How to Apply for a Melvin R. Lane Grant

1. Pre-application Coaching/Community Foundation Staff Assistance

The staff of The Community Foundation is available and eager to assist you as you develop your proposal. Contact Virginia Dollar (dollar@cfwnc.org or 828-254-4960) to schedule a phone conference to discuss your application. This assistance is valuable in strengthening an organization's chance of success.

2. Submit a Letter of Intent

You may request a Letter of Intent form be mailed to you or you may access it from our website. Grantseekers must submit an electronic and hard copy Letter of Intent to the Foundation office by 5 p.m. on December 17, 2009. Letters of Intent may also be mailed to the Foundation's post office box but must be received in the Foundation office by 5 p.m. on the deadline. Faxed and/or emailed Letters of Intent are not accepted as official submissions. Applicants are notified of the receipt of their application within two weeks after the deadline. If you are not notified, please contact the Foundation.

MLR Grant Application Cover Page (required by all applicants)

MRL Letter of Intent

MRL Grant Guidelines

3. Invitations are Extended to Submit Full Application/Attend Grant Workshop

Applicants will be notified whether or not they are invited to submit a full application by late January. Approximately 10 finalists will be selected to move to the next round of review.  Finalists should plan to have both a staff and board representative attend a full application workshop to be held the third week in January.

4. Complete an Organizational Assessment

To ensure that the funded project will be targeted and effective, finalists are required to complete an Organizational Assessment (either through WNC Nonprofit Pathways or through another approved consultant).  The assessment is a process of identifying strengths, challenges and priorities for improvement that involves a minimum of 6-8 hours of board time in addition to 12-15 hours for the board chair and executive director.  The assessment, which is funded by the MRL Fund, will need to be completed between January and April 2010.

5. Submit a Full Application

Based on what is learned from the Organizational Assessment, applicants will define their project objectives and, as necessary, identify a consultant(s) who has the most expertise and experience in your area(s) of need. Completed applications should be submitted by May 28, 2010.

6. Site Visits

Site visits by members of the MRL Advisory Board will be conducted during June. Grant proposals are evaluated by the MRL Fund Advisory Board, approved by the CFWNC Board of Directors, and funding decisions will be announced in July 2010.

Melvin R. Lane Grant Calendar