GRANT PROGRAMS

The Competitive Grant Program focuses on providing opportunities for the people of Greater Boston through grants in three program areas. The guidelines and procedures for applying for a competitive grant are described below and can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by using the "Guidelines" link above.

The Discretionary Grant Program reflects the interests of individual trustees and family members in creating a better community and world. No grant applications are taken for this program.

The Susan A. Babson Opera Fund for Emerging Artists carries on the interest of Susan A. and Donald P. Babson in supporting young artists. No grant applications are taken for this fund, as the distributions are mandated by the donor.

COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM AREAS

Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
Programs focused on providing and encouraging youth and community entrepreneurship education, community economic development, job training for youth, and urban youth business and enterprise initiatives.

Culture, Education and Leadership Development
Programs focused on education and leadership development opportunities for young people through team sports, art, dance, music and theater.

Environment and Community Building
Programs focused on community building through urban community gardens and urban greenspace initiatives.

COMPETITIVE GRANT INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES

Types of Support - Unrestricted, special programs, occasional capital support.

Geographic Focus - Greater Boston as defined by Route 128. Communities touched by Route 128 will be included.

Application Process:

1. Telephone call or email inquiry. Whether applying for the first time or after many grants, before you begin the application process, please call or email Betsy Nichols, Program Officer or Mary Smyth, Foundation Assistant (contact information below). The request for contact is designed to save you time, effort and money and to allow us to help you target your request so that it stands the best chance of succeeding.

2. Preliminary Letter. The next step is the Preliminary Letter. The trustees will review the Preliminary Letters and invite Proposals from a limited number of applicants. As the trustees recognize the time and effort that a full Proposal requires, they will request them only from those organizations whose Preliminary Letters present projects that the trustees feel have a reasonable chance of being funded. However, being invited to submit a full Proposal does not guarantee funding.

The Preliminary Letter, two to three pages in length, and the Preliminary Letter Summary Sheet are due in February and September. They may be submitted by email to pebabsonfdn@babsonfoundations.org. Please also include a copy of your tax letter for 501 (c)(3) status confirmation. If you need to submit by regular mail, please send two complete copies of the Preliminary Letter and Preliminary Letter Summary Sheet are required. If you received a grant last year, be sure to include an interim report with your Preliminary Letter.

3. Proposal. The trustees will review the Preliminary Letters and request full Proposals from those organizations that have a reasonable chance of receiving a grant. Organizations are asked to include a completed Proposal Summary Sheet along with the full proposal. The AGM Common Proposal Form is accepted, but additional material is often requested.

An organization may not submit more than one Preliminary Letter in a 12-month period.

Appropriate Size of Competitive Grant Request
The grant range in 2008 was $1,000 to $20,000. The average grant was $7,578. In the Entrepreneurship and Economic Development category, grant requests of $5,000 to $40,000 are appropriate, depending on the size of the organization. In the other three categories, requests of $5,000 to $25,000 are appropriate.

Renewal of a Grant
A request for a renewal of a grant must go through the regular Preliminary Letter application process just as though it were a first-time grant. Program reports should be included with grant renewal requests.

Programs Ineligible for Funding
Requests for support for specific individuals, scholarships, films, videos, conferences, fundraising or donor cultivation events are not eligible.

Summer Programs
All summer camp funding will be done through the Associated Grant Makers Summer Fund.

Application Deadlines
Preliminary Letters will be accepted up until a postmark date of February 6 or September 9. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. Early submission is both recommended and appreciated, especially in the fall round. Late submissions will be held for the following grant round.

Grant Cycle

Preliminary Letter and Summary Sheet	Up until February 6 or September 9
Trustees review concept letters	Early March or early October
Invited Proposals due	Early April or late October
Grant decisions made	Early May or mid November
Awarded funds distributed	Early June or early December

Contact Information

Betsy Nichols, Program Director, may be reached at 617-523-8368 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and may be reached any day by email to pebabsonfdn@babsonfoundations.org.

Mary Smyth, Foundation Assistant, may be reached Monday through Friday at 617-523-6800 or by email at pebabsonfdn@babsonfoundations.org.

Correspondence may be sent to:

The Paul and Edith Babson Foundation
50 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02109-4017

Trustees and Meeting Dates
The trustees are James A. Babson, Katherine L. Babson, Jr. and James R. Nichols. Grant meetings are in late May and early December. Decisions are communicated to applicants within six weeks.

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