Home

Application Process

Grant Guidelines | Application Questions | View Sample Applications

Tips for Completion | Attachment Checklist

Start a New Application | Continue an Incomplete Application

Grant Reporting Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

 




APPLICATION PROCESS

All grant applications must be submitted online. Before beginning your application, please review these steps.

STEP 1:  Check your eligibility. Your organization or your program must:

  • be consistent with one of our focus areas
  • be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code
  • be based in Northeast Ohio and have a significant impact on Cuyahoga County
    (Proposals from organizations located outside of the region will be considered only if invited by a Trustee.)
  • have submitted an interim or final report on any previous grants before a new request can be considered

STEP 2: See what information you will need.

Following are sample applications submitted to the Abington Foundation. We noted that these applications were written specifically to answer the questions. They were concise and direct and avoided repetition. We understand that this online application requires a different kind of writing than other traditional proposals. Detailed backgrounds, case statements, and narratives written for other purposes that depend more on persuasive and creative use of language do not work as well in this format. Bulleted or numbered lists and simple sentence structure read better, and ultimately help the Foundation understand the programs that fit its priorities.

Sample Application #1

Sample Application #2

Sample Application #3

STEP 3:  Begin your online application.

  • FOR FIRST TIME USERS: Click on Start a New Application above. At the Sign-In page you should select new online applicant. As a new user, enter your email address and a password. PLEASE NOTE: the email address and password you choose is for your organization and not you as an individual. The email and password will enable you and other staff members to save and return to an application and it will be used to complete the grant report form if a grant is awarded. In addition, every application and report that your organization submits, from this point on, will be accessible by using this email address and password.  If you outsource your grant writing, set up your sign-in and provide the grant writer with access to your account.  The contract grant writer should never use your organizations sign-in account for other organizations' applications. You will be prompted to enter your organization's taxpayer identification number.  The Tax ID will be checked against the IRS database. PLEASE NOTE: If you are working with a fiscal sponsor, please contact our office before proceeding. Next you will complete an Eligibility Quiz.
  • FOR RETURNING USERS: If you previously created an account, and you are ready to submit another application, click Start a New Application above. At the Sign-In page, select returning online applicant and enter the email address and password that you originally created. If this new application is eligible, your organization name, address and other information will automatically be entered into the new application.
  • RETRIEVING A SAVED APPLICATION: If you previously started and saved an application, click on Continue an Incomplete Application above. Indicate that you are a returning online user and enter your email and password. You will then see the application that you have been working on in your account. At this point, you can complete the application and submit it, or edit, save and submit it at a later date. You have the ability to email a copy of the saved application to a colleague for review prior to completing and submitting it to the Foundation.

Step 4:  Complete and submit the online application. When you click submit you will receive an email confirmation that we have received your application. PLEASE NOTE:  Do not mail a duplicate hard copy of the application or any uploaded attachments. 

 

Deadline 

  

The Board of Trustees meets 3 times a year to consider applications and award grants. In order to allow ample time for the Trustees to review each request thoroughly, the following schedule has been adopted:

Deadline             Meeting Date

 

December 1st January        
May 1st
June
September 1st November         

 

When a deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday, the proposal must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. the following business day.

 

Technical Assistance 

The staff of the Abington Foundation are available to discuss application procedures. As part of the review process, they often make site visits to requesting organizations. They also reserve the right to contact other funders and professionals in the field regarding the grant applicants under review.

Foundation Management Services
1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 627
Cleveland, OH   44115-1952
Phone: 216-621-2901     Fax:  216-621-8198
Email:  info@fmscleveland.com 

To conserve your costs and the environment, please do not send us more than one copy of newsletters, invitations, annual reports or other mailings. We prefer to receive any printed material as a pdf attachment to an e-mail.