New Grants Policy Passed by Club Board at February Meeting
GRANTS POLICY The Grants Committee will award grants annually as follows:
1. one large grant for half of the budgeted amount per year
2. multiple smaller grants for the second half of the budgeted amount per year
3. additional large grants may be offered, made available with funds in amounts directed by the Board of Directors

A Standing Committee of the Board known as the Focus Committee will meet before RFP's are sent out to choose the focus issue/cause/area for large grants. This Focus Committee will include (but is not limited to) the Club President, Vice President, President Elect, Community Services Chair, and Grants Committee Chair.

Requests for proposals may go out in January and June. Grant applications will be made available to the community through Rotary members, community list-serves, and in the local newspapers. The Grants Committee reviews the applicants and selects the recipients.

Selections by the Grant Committee must be approved by the Board of Directors before notification letters are sent to those who submitted proposals. Grants may be awarded in May and October. Award recipients will be announced and awarded at a regular club meeting.

Grant recipients will be invited to the noon meeting as guests of the club (the club will pay for one guest per grant). Recipients will receive their grant at this time. Recipients may bring additional guests at their own expense. Specific guidelines:
1. Offer a single large grant for half of the budgeted amount per year, a. Large grants should address issues of concern, including but not limited to: literacy, health, hunger, community support (leadership development, conflict resolution), or community development (ie: waterfront development, historic renovation). b. Large grants will be offered to organizations with 501C3 status or with IRS determined charitable purpose. c. Grant money should not be allocated to an organization for operating expenses. d. Grants may be awarded to the same organization in consecutive years. e. Programs/organizations that have been funded by The Ithaca Rotary Club for two consecutive years or more may be considered by the Board of Directors to be funded by line item in the annual budget. f. Accountability for spending will be required (oversight by Finance Committee). g. Credit must be given to Rotary as a donor (involvement with Rotary Publicity Chair). h. The Rotary Club of Ithaca logo should be affixed to purchased items. The logo will be provided by the club.

2. Offer a series of small grants for the second half of the budget. a. Small grants are not required to be within the areas recommended by the Focus Committee. b. Small grants may be given to organizations or individuals that do not have 501C3 status nor are designated as IRS determined charitable purpose. c. Grant money should not be allocated to an organization for operating expenses. d. Grants should not be awarded to an organization that requests an annual giving commitment. e. Grants may be awarded to the same organization in consecutive years. f. Accountability for spending is recommended, but not required. g. Credit must be given to Rotary as a donor (involvement with Rotary Publicity Chair) 3. New projects a. Requests for grants/funding must go through the regular grant cycle, unless they fall under the following two categories: i. Miscellaneous projects 1. The Board president should budget money annually to fund the occasional project that Rotary has traditionally funded but does not occur annually - ie: the High School Robotics team. 2. Unspent budgeted funds should carry over to the next year, but not necessarily be added to. ii. Emergencies/disasters 1. The Board president should budget money annually to give in the event of an emergency or disaster. 2. Unspent budgeted funds should carry over to the next year, but not necessarily be added to. This policy may be revised at any time. This policy was revised 1/25/08.