Grant Guidelines Section 1

In this application packet you will find detailed information about how to apply for a grant.

1. Priority Areas

The Dorsey Levens Foundation (the Foundation) will support projects that further the foundationšs mission of strengthening inner city youth through enhancing academic and athletic performance and the development of positive social skills. Please note that projects must foster an appreciation for diversity, promote non-violence and maximize the positive effect that parents, schools and community-based organizations have on developing youth and address one or more of the following priority areas:

Academics Projects should address the interconnectedness of factors that contribute to low-academic performance. Projects should focus on using innovative strategies to enhance the academic performance of inner-city youth (such as but not limited to mentoring, peer tutoring, parent workshops, etc.)

Arts The foundation is particularly interested in projects that give youth a voice, an opportunity to discover and share their ideas, talents and artistic abilities in an environment that permits creativity and fosters positive relationships with others.

Athletics Projects should provide equal opportunities for youth to explore their full athletic potential and develop a disciplined mind and healthy body. Projects should nurture a strong sense of pride and motivate youth to develop positive leadership and team building skills.

Service-Learning Projects should focus on leadership opportunities and the promotion of young people as resources, rather than problems, for the community. Projects that promote skill-building opportunities and community activism for at-risk youth are encouraged.

Successful projects will:

• Address factors that lead to low-academic performance, non-athleticism and lack of positive social skills, including poverty, racism, sexism, violence, and an overall cultural environment (including media, family and peers) that encourages young people to be and act a certain way;
• Promote youth "ownership" of projects and provide opportunities for these youth to define their own identity and develop their skills and abilities;
• Respect differences and promote inclusion of diverse populations in all programming;
• Facilitate collaborations among schools, youth organizations and the community at large.

Please note that special consideration will be given to:

Grassroots, community-based organizations, including individual schools, that would find it difficult to obtain recognition and support from other sources; . Organizations that have not yet received considerable funding and that have a plan to leverage this grant to receive additional funding and attention.

The Dorsey Levens Foundation has funded the following projects/programs in the past:

• Cease the Violence Concert
• 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
• Syracuse University Girls and Boys Basketball Camp
• Nottingham Lady Bulldogs Christmas Tournament
• Pre-Summer Youth Talent Extravaganza
• Sherman Park Bulldogs
• Hughes Ski Club
• National Youth Service Day
• Dunbar Association Annual Dinner

The Foundation does not guarantee funding for projects similar to those mentioned above. We simply seek to provide funding for projects that address one or more of our priority areas.

2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The up and coming grant round will support local non-profit organizations doing work with youth in the above-mentioned priority areas for a project period of one year. The Foundation expects to distribute approximately $50,000 to qualifying organizations. Only Syracuse-based, registered, nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for funding. If the applying organization is not recognized as tax-exempt under IRS section 501 (c) (3), a bonafide 501 (c) (3) organization must act as a sponsoring organization. The sponsor commitment form must be completed and mailed to the Foundation.

We will not fund the following:

• Projects outside our funding priorities as described in this packet
• Individuals
• Organizations that are focused primarily on fundraising
• Repayment of loans
• Retrospective funding or debts
• Political parties
• Fees for professional fundraisers

3. TYPES OF SUPPORT

The Foundation will finance direct project costs and limited overhead expenses (overhead may not exceed 10% of total funds requested). Budgets may include operational expenses such as rent, salaries, training, and general project expenses.

4. Grant Size

We expect the average grant size to be $500 - $15,000. Smaller grant proposals will be encouraged.