support, both assured and requested
Example Grant Inquiry Form
http://www.fordfoundation.org/grants/grant-inquiry/united-states
Proposals
When a letter of inquiry reflects most closely the Foundation’s program priorities, we will request a full proposal. Proposals should be submitted to the Foundation only upon request. Since the Foundation receives more proposals than it can fund, you should not interpret such a request as an indication of likely support.
Once the grant is received, it will be read and forwarded to CWT for assistance in prioritization.
The Foundation accepts the common grant application form of the National Network of Grantmakers, and often the staff of the CWT will request additional information in writing from the applicants. We might also consult with persons knowledgeable about the proposed activities and we welcome your suggestions as to who might be qualified to assist us in our review of your proposal. Finally, we try to meet with applicants either in Florida or at the project site.
Final decisions on proposals are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which meets three times a year, usually in winter, spring and fall. You will be informed of the Board’s decision immediately following the Board meeting at which your proposal is discussed. If a grant is awarded, you will be asked to sign a Grant Agreement that lays out reporting and other requirements.
Meetings with Foundation Staff
The Foundation welcomes the opportunity to meet with possible grantees. We prefer, however, to postpone such meetings until after we have reviewed and prioritized your letter of inquiry, in order to determine if a meeting will be useful. If you are planning a trip to our city, send your letter of inquiry a few weeks before you plan to arrive and let us know that you are interested in meeting during your visit.
Eligibility
The Foundation only makes grants to tax-exempt organizations with 501 (c) (3) classifications from the Internal Revenue Service and Government agencies. Generally, the Foundation will not consider grants for endowments, capital construction, general fundraising, deficit financing, or loans and grants to individuals. The Foundation does not provide scholarship or fellowship support to individuals. In view of the national scope of our program, we do not ordinarily consider projects that are primarily of local interest.
The Foundation does not make grants for research projects or give support to conferences, seminars, media events, or workshops unless they are part of a broader program.
Please send letters of inquiry to: HTR Foundation, c/o Jeffrey P. McClanathan, 150 Second Avenue North, Suite 600, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.
For personal contact on Foundation activities other than letters of inquiry:
Jeffrey P. McClanathan 727-894-1040 or jeff@mbacpallc.com.
If you have any questions about the Foundation’s programs, please feel free to call us.
Telephone inquiries about the Foundation’s grant-making program or the status of letters of inquiry or proposals should be directed to: Jeffrey P. McClanathan 727-894-1040