Grant Making for Non Profit Organizations

Summary of Policies and Procedures

Proposal deadlines are February 1, 2011 and August 1, 2011.

I. Definition
The Sarkeys Foundation is a private, charitable foundation, incorporated under the laws of the State of Oklahoma and operated exclusively for providing support through gifts and grants to charitable, scientific, and educational institutions which are qualified under section 501(c)(3) and which are not private foundations within the meaning of section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1954 or comparable sections of the Internal Revenue Service Code added at a later date.

II. Governing Body
The Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director.

III. Meetings
The Trustees meet quarterly in January, April, July and October. Grant proposals for 2011 will be considered at the April and October meetings.

IV. Response to Inquiries
A response to each request or inquiry will be made by the Foundation within a reasonable time.

V. Proposals
The Trustees invite proposals and applications from qualified charitable institutions. A careful evaluation of each such request will be made.  Applications will be considered at the April and October Board of Trustees meeting.

A. Major areas of support by the Sarkeys Foundation include:

   1. Education;
   2. Social service and human service needs;
   3. Cultural and humanitarian programs of regional significance.

B. Needs normally outside the range of support by the Sarkeys Foundation:

   1. Local programs appropriately financed within the community;
   2. Direct mail solicitations and annual campaigns;
   3. Out of state institutions;
   4. Hospitals;
   5. Operating expenses;
   6. Purchase of vehicles;
   7. Grants to individuals;
   8. Responsibility for permanent financing of a program;
   9. Programs whose ultimate intent is to be profitmaking;
  10. Start-up funding for new organizations;
  11. Feasibility studies;
  12. Grants which trigger expenditure responsibility by Sarkeys  
        Foundation;
  13. Direct support to government agencies;
  14. Individual public or private elementary or secondary schools,  nless they are serving the needs of a special population which are not being met elsewhere; and
  15. Religious institutions and their subsidiaries.

VI. Application Frequency
Organizations are limited to one application per calendar year or twelve month period. Organizations with a current grant from Sarkeys Foundation are prohibited from applying for additional funding until final payment has been received.

VII. Content of Proposals
Nonprofits may apply for one of two grants: small grants of $10,000 and below, or grants over $10,000. The applications are available online. Applicants are required to register, complete the required fields, and submit attachments and templates. Please refer to the online application for the list of required information. Sarkeys Foundation does not accept faxed or e-mailed proposals. Alternate methods of application are explained below.

VIII. Challenge Grants
The Board may, at its discretion, determine to award a grant contingent upon the fulfillment of an institution’s additional fund-raising obligation for the project in question within a specified time period.

IX.  Proposal Format

Nonprofits may apply for one of two grants: small grants of $10,000 and below, or grants over $10,000. The applications are available online. Applicants are required to register, complete the required fields, and submit attachments and templates. Please refer to the online application for the list of required information. Sarkeys Foundation does not accept faxed or e-mailed proposals. Alternate methods of application are explained below.

Failure to provide complete information will adversely affect your prospects for funding. If you have any questions, please call Susan Frantz, Diana Hartley and Linda English Weeks at (405) 364-3703.

Mail or deliver proposals to:
Sarkeys Foundation
530 East Main Street
Norman, Oklahoma 73071

Post Grant Requirements
Once a grant has been awarded by the Foundation, the recipient will be asked to sign an agreement that outlines the work to be accomplished and the terms or conditions of the award.

The grant recipient may be asked to make interim reports to the Foundation on the project’s progress.

At the end of the grant period, the recipient will be expected to supply the Foundation with a final evaluation report that includes information on the completion of the project and how grant funds were spent.

Following the end of the grant period, the recipient may be asked to provide additional reports and/or information from time to time.