b'Application InstructionsStep 1: Determine Eligibility. Step 2: Determine Step 3: Submit a Letter of To be eligible for a grant, your organization must (1)Program Fit. Inquiry through our Website.Be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the InternalPlease review our grant guidelines to determine whetherA Letter of Inquiry (LOI) may be submitted at any time. Revenue Code and not a private foundation; (2) Havethere is a potential match between your organizationsGrants generally are approved at our board meetings a current financial audit conducted by an independentwork and our Foundations interests. As you preparein March, June, September, and December. LOIs must certified public accountant; (3) Have total revenues ofyour materials, we encourage you to contact us to discussbe submitted through our website; e-mail and paper at least $100,000 for the preceding year; (4) In policyyour program ideas. We have found that most successfulinquiries will not be accepted. Please note that our and practice not discriminate based on age, race, creed,applicants are in close communication with Foundationrequirement for an online application is not intended to gender, gender identity, religion, disability, sexualstaff.minimize communication but is simply one way for us orientation, and ethnicity. to exercise environmental stewardship by reducing the Our geographic area includes Wayne, Oakland, andamount of paper we generate. Please feel free to call us Macomb counties and the watersheds impacting theseif you have questions about how to complete the online areas and Bayfield, Ontario. We will consider requests forapplication form or if you would like to discuss your the development or significant expansion of programsprogram ideas before you submit your application. You that meet our desired outcomes or general operatingshould be notified within two to four weeks whether support for organizations whose core work fits ourwe are able to invite a Proposal. Foundation staff may mission. Matching funds or other conditions may becontact you for additional information or a site visit at any required. We generally do not provide support directly topoint in the review process. Detailed instructions on the individuals or units of government, nor for loans, grantsLOI and Proposal are included in the Grant Application to support religious activities, capital projects, researchInstructions on our website.(unless solicited by The Foundation), fundraising events, or conferences. The amount requested should be based on the size and scope of the organizational and programStep 4: The Proposal.budget and the anticipated impact of the program. WeA Proposal may be invited based upon your LOI. The generally do not fund 100 percent of a programs cost. Weinformation you will be asked to include in the Proposal will consider multi-year grants where appropriate. is specified in Section II of our Grant Application Instructions, which can be found on our website. A grant request typically should take three to five months to process from the time that the Letter of Inquiry is submitted, though certain requests may take longer. Again, Foundation staff may contact you for additional information or a site visit at any point in the review process.52The Journey Forward'