All requests to ICF, whether for initial or renewal funding, must begin with a letter of inquiry. The Foundation accepts letters of inquiry during the year’s first and third quarters (January 1 through March 31 and July 1 through September 30). Letters of inquiry postmarked outside of these dates will be returned.
Only those organizations that have received a positive, written response to a letter of inquiry may submit a grant proposal. If your organization submits a full grant proposal without first submitting a letter of inquiry and receiving a positive written response from ICF, the proposal will be returned.
A final determination may be expected within ten weeks of receipt of a complete grant proposal. Typically, a site visit is part of ICF’s review process. Grants greater than $50,000 require the approval of the Independence Community Foundation Board of Directors, who meet quarterly in March, June, September, and December. As such, decisions on these grants may take longer than ten weeks.
First Step: Submitting a Letter of Inquiry
This link provides a template and other general instructions for submitting a letter of inquiry. Prospective applicants should carefully review the Eligibility Guidelines page and the Foundation’s grant programs. Funding inquiries should demonstrate a familiarity with the foundation's programs.
Second Step: Submitting a Grant Proposal
If you are invited to submit a formal proposal, this link provides a template and other general instructions. Applicants should complete all sections in full and attach all required components. This helps us to process requests in a timely manner.
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