Responsive Grants

Responsive grant making has always been part of the Foundation's history and it's one of the ways we continue to be responsible and responsive to the changing needs of our community. The program is guided by the Foundation's mission and vision to improve the health and wellness of those who live and work in Howard County.

Responsive grants are awarded for a wide array of activities in the areas of health and help support many kinds of projects, to include pilot projects. The responsive grants program has evolved over the years, with many improvements made along the way. During the fall of 2011, a streamlined grants program was launched and cycles are now based on funding amounts:

Level I – Grants up to $9,999
Level II – Grants $10,000 - $49,999
Level III – Grants $10,000 - $50,000

Level I grants are accepted anytime throughout the year and a response is typically given within 2-3 weeks from date of submission.

There are two stages of consideration before Level II and Level III Responsive Grants are awarded. Initial inquiries are accepted through an online Letter of Intent. Applicants that pass initial approval are invited to submit a full proposal. The full two-step proposal process usually takes 4-5 months.

Please note that The Horizon Foundation only awards grants to organizations that:

•     are tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
•     are public entities,
•     or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit.
  

In addition, the nonprofit must be serving the people of Howard County.

Below you will find more detailed information:

Responsive Grants Timeline

Level I – Grants up to $9,999

The Foundation welcomes applications from non-profit and public entities for its Level I Grant Funding Cycle throughout the year. All proposals must be submitted via our online process.  The Foundation will respond to all Level I requests within two to three weeks.

The Foundation will only consider requests of $9,999 and under. Note, the Foundation will fund a total of $100,000 in Level I grants. When this fund is depleted, Level I grants will close for the year. Funding amounts and the number of awards may vary depending on the quality of the applications the Foundation receives. 

Consistent with our strategic plan, the Foundation is interested in funding focused proposals and projects aimed at improving health and wellness in Howard County including:   

1. Reducing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages by Howard County children and their families (e.g., regular sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, flavored waters, etc.) through organizational policy change, education of parents/children/health care providers, and social marketing strategies.
   
   
2. Improving community health and wellness in Howard County by addressing the needs of vulnerable populations by promoting healthful eating, physical activity, and other positive lifestyle changes.
   
   
3. Increasing access to healthcare for targeted or vulnerable populations.
   
   
4. Working with nonprofit health and human service organizations to address social determinants of health, particularly those of greatest need in our community.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Proposals will be accepted from agencies that directly benefit people who live or work in Howard County so we can create a healthier community.
   
   
2. Organizations must be: (a) tax-exempt under IRS Section 501 (c) 3, 501 (c) 4; (b) public entities; or, (c) operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit.
   
   
3. Proposals should demonstrate a direct link to the priority areas listed above and focus on a significant health and wellness issue in the county. Supporting data such as demographic information by zip code and census tract, health indicators, and information on disparities in Howard-county can be found at HowardHealthCounts.org.
   

Guidelines
Projects may include pilot programs, capacity building, program development, small planning grants, or strategic collaboration.  At present, the Foundation does not support capital campaigns, endowments, individuals, or bricks and mortar projects. 

Projects should be planned for one year. Multi-year grants will not be considered. 

The Foundation places a high priority on organizations that are able to clearly articulate program goals, present a plan for achieving results, and track outcomes related to the people and communities served.

Level I Funding Cycle is currently open. Click HERE to login/register for our online grants system and begin the application process.

Should you have any questions about the Level I grants, please email Rosi Melendez, at rmelendez@thehorizonfoundation.org or call 410-715-0311.

Level II – Grants $10,000-$49,999

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for Level II funding.

Timeline:

• Organization must be able to evaluate proposals through SMART objectives.
• Meet BBB Charity Standards or Maryland Nonprofit's Seal of Excellence or other similar standards.

Priority Areas:

• To be determined prior to cycle

Level II Funding Cycle is currently NOT open.

Level III – Grants $50,000-$150,000

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for Level III funding outside of the grant cycle dates. You MUST submit a Letter of Intent to be considered for funding. The Request for Proposal phase is by invitation-only.

The Foundation is seeking letters of intent (LOI) from non-profit and public entities for its Level III Grant Funding Cycle.  All letters of intent must be submitted via our online process.   The deadline to submit a letter of intent is April 13, 2012.   Letters of intent will be reviewed and qualified applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal on April 23, 2012 via our online system. 

The Foundation will consider requests of $50,000 - $150,000 and will fund a total of $300,000.  The Foundation expects to award a total of four to five grants averaging $75,000.  However, funding amounts and the number of awards may vary depending on the quality of the applications the Foundation receives. 

Consistent with our strategic plan, the Foundation is interested in funding focused proposals and projects aimed at improving health and wellness in Howard County including:   

1. Reducing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages by Howard County children and their families (e.g., regular sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, flavored waters, etc.) through organizational policy change, education of parents/children/health care providers, and social marketing strategies.
   
   
2. Improving community health and wellness in Howard County by addressing the needs of "at risk" populations by promoting healthful eating, physical activity, and other positive lifestyle changes.
   
   
3. Increasing access to healthcare for targeted or at-risk populations.
   
   
4. Working with nonprofit health and human service organizations to address social determinants of health, particularly those of greatest need in our community.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Proposals will be accepted from agencies that directly benefit people who live or work in Howard County so we can create a healthier community.
   
   
2. Organizations must be: (a) tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)4; (b) public entities; or, (c) operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit.
   
   
3. Proposals should demonstrate a direct link to the priority areas listed above and focus on a significant health and wellness issue in the county. Supporting data such as demographic information by zip code and census tract, health indicators, and information on disparities in Howard-county can be found at HowardHealthCounts.org.
   
   
4. Organizations awarded a Level III grant must meet BBB Standards of Accountability, Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (MANO) Standards of Excellence, or other similar industry specific standard by the time of award.  To get a head start on the BBB Standards of Accountability please visit the Better Business Bureau/Greater Maryland.

Guidelines

Projects may include organizational sustainability improvement, larger pilot programs, capacity building, program development, planning grants, strategic collaboration, or infrastructure.  At present, the Foundation does not support capital campaigns, endowments, individuals, or bricks and mortar projects. 

Projects should be planned for a specific timeframe (e.g., one year, eighteen months, etc.).  Multi-year grants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  If submitting a multi-year grant, detailed line-item budgets for the entire multi-year grant period must be submitted.  The budget should present each year of the project separately.

The Foundation is most interested in supporting organizations that provide evidence of collaboration to leverage resources and creative problem solving.  Nonprofits that are part of a collaborative effort funded by the Foundation may also seek funding for their individual projects.

The Foundation places a high priority on organizations that are able to clearly articulate organizational goals, present a clear plan for achieving results, and track outcomes related to the people and communities served.

Organizations invited to submit a full proposal will be required to conduct a site visit to the Foundation with staff and members of the Board of Trustees. 

Timeline:

Level III Funding Cycle is currently open. Click HERE to login/register for our online grants system and begin the application process. NOTE: Everyone will need to register for the system, even if you applied for previous grants.

Should you have any questions about the Level III grants, please email Rosi Melendez, at rmelendez@thehorizonfoundation.org or call 410-715-0311.