Grant Process

Purpose

Each year, DBL’s Grant Allocations program disburses all funds raised during the previous fiscal year.

It is the intent of DBL to fund not-for-profit organizations that are exempt from federal taxes and that are non-political and non-sectarian. DBL awards grants to local organizations dedicated to:

  • Community quality of life and social services,
  • Educational services and programs,
  • Cultural and arts programs, or
  • Historical programs and historic preservation.

Geographic Criteria

DBL is committed to returning funds (in the form of grants) to the geographical areas and communities of its donors and its membership. Thus, DBL gives preference to community-based organizations that are locally governed and provides grants to organizations benefiting Denton County north of Lake Lewisville, primarily Denton and contiguous communities.

Applicant/Organization Qualifications

In order to be considered for a DBL grant, an organization is:

  • Community-based with the requested funds benefiting Denton and/or contiguous
    communities,
  • Non-profit with federal tax-exempt documentation dated at least three (3) years prior to the grant
    application,
  • Locally governed (i.e. a governing board or advisory board/committee with local representation),
  • Documented as providing three (3) years of continuous service in the local community,
  • Non-political (Organizations applying for a grant cannot be affiliated with, representing or
    espousing any political beliefs, issues, programs, etc.),
  • Non-sectarian
    • Organizations must conform to DBL’s non-sectarian policy, which refers to religious (faith-based)
      organizations or projects as follows:
    • No projects, services, capital improvements, etc may be accepted during the application process that are for sectarian purposes (i.e. produce a religious video, make improvements to church property, provide furniture/fixtures that will be used for any church/religious purposes, etc);
    • An applicant may not require religious affiliation or participation to receive any of its services;
    • The applicant must have a separate governing or advisory board consisting of ecumenical representation from multiple religious faiths and churches;
    • Any property funded by a DBL grant MUST remain the property of the applicant. DBL cannot buy equipment that becomes the property of a church, even if it is partially used by the organization/program being funded. A letter certifying that items purchased with DBL funds will remain the property of the applicant must be included in the application.

(Note: non-sectarian policy approved by the DBL Board of Directors in 2006-07), and

  • Financially sound.

In addition, prior to applying, all organizations are required to have attended a DBL Grant Training Workshop within the last two (2) years (i.e. in 2008 or 2009).

Types of Grants

In determining grant awards, DBL gives preference to “need” vs. “want.”

DBL accepts grant applications for:

  • Capital expenditures (preferred type of grant)– equipment, furniture/fixtures and other office/program improvements;
  • Operating support, except salaries/wages; requests for rent subsidy must be exceptional circumstances and may not be for successive years;
  • Program support – funds needed to support critical services and special projects/programs, including subsidy for low-income/disabled/disadvantaged clients.

DBL does not provide grants for:

  • Underwriting for entertainment venues/events, or for an organization’s fundraiser;
  • Initial (start-up) funding for any type of building fund, endowment, trust or special fund;
  • Projects involving construction not yet underway at the time of the application or that will not be completed by July 31st of the grant year; small re-modeling projects with a time frame of less than four (4) months will be considered;
  • Research programs or projects;
  • Booster clubs or other school programs (except through the school’s foundation);
  • An organization may not apply for a grant on behalf of another organization or apply for funds to be re-distributed to other organizations or individuals.

Summary of the Application Process

1. From August 10 through September 20, 2009, organizations may submit a written (email) request for an Application and the Grant Policies Document to Delva Culp, Chairperson/DBL Grant Allocations Committee. (Please see contact information below.)

Former recipients: DBL requires that all receipts from your previous grant have been received prior to requesting a new application; and that unused funds have been returned to DBL. Please refer to your Memorandum of Understanding.

New applicants: In your written request, please include a brief description of your organization, stating that the organization meets the Grant Recipient Qualifications noted above and indicating whom you serve.

2. A representative of the organization must have attended a DBL Grant Training Workshop in 2008 or 2009 in order to be eligible for consideration for funding. DBL recommends that the grant writer and/or the CEO/Executive Director/Department Head attend the training workshop.

Former recipients: Regardless of previous training, all applicants are welcome to attend the training workshops. DBL may also request that an organization re-train. The 2009-2010 Grant Allocations Committee has made several revisions to the Grant Policies and the Application.

New applicants: DBL requires all new applicants to attend a Grant Training Workshop.

Training dates/location:

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 – 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

All training will be held in the Community Room at Ben E. Keith Company at 2801 N I-35, Denton, TX 76207. The facility is north of town on I 35 at the West Oak exit. Space in training sessions is limited. Please indicate your 1st and 2nd choice when requesting an application. Session assignments will be made on a “first come” basis.

3. Applicants must adhere to all DBL Grant Policies, which accompany the application.

4. Completed applications are due NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM on September 30, 2009 to Delva Culp, C/O Culp & Dyer LLP, 222 East McKinney #210, Denton, TX 76201. No exceptions.

5. DBL requires all applicants to attend a scheduled ten (10) minute interview with the Grant Allocations Committee during the last week of October, 2009. Each organization is required to have two (2) representatives at the interview with at least one being an officer of the Board of Directors or a Department Head.

6. The Grant Allocations Committee will present its recommendations to the DBL Board of Directors and to the DBL active membership for approval during November.

7. DBL will notify applicants of the results of the grant process in December.

8. Organizations will sign and return a notarized Memorandum of Understanding by January 4, 2010.

9. DBL will distribute grant funds at the January 11, 2010, DBL general membership meeting.

10. Organizations must use grant funds by July 31, 2010, and return receipts/documentation of expenditures and unused funds ($100 or more) to DBL by July 31, 2010.

To submit an application request (in writing) or for further information:

Contact:
Delva Culp, Chairperson
DBL Grant Allocations Committee
culptx@aol.com
(940) 565-0727
(940) 387-1261 fax

DBL will only consider applications requested formally (in writing) from the Grant Allocation Chairperson and completed in compliance with DBL’s 2009 Grant Policy. DBL grant applications may NOT be duplicated for distribution to another organization.

Revised July, 2009