Grant Request Guidelines

The Application Process 

The Foundation does not send notifications when a funding cycle opens; applicants should refer to this site for updates. 

Funding Cycles:   

Spring Funding Cycle

  • Opens: February 1.  Submission Deadline: April 1.
  • Funds are typically disbursed by the end of June.

Fall Funding Cycle

  • Opens: August 1.  Submission Deadline: October 1.
  • Funds are typically disbursed by the end of December.

Applications received after a deadline will not be considered.

Please note that the Foundation may require a meeting to discuss a potential funding request before sending a link to the full application. Requests to meet with the Foundation must be made via email or the contact page.  Meetings cannot be guaranteed if they are requested within two weeks of the submission deadline.
 

Getting Started: 

To begin, click “I Am Ready to Apply” on the Apply for Grant page.  You will be directed to the Grantee Portal login page.  If you have not already set up a user account, the site will provide instructions for creating it.  Applicants must complete a short “Request to Apply” form to initiate the process.   If eligible, they will receive an email link to the full application.

The Grantee Portal is where you can view, edit, and submit your grant application.  Once in progress, an application can be accessed via the link in your confirmation email, by bookmarking the Portal in your browser, or through the GRANTEE PORTAL tab at laffeymchugh.org.

You may return to an application as often as needed before submission.  Organizations may have multiple user logins, and each user can edit an application in progress.  Once submitted, the application is locked and cannot be changed without prior authorization from Laffey-McHugh staff. 

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the Laffey-McHugh Foundation.

This guide explains our grantmaking philosophy, application process, and the  questions commonly asked  by nonprofits organizations. We encourage every applicants to review this guide before submitting a Request to Apply.

Our goal is to make the application process straightforward, transparent, and respectful of your time.

The Foundation operates with a small staff because we believe our resources are best invested in organizations serving Delaware communities. As a result, we rely on applicants to clearly explain their work, the community needs they address, and the impact they are making. We are not experts in every field represented by our applicants. Your application should help us understand your organization, your approach, and why your work matters.

Whether your organization is applying for the first time or has previously received funding, every request is evaluated independently based on current information and the Foundation's funding priorities. 

How We Think About Grantmaking

 The Foundation prioritizes organizations that do the following: 

  • Address important community needs.
  • Deliver meaningful programs or services.
  • Measure results and learn from experience.
  • Adapt as community needs evolve.
  • Demonstrate strong leadership and governance.
  • Use financial resources responsibly.
  • Continue improving over time. 

Growth does not always mean serving more people. For some organizations, growth means expanding into new communities or increasing the number of individuals served. For others, it means improving outcomes for the same individuals through stronger programming, deeper services, better partnerships, improved technology, or more effective operations.

We value organizations that demonstrate continuous learning and thoughtful improvement. 

How We Evaluate Requests

Every request is unique, but most funding decisions consider the following questions: 

  • Does the request align with the Foundation's mission and funding priorities?
  • Does the organization have the leadership and capacity to achieve its goals?
  • Is there evidence that the organization's work is producing meaningful results?
  • Does the organization demonstrate financial responsibility and long-term sustainability?
  • Will Foundation funding meaningfully strengthen the organization's impact?

No single factor determines whether a grant will be awarded. 

Applying for Funding

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Applicants must be an independent 501(c)(3) public charity in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service.
  • Organizations must primarily serve Delaware residents or Delaware communities.
  • Organizations must submit a request that aligns with one or more Foundation funding priorities.
  • Organizations using a fiscal sponsor or awaiting IRS determination should contact Foundation staff before submitting a Request to Apply. 

What organizations or requests are generally not funded? 

  • Organizations or requests whose primary purpose is lobbying, political advocacy, or political messaging.
  • Organizations whose primary purpose is promoting religious doctrine, worship activities, or religious instruction.
  • Organizations whose primary purpose is making grants to other organizations.
  • Requests that primarily benefit communities outside Delaware. 

Are faith-based organizations eligible to apply?

  • Yes. Faith-based organizations that provide important community services to Delaware residents and adhere to the guidance listed above are eligible to apply.

How do organizations apply?

  • Every organization begins by completing a Request to Apply through the Foundation's website during an active funding cycle.
  • The Request to Apply is a brief eligibility review designed to determine whether the organization and proposed request appear appropriate for further consideration.
  • Organizations whose requests appear eligible will generally receive an invitation to complete the full application. 

Do previously funded organizations automatically receive a new Request to Apply or application? 

  • No. Each funding cycle is independent.
  • Organizations considering for new funding must complete a new Request to Apply through the Foundation’s website during each funding cycle.
  • The Foundation does not automatically send Requests to Apply or invitations to previous grantees. 

What is the difference between the Request to Apply and the full application? 

  • The Request to Apply is the first step in a two-step application process. Its purpose is to determine whether a request appears eligible and generally aligns with the Foundation's funding priorities.
  • Organizations that meet those initial criteria will generally receive a link to the full application.  
  • Receiving a link to the full application does not indicate that funding is likely or guaranteed.  
  • Funding decisions are made only after review of the complete application and supporting documentation. 

Do we need to meet with Foundation staff?

  • Sometimes. 
  • A meeting with Foundation staff is generally expected for:
    • First-time applicants.
    • Organizations that have not received Foundation funding within the past three years.
    • Requests that fall outside the published Grant Request Guidelines.
    • Requests involving significant organizational changes, unusual circumstances, or large capital projects.
  • These conversations help ensure organizational readiness and alignment before applicants invest time completing the full application. 

Funding Priorities

What types of requests are preferred?

  • The Foundation prioritizes the following requests: pilot initiatives, programs and services, organizational capacity-building, general operating support and capital projects.

How is general operating support considered?

  • General operating support may be used to strengthen staffing, technology, infrastructure, organizational capacity, or other operational priorities.
  • Because unrestricted funding is not tied to a single project, applicants should clearly explain how the organization is evolving, improving programs or services, responding to changing community needs, or increasing its overall impact.

How is innovation considered?

  • Innovation does not necessarily mean creating an entirely new program.
  • Innovation may include: 
    • improving existing services;
    • deepening support for individuals already served;
    • strengthening partnerships;
    • improving operational efficiency;
    • applying technology more effectively;
    • responding to emerging community needs; or 
    • developing new approaches based on what has been learned.

How often are capital projects considered?

  • Occasionally.
  • The Foundation rarely supports endowments or traditional capital campaigns.

Does the Foundation provide multi-year grants?

  • No. 

What is a typical grant size?

  • $25,000 to $35,000.
  • Organizations considering substantially larger requests should discuss their proposal with Foundation staff before applying.

First-Time Applicants

What characteristics does the Foundation look for?

  • Successful first-time applicants generally demonstrate organizational stability, measurable community impact, and the capacity to sustain their work beyond a single grant.
  • Competitive applicants often:
    • Have operated for at least one year.
    • Employ at least one full-time equivalent staff member, or demonstrate comparable organizational capacity.
    • Generally have annual revenue of at least $50,000, or demonstrate comparable organizational capacity.
    • Demonstrate a history of delivering meaningful programs or services.
    • Maintain stable leadership, governance, and financial management.
    • Show evidence of support from individuals, businesses, government agencies, foundations, congregations, or other community partners.
    • Present a realistic plan for sustaining their work after Foundation funding. 

Are small nonprofit organizations eligible?

  • Yes. Over the past five years, approximately 50% of Foundation grants have been awarded to organizations with fewer than ten employees, and approximately 40% have been awarded to organizations with annual revenue below $1 million.
  • We recognize that smaller organizations may not have sophisticated financial systems, independent audits, or dedicated grant staff. Applications should be appropriate to the size and complexity of the organization.

Does another foundation need to support us before we apply?

  • No. Organizations do not need support from any specific foundation before applying.
  • However, the Foundation places significant value on organizations that demonstrate support from multiple funding sources or have a credible strategy for building diversified support over time. 

Preparing a Strong Application

What makes a strong application?

  • Be clear and direct. Focus on outcomes rather than simply activities.
  • Assume that reviewers know very little about your specific area of work.
  • Avoid lengthy descriptions, technical language, specialized terminology, and unexplained acronyms.
  • Rather than simply describing what your organization does, explain why it matters, how you know it is working, what has changed, and how your organization continues to improve.

Why does the Foundation ask about organizational change each year?

  • The Foundation is interested in understanding how organizations respond to new opportunities, challenges, financial conditions, leadership transitions, and lessons learned.
  • Organizational change is not viewed negatively. In many cases, it demonstrates thoughtful leadership and continuous improvement.

Why does the Foundation ask about outcomes instead of simply activities?

  • We consider activities as what an organization does and outcomes as the impact those activities make.
  • The Foundation values organizations that evaluate their work, learn from experience, and use evidence to strengthen future programs and services.
  • Organizations that openly discuss challenges, adjustments, and lessons learned often present the strongest applications.

What happens if our request is not funded?

  • After the cycle, each applicant receives a communication regarding the Board of Directors’ funding decisions.
  • Organizations not funded are eligible to apply in future funding cycles, and encouraged to discuss if their circumstances have changed or the organization has strengthened its programs, operations, or financial position.

Application Checklist

What additional ways can we prepare before starting an application?

  • Review the Application Preparation Checklist, which can significantly reduce the time required to complete the application and improve the quality of your responses. 
  • The checklist summarizes the information, documents, and narrative responses that most organizations should have available before starting the Invited Application.
  • Once starting an application, your progress within the portal system can be saved and completed until a final submission prior to the deadline.