Grant Making Guidelines
  • Although grants are made in other regions of the country and/or abroad, the majority of the Henry E. Niles Foundation's grantmaking is focused in the northeastern United States.  Any grant for international programs or projects will be made only through US tax-exempt organizations.
  • All applicants must have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.
  • Grants range from $2,500 up to $50,000. In unique circumstances, the Foundation does consider a more significant grant for a program having a major impact in one or more of its areas of interest.
  • Of particular interest to the Foundation are organizations that promote partnerships and collaborative efforts among multiple groups and organizations.
  • The Foundation encourages pilot initiatives that test new program models.
  • Priority will be given to requests that show specific plans for financial sustainability.
  • The applicant must have an active board of directors with policy-making authority. The board should demonstrate competence in the sound financial management of the organization.

Screening Process
  • Organizations may submit one application per year and must do so using the Foundation's online application form.
  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, reviewed for completeness by the Foundation's administrator and assembled into the meeting agenda packages which are sent to the Foundation's Directors approximately two weeks prior to the next scheduled board meeting.  
  • The Board meets ten (10) times per year, there are no meetings in February or August.
  • Applications are reviewed in the order they are received and the Board will review up to thirty-five (35) applications per meeting.   
  • After evaluating an application, the Board will choose to: decline, approve, defer, request additional information, schedule a site visit, or invite the applicant for an interview.
  • Applicants, if declined, may not reapply for at least two years from the date of the application. Subsequent applications must describe changes from the prior application in full.    

Areas of Exclusion
  • The Foundation will not provide grants to the following: organizations not determined to be tax-exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code; individuals; general fundraising drives; endowments; government agencies; or organizations that subsist mainly on third party funding and have demonstrated no ability or expended little effort to attract private funding.

Helpful Tips
  • Prior to submitting an online Grant Application, please review the Foundation's Mission and Grant Making Guidelines (above) to ensure that the application will receive the consideration that it deserves.
  • Applicants should be as concise as possible when responding to all grant application questions.