BOARD GRANTS
Advancing Long-Term Health Initatives
We award board grants to impactful organizations committed to community betterment. These substantial grants, typically exceeding $25,000, undergo a review process lasting 3 to 6 months, and require the approval of our Board of Trustees.
Our board grants aim to support long-term collaborations and innovative organizations, programs, and initiatives that focus on bridging gaps in health disparities.
ELIGIBILITY AND PROCESS
How to Apply for a Board Grant
The Foundation provides grants to organizations supporting our target neighborhoods and throughout Cuyahoga County.
Applicants must be either an organization designated as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a governmental unit or agency.
If your organization does not have this designation, you may use a fiscal sponsor – please notify Saint Luke’s staff if this is the case.
If you meet the above criteria, please follow the steps below to apply:
March 4, 2024
Decision mid-June
June 10, 2024
Decision early September
September 9, 2024
Decision early December
April 8, 2024 - April 12, 2024
Second Quarter
July 15, 2024 - July 19, 2024
Third Quarter
October 7, 2024 - October 11, 2024
Fourth Quarter
STEP ONE Schedule a Meeting with a Program Officer
Only after reviewing the above “Who Can Apply” section, learning about our funding strategies, contact us to schedule a meeting in advance of submitting an application.
In the email, please provide details about your organization, the project for which you are seeking funding, and the requested amount. A Program Officer will reach out to you to schedule a meeting with you if they believe you are a good fit for our strategies.
Contact us at grants@stlukesfdn.org with information about your organization, project, and desired amount to find out which process is right for you.
Applications are accepted by invitation only and applicants will be given an access code to complete the application.
Contact UsSTEP TWO Prepare and Submit Your Grant Application
To complete your application, please use our online grants portal and Login here.
If this is your first time applying for a grant with Saint Luke’s Foundation, you must create an account in the system before completing your application.
Before submitting your application, familiarize yourself with how we will evaluate it by reviewing the ‘How We Evaluate Your Proposal’ section at the bottom of this page.
For board grants, in addition to the written application, you must provide the following:
- Budget forms (using your own format)
- Organizational chart
- Most recent audited financial statements
- Current Board list
Upon submission, you should receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please contact our grants staff at 216-431-8010.
If you need assistance creating an account or navigating the grant application, watch our tutorial video and review our Frequently Asked Questions.
Download FAQsSTEP THREE Respond to Follow Up Questions from Program Team
Your Program Officer will contact you if they need any necessary additional information or clarification.
You may be invited to participate in a Strategy Learning Session for your board grant application. These sessions provide an opportunity for Saint Luke’s staff and board members to learn more about the successes, challenges, and impacts of the work carried out by our strategy partners. The goal is to facilitate open dialogue, exchange ideas, and offer recommendations for streamlining efforts related to addressing the social determinants of health.
Participation in a learning session is not mandatory for every board applicant to respect our partners’ time. We prioritize applicants engaged in unique and innovative efforts and are committed to fostering open dialogue rather than subjecting your work to interrogation.
If selected, please review the dates of our 2024 Strategy Learning Sessions.
April 8, 2024 – April 12, 2024
For Second Quarter Applicants
Second Quarter
July 15, 2024 – July 19, 2024
For Third Quarter Applicants
Third Quarter
October 7, 2024 – October 11, 2024
For Fourth Quarter Applicants
Fourth Quarter
STEP FOUR Award Notifications
You will be notified ahead of time when the Board of Trustees will meet to review your application and you will receive a notification from your Program Officer within 24 hours after our quarterly Board of Trustees meeting.
STEP FIVE Complete Grant Agreement and Receive Payment
If your application is approved, you will be sent an email notifying you that an electronic grant agreement must be signed. Please log in to our online grants portal to submit this. Once that is submitted, you will receive your first check in a few weeks.
Here is a short video on navigating the portal to sign the agreement. Please submit the following ACH form and a voided check via email to be paid electronically.
Download ACH FormSTEP SIX Complete Final Report
Written final reports are an integral part of grantmaking at the Foundation. Please make every effort to answer each question fully. Your follow-up reporting requirements will be listed in your online grants dashboard with their respective due dates.
A reminder email will be sent one month before the due date. Please be sure to submit your reports on time. Please remember that your final report is due one month after the end of your grant period.
Download Final ReportSelection Criteria
How We Evaluate Your Proposal
We want to get to know you and your organization before you submit a proposal to the Foundation. The partnership with our grantees is as fundamental to our work as the passion we have for efforts that support our goals, strategies and priorities.
Your program officer at the Foundation will be your primary partner before, during and after the process of submitting a proposal, but decisions are made by a team and include board approval. Because we want depth to our partnership with you, there will be factors that are considered in evaluating a proposal that are less tangible than the criteria listed below. However, you may find it helpful to know the criteria we are universally reviewing the proposals submitted to the Foundation:
- Is your mission and work consistent with our vision, mission and health equity framework?
- Is the work of your organization aligned with our goals and objectives?
- Does your work fit within the specific priorities we have determined for the current year?
- Diversity of staff, board and leadership are important elements of organizational capacity that we will review as well as how you operationalize your organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Is your organization financially sound?
- What is your track record of success/progress?
- How significant is the need?
- What is the significance of the impact of this work? How many will be served and to what degree?
- Are the intended outcomes clear, realistic and measurable?
- Can support from the Saint Luke’s Foundation be leveraged?
- Are there appropriate partnerships in place to strengthen your ability to implement and sustain your work?
- Is beneficiary voice considered in program development, implementation and evaluation?
THE LATEST
Saint Luke’s Latest News & Updates
We and our strategy partners work together to close the health equity gaps. Stay informed about our latest initiatives, grantmaking news, and upcoming events, as well as the recent efforts of our strategy partners.