Funding Eligibility Criteria

1. Not-For-Profit Status:  It is not required that the grant applicant must be a not-for-profit agency.  However, they must use any funds granted to them by our foundation solely for the benefits of home health and hospice patients.  No profit may be directly derived from our grant support.  Administrative overhead expenses of the applicant may not be passed on to the Foundation.
2. Mission:  The grant applicant’s purpose, approved by their Board, should be formally and specifically stated in a mission statement.  The applicant must include home health and/or hospice care as one of its primary functions.
   
3. Program(s):  The program and/or assistance for which funding is requested must:
   
   1. be consistent with both the Foundation and grant applicant’s stated mission
   2. take place primarily within the Lewis County area, however, when donors designate that their contributions go to a program or need outside of this area, that designation will be respected
   3. demonstrate its effectiveness, i.e. through either a proven track record and/or a viable plan for the future.
4. Funding Availability:  Funds provided by the Foundation, for free care, are to be used only as a last resort -- after all other funding sources have been explored and exhausted.  These funds are to be used in addition to, not replace, the grant applicant’s budgeted free care funds.
5. Board Governance:  The grant applicant’s Board is responsible for policy setting, fiscal guidance, and agency governance.  It should regularly review the agency’s policies, programs and operations.  The Board should be guided by a set of written by-laws.
6. Information:  The grant applicant should have available on request:
   
   1. information that describes accurately the agency’s identity, purpose and programs.
   2. list of Board members
   3. client eligibility guidelines and sliding fee scale