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Annual Community Mental Health Grant Guidelines

 *** The 2008 Community Mental Health grant cycle is now closed.  ***

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General Information

Grantmaking Objective

The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation seeks to prevent or alleviate psychological disorders and substance abuse in children and adolescents.

Target Populations

• Children and adolescents with psychological disorders
• Substance-abusing youth
• Youth at risk of developing psychological disorders or substance abuse

The Foundation defines “youth at risk” as those individuals or groups of individuals who have an above-average chance of developing psycho-logical disorders or substance abuse due to the effects of factors that have been linked to higher incidence of these conditions.

Eligibility

• Tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) classifications from the Internal Revenue Service that are neither private foundations nor described as 509(a)(3) organizations
• Diocesan and public school districts
• Nonprofit public benefit corporations

Geographic Areas

Massachusetts:

• Barnstable County
• Dukes County
• Essex County
• Nantucket County

New York State:

• Erie County
• Niagara County

Funding Priorities

Priority is given to:

• indicated or selective early intervention or prevention projects*
• projects that introduce effective treatment modalities
• projects that identify individuals in the target group and link them to appropriate services
• projects that focus on delivery of state-of-the-art treatment
• projects that focus on staff development leading to enhanced service delivery

*Indicated interventions are aimed at individuals who may already display signs of psychological disorders or substance abuse. Selective interventions target those who are at greater-than-average risk for psychological disorders or substance abuse.

Universal programs are applied to general population groups without reference to or identification of those at particular risk.

Note: Universal programs will not be considered for funding.

Additional Information

Please note that:

• priority is given to projects where the incremental costs, i.e., the costs that are new to the organization as a result of the proposed project, are a substantial portion of the grant request
• sustainability of the project after Tower Foundation grant funding terminates is of paramount importance to the Foundation
• multi-year grants are encouraged

Applying for a Grant

Submitting a Letter of Inquiry

The first step in applying for a grant is submitting a letter of inquiry not to exceed three pages in length. The Foundation accepts only one letter of inquiry per applicant. The letter must be signed by the applicant’s executive director, superintendent, or headmaster.

To be considered for a grant your letter must be received by 5:00 p.m. on April 9, 2008. E-mailed and faxed copies are not accepted.

Your letter of inquiry must include the following:

• a description of the project for which support is requested, including an outline of the specific objectives you hope to accomplish
• a brief statement of the history and goals of your organization, the issues to be addressed, and your organization’s involvement with these issues
• the target population and geographic area(s) served
• the number of individuals directly impacted by the proposed project
• the approximate start and end dates of the project
• the total project cost
• the dollar amount requested from the Foundation (for multi-year grants specify the amount for each year) and a brief summary of how the funds will be used
• information about other sources of support, both assured and requested

Notification of Interest

All letters of inquiry are reviewed to determine if the Foundation wishes to pursue a grant application. Applicants will be notified by June 13, 2008 of the result of this review. Please note: you should not interpret a request for an application as an indication of likely support. The deadline for grant applications, if requested, is July 9, 2008.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:

• clarity of project goals and anticipated impact
• strength of project design
• organizational capacity and readiness to implement and oversee the project
• evidence of commitment by the organization’s leadership and management
• the number of individuals served
• plan for assessing the project’s impact and capacity to measure project outcomes
• likelihood that the project will be sustained after grant funding terminates

Final decisions on grant awards are made by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees at its fall meeting. You will be informed of the Board’s decision by October 10, 2008.

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Required Reports

Successful applicants will be required to sign a Terms of Grant which will specify the Foundation’s program and fiscal reporting requirements. In general, these include on-going progress reports for multi-year projects and a final report, due 60 days after funding terminates. Reports include a summary of all funds received and expended for the project covered by the grant and a narrative describing the outcomes and significance of the project.

Restrictions

The Foundation does not fund programs or projects that:

• may be used for the private benefit of any grant recipient or affiliated person
• attempt to influence legislation
• attempt to influence or intervene in any political campaign

The Foundation also does not provide funds for:

• capital campaigns or improvements
• equipment or materials purchases independent of a broader project that meets one or more of the Foundation’s funding priorities
• scholarships or services for particular individuals

Timeline Summary

If you have any questions about the guidelines, please feel free to contact us.

Send Letter of Inquiry to:

Glenda M. Cadwallader
Executive Director
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
2351 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068-1225