Application Criteria

WHEN TO APPLY
Bean Foundation trustees have three grant review meetings annually. Applications must be submitted electronically to the applicant's assigned folder at Dropbox.com by 5 p.m. on the deadline date for consideration at meetings as follows:

Application Deadline	Grant Making Meeting
December 1	February
April 1	June
September 1	November

Bean Foundation guidelines state that after an organization has received a grant, it should wait two years before submitting another grant request.

Project applications are sought from organizations which have defined a significant problem or opportunity in their field, have a well-planned approach to addressing the issue, and have skilled professional and voluntary leadership.

Priority consideration is given to projects which:

• extend services to individuals and groups that are not well provided for through current programs;
• develop service capacity that can be sustained in the future because it will attract other funding and/or generate revenue;
• promote cooperation and resource sharing among community organizations;
• improve the financial stability and managerial capacity of established organizations;
• help service agencies in Manchester and Amherst prepare for the future and help them effectively meet emerging community needs;
• are models with value for replication, or provide new approaches that have been successful elsewhere.

Grant Application Review Guidelines

Updated March 21, 2024

Grant Program Policy

Grant support is primarily allocated to Manchester and Amherst 501(C)3 organizations. Grants are made to statewide or regional organizations only when the grant will have a significant, quantifiable impact directly on Manchester or Amherst. Grant recommendations are mindful of community boundaries and do not extend geographically to surrounding towns. Generally, due to their population sizes and community needs, grant allocations seek to target 90% of funding to Manchester and 10% to Amherst, although this may vary somewhat depending upon needs. The following policies have developed from discussion and practice and have been approved by the Trustees.

1. Grants may be made to support programs, or equipment and facility improvements, that serve the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Human Services, Health, and Public Benefit. Grants are made for a period of one year. Multi-year grants are made only as part of a Bean Targeted Grant making plan.
2. The Foundation will consider general operating grants for new initiatives or to organizations addressing a critical community need
3. Applications for funding of new staff salaries or expansion of responsibilities of existing staff will be considered, but carefully reviewed to consider the applicant organization's ability to sustain the staff position, and for substantial organizational commitment to the project costs. Applicants should not expect such grants will be recurring.
4. Organizations may apply only once every other year for a grant. Grant applications repeatedly submitted every two years will be considered; however, they are discouraged.
5. Bean Targeted Grants address an important community need identified through a Trustee strategic planning process or community needs assessment. That process may include use of outside expert advice. In this case, the Trustees may seek out grantees positioned to address specific Targeted Grants. Targeted Grants may be funded for a period of 3-5 years. The grantee(s) will be required to update Trustees annually, and an extensive written report will be required at the end of the grant period.
6. If a nonprofit is benefitting from a multi-year Targeted Grant from the Foundation, funding of an additional request will be considered if it is outside the purview of the multi-year award.
7. Contributions to major capital campaigns generally will not exceed 3% of the total campaign goal. Exceptions may be considered for organizations that serve low-income populations or have limited capacity for additional fundraising.
8. Other than capital campaigns, there will be no dollar or percentage limit to the amount awarded any organization. However, grantees are be encouraged to be transparent and authentic when submitting their requests and associated budgets.
9. Grant awards may be made for less than the amount requested. Grant awards will be made to religious institutions and churches only for projects that serve the greater community and do not include religious instruction or practice.
10. Grants may be made to government entities for projects outside the entity's normal operations that are funded by taxpayers. These may include planning grants for new programs, projects involving collaboration between government and nonprofit partners, and targeted, creative endeavors that may enhance the livability of Manchester or Amherst.
11. Other than strategic initiatives of the Bean Foundation, grant awards will not be made for travel or personal conference fees or expenses, nor will they be made to individuals, or for scholarships or camperships.
12. The Bean Foundation Educational Enhancement Fund established in 2001 provides an opportunity for teachers and staff of Manchester and Amherst Public Schools to receive grants up to $750 for classroom and co-curricular activities.