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Welcome > What We Fund > Intellectual Disabilities > Annual Intellectual Disabilities Grant Guidelines

Annual Intellectual Disabilities Grant Guidelines

 *** The Intellectual Disabilities Grant Cycle for 2011 is now closed  *** 
 

 Download the PDF Version (117K) 

Objective

The Foundation seeks to enhance service delivery for children, adolescents, and young adults to age 26 with intellectual disabilities.

Intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This disability originates before the age of 18.
  • Intellectual functioning refers to general mental capacity, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.
  • Adaptive behavior comprises three skill types:
    • Conceptual skills (e.g., language and literacy; money; time; number concepts; self-direction)
    • Social skills (e.g., interpersonal skills; social responsibility; self-esteem; gullibility; naïveté; social problem solving; ability to follow rules/obey laws and avoid being victimized)
    • Practical skills (e.g., personal care; occupational skills; healthcare; travel/transportation; schedules/routines; safety; use of money; use of telephone)

Eligibility

  • 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:

  • Erie County
  • Niagara County 

Priorities

The Foundation will give preference to projects addressing one or more of the following priority areas:
  • Reducing obstacles to seeking services/treatment
  • Stigma reduction
  • Transitional services
  • Early identification and linkage to services
  • Effective treatment/programming
  • Co-occurring disorders
  • Provider workforce shortage and readiness (capacity building)

The Foundation will also consider other project ideas that have the potential to advance its objective in the category.

Additional Information 

  • Typical funding range is $25,000 - $75,000 per year. 
  • The Foundation encourages multi-year grants.
  • The Foundation will give priority to projects in which the majority of costs are both new to the organization and directly related to the proposed initiative.
  • Projects should be sustainable after grant funding ends.

Submitting a Letter of Inquiry 

The first step in applying for a grant is submitting a letter of inquiry not to exceed five pages. The Foundation accepts only one letter of inquiry per applicant. 
 
To be considered for a grant in 2011, letters must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 8, 2011. E-mailed and faxed copies will not be accepted.
 
Letters of inquiry must include the following:

1. General Information (approx. 1 page)

  • Discuss your organization’s history and current mission.
  • Describe your target population and geographic area served.

2. Project Rationale (approx. 1 page)

  • Identify and discuss the need, problem or opportunity that will be addressed.
  • Describe how you came to know about the need, problem, or opportunity.
  • Explain how the proposed project will advance the Foundation’s objective to “enhance service delivery for children, adolescents, and young adults to age 26 with intellectual disabilities.”

3. Project Description (approx. 2 pages)

  • Describe what you are trying to accomplish.
  • Describe the primary activities that will be required. 
  • Provide anticipated grant start and end dates. 
  • Identify the number of individuals that will be directly affected by the proposed project. 

4. Financial Information and Support (approx. 1 page)

  • Identify the total project cost. 
  • Identify the dollar amount requested from the Foundation (for multi-year grants specify the amount for each year). 
  • Provide a brief summary of how the funds will be used.

5. Signature

  • Signature of organization’s Executive Director, Superintendent or Headmaster (Note: designee signatures are not acceptable.) 

Notification of Interest 

Letters of inquiry meeting the requirements listed above will be reviewed to determine if the Foundation wishes to request a grant application. Applicants will be notified by July 27, 2011 of the result of this review. A request for an application is not an indication of likely support. The deadline for grant applications, if requested, is September 14, 2011.
 
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Restrictions 

The Foundation does not fund programs or projects that:
  • provide private benefits for any grant recipient or affiliated person
  • attempt to influence legislation or intervene in any political campaign
  • contribute to capital improvements or capital campaigns
  • consist of scholarships, services, or treatment for specific individuals
  • consist largely of general operating support

Timeline Summary
 

 
Deadline
Expect response by
Letter of Inquiry
June 8, 2011 
5:00 p.m.
July 27, 2011 
Grant Application (if requested)
September 14, 2011
December 21, 2011

 
Send Letter of Inquiry to:

Donald W. Matteson
Chief Program Officer
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
2351 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068-1225

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