Grant Review Process

Waco Foundation only accepts competitive grant applications during the designated grant cycles. Applications are only accepted through the on-line application system. Waco Foundation staff will review applications for completeness and will follow up with the applicant if additional information is required.

Upon submission, applications and accompanying materials become the property of the Foundation and will be used as deemed appropriate by the Foundation. These materials may be reviewed by other individuals and organizations outside of the Waco Foundation as part of the assessment process. Information may also be shared with other foundations and funding sources whom inquire about community projects.

Grant Review

Waco Foundation's Board of Trustees is responsible for the individual review and final approval of each grant. Since the Foundation receives funding requests far exceeding the amount of available funds, only a small proportion of the requests are approved. Foundation Trustees meet during the weeks following the deadline date to discuss all submitted proposals. Applicants are strongly discouraged from contacting Board Trustees directly regarding their grant proposal.

The Foundation’s on-line application system will notify the applicant by email that the submission has been successfully received. Applicants are notified by email regarding any action taken by the Board of Trustees regarding their request for funding (award and denial notifications). If awarded a grant, a Grant Acceptance Contract will be emailed to the recipient organization for approval by the Executive Director and Project/Program Contact.

Grant Awards

The Foundation will award grants only to organizations that have met all the deadlines for project reporting and accountability for any previous grant from the Foundation. Organizations whose grant requests for specific projects or programs that have been declined, unless otherwise directed from the Board of Trustees, are discouraged from reapplying for funding for the same project or program. However, an organization that has been declined may submit a proposal the following grant cycle for a different project or program.

Grant recipients will be required to submit an Interim Evaluation Report on the program or project 6 months after the first draw is made on the grant.  Upon submission of the program or projects final grant reimbursement check request, the Foundation will require a comprehensive Close Out Report to be included.  You can find these forms on the Grantmaking Forms page.

Any organization being awarded a grant cannot return to the Foundation with a subsequent request until after 12 months have passed.

Additionally, the Foundation will not consider a grant request from an organization already granted funds until the funded project is complete and a Close-Out Report has been submitted.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Foundation staff prior to developing a full proposal as Foundation funding is not appropriate for every good project. Staff members are happy to discuss potential requests and how they relate to the Foundation’s guidelines and priorities in addition to any other questions regarding the grantmaking process. Please contact Nicole Wynter, Director of Special Projects at nwynter@wacofoundation.org.