Sharing Success Grant Application

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Before You Start, Please Review

PURPOSE

CoBank’s Sharing Success program doubles the contributions of FreeState employees and trustees to the charitable organizations and causes they care about most. This is FreeState's annual internal fundraising drive. The money raised is then matched dollar-for-dollar by CoBank (our lender) and presented to an employee chosen designated charity.

ELIGIBILITY

Contributions will generally be made to non-profit, civic, or community -based organizations that demonstrate a commitment to enhance the quality of life in the region. Contributions can only be made to a section 501(c)(3) organization that is classified as a public charity.

Organizations MUST provide an IRS designation letter dated no more than three years ago. Organizations who do not provide this paperwork will be delayed or disqualified from receiving a grant.

Projects should fit in one or more of these categories:

Service of Others
Provide Basic Needs
Community Empowerment or Improvement
Education or Youth Programming
Helping Others

Applications must be submitted via digital forms. Paper forms will not be accepted.

RESTRICTIONS

Contributions will generally be made to non-profit organizations that have been granted tax-exempt status under IRS Code Section 501 (c) (3).

Contributions will not be made for:

Lobbying, political organizations, or highly sensitive/controversial events.
Fraternal and labor organizations
Fundraising dinners, raffles, and other events
Capital fund campaigns
National fund drives
Advertising
Ongoing operational expenses

EVALUATION FACTORS

The following factors will be considered in the evaluation of funding requests:

Potential benefit to area residents and the entire community.
Level of community support for the program or project.
Administrative capability of the organization to deliver quality service or program.
Results are predictable and can be evaluated.

REQUIREMENTS/CHECKLIST

Applications not meeting all these requirements will not be considered.

Completed digital application form.
Completed budget information showing how requested funds will be spent.
If including bids for a project, please include at least two bids. You may also include any quotes or pricing, etc.).
Copy of 501(c) (3) or non-profit status letter (letter of determination from the IRS). This letter must be dated after 2020.
KS SOS business entity ID number
FEIN
Most recent IRS 990 form or postcard.
Upload other information, like photos, flyers, or other information that will assist the committee in determining need for your organization.
If you are an organization utilizing another organization's status to apply for this funding, a formal memo of understanding must be uploaded with this application. For example, if you are a school organization utilizing a community foundation, you need to upload a formal memo of understanding from the community foundation that states they are aware you are utilizing their 501 (c) 3 designation to apply. If you have questions about the memo of understanding, contact us. We are happy to help clarify.

I understand that the information I provide in this application will be used by the cooperative to inform the cooperative of my application to receive grant funds.

I understand

Eligibility Verification

Does your organization operate in the FreeState service territory?

YesNoI don't know.

Is your organization a 501(c) (3) public charity?

YesNoI don't know

Does your organization have a recent copy of 501(c) (3) or non-profit status letter (letter of determination from the IRS or letter of municipality determination) dated after January 2020?

YesNoI don't know.

If you answered "yes" to all three questions, please proceed to the next page.

If you answered "no" or "I don't know" to any of these questions, please gather the needed documentation prior to completing the form.

If you have an IRS determination letter or municipality designation that is dated prior to January 2020, please contact the IRS to obtain a recent letter.

Why are these items needed to proceed? The cooperative is audited each year and is restricted by the IRS on what organizations we can grant funds to.

By gathering the correct documentation up front, we can be as efficient as possible.

Organization Contact Information

Please note that you should provide an address where your organization receives mail. If your mail is not checked regularly, please provide a mailing address that can be used for correspondence. While most correspondence is done via email, there may be instances we need to send documentation through the USPS. Please provide a working email that is monitored and phone number where someone can be contacted. Failure to provide accurate information could mean your organization may not be considered.

Organization Name

First Name

Last Name

name@domain.com

Mailing Address

Zip Code

Organization Website

About Your Organization

Please provide us with a brief overview of your organization. You should not exceed 750 words.

Tell us about the organziation

Has your organization ever received a Sharing Success grant?

YesNoI'm not sure

Upload Documentation

Contributions will generally be made to non-profit, civic, or community -based organizations that demonstrate a commitment to enhance the quality of life in the service territory.
Contributions can only be made to a section 501(c)(3) organization is classified as a public charity.
Organizations MUST provide an IRS designation letter dated no more than three years ago.
Organizations who do not provide this paperwork will be delayed or disqualified from receiving a grant.

What is your Kansas Secretary of State Business ID Number?

What is your FEIN?

Upload IRS Designation Letter

Upload Copy of most recent IRS Form 990 or Postcard

Project Details

In this section, tell us more about your organization and how you meet the community needs.

This is information about the project you would use the grant funds for. Be as specific as possible and please provide information that is relevant. If you provide direct assistance, please provide a general idea of the demographics and statistics about that assistance. If a project is targeted to a specific group of people, please provide that information. The more details, the better. There will be a place at the end of the application to upload information. If you are uploading information, please note that in the box provided.

Please describe the project you are seeking funding for. Text limit is 1,000 words.

Describe how this project contributes to the mission of your organization. Text limit is 1,000 words.

Describe the expected results from the project. Text limit is 1,000 words.

Budgetary and Financial Information

Please answer as thoroughly as possible and keep your responses to 500 words or less. If the question is not relevant to your organization, please note that.

Do you receive funding from other outside sources, if so, please name.

What percentage of your leadership/board gives to your organization?

What type of fundraising does your organization do?

What amount was raised by your organization last year?

What type of reporting does your organization do, for example, does your organization provide funders an annual report or progress reports?

Please upload a recent budget or budget report.

Please upload any other financial report (annual or progress report) if applicable.

Need to provide more information?

Additional Uploads

If you have any other information to add to your application, please upload it below. If you do not have any other information to upload, please proceed to the next page.

Is there anything else you would like the let the cooperative know about, or include in your application?

Additional Information

You're almost ready to submit your application!

Have You Provided All Information?

Applications not meeting all the below requirements will not be

considered.

I have provided the following in my application.

Completed budget form showing how requested funds will be spent.Copy of 501(c) (3) or non-profit status letter (letter of determination from the IRS). This letter must be dated after 2020.Other information, like photos, flyers, or other information that will assist the committee in determining need for your organization.Kansas SOS Business ID Number. And, FEIN.Most recent filing of the IRS 990 form or postcard.Memo of Understanding from a parent organization (if applicable)

Signature and Submit

The information I have provided is true to the best of my knowledge and I understand that any misrepresentation of information on this form may be grounds for denial grant funding. I also understand that my application does not entitle me to immediate funding and my organization must go through the grant process.

I understand

By typing my name into this box I agree that this represents my signature and give FreeState Electric Cooperative permission to utilize my information to initiate my organization's grant application process.

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