Grant Process 2025

Overview

After a deliberation process that begins with review of preliminary proposals, POW! will award an “Impact Grant” for a single program or project that improves the quality of life for Henderson County residents.

The Grant should address the following:

– Commitment to long-range planning, financial stability and sustainability

– Sound plan to address ongoing or emerging issues that have been identified by research

– Solid, realistic plan for project evaluation

– Desire to promote collaboration among organizations or institutions to prevent duplication of services

– Project methodology utilizing a preventative approach to addressing the issue and solving problems

– Evidence of realistic organizational planning and management

– The project must be a new project/program or the grant application must clearly identify the community’s need for an existing project/program to be expanded.

Eligibility

Organizations in Henderson County, Kentucky, that serve residents of Henderson County are eligible to apply. This includes 501(c)(3) non-profits as well as governmental agencies including educators with school-based projects and other programs in Henderson County that have a 501(c)(3) non-profit designation fiscal sponsor.

Fiscal Sponsors

Organizations seeking consideration via the auspices of a public charity must include a written statement signed by the public charity’s board president on behalf of the board of directors agreeing to act as the entity’s fiscal sponsors, to receive grant monies if awarded, and to oversee the proposed projects.

Project Areas Considered for Funding

• Community Development: Activities that benefit residents within all segments of the population

• Education: Activities that promote or strengthen educational attainment, both in and out of the classroom in Henderson

• Health: Activities that improve the health outcomes for Henderson residents

• Human Services: Activities that support public protection, employment/jobs, food and nutrition, agriculture, housing and shelter, public safety, disaster preparedness, and relief

• Capital Projects: Small capital projects that will be completed within two years from the date of the grant award

Project Areas NOT Considered for Funding

• Requests for funding to reduce or retire debt of the organization
• Projects that focus solely on the spiritual needs and growth of a church
congregation or members of other religious organizations
• Political parties or campaigns
• Event sponsorships, annual appeals, and membership contributions.
• Travel expenses for groups or individual such as bands, sport teams (but funds can
be used for professional development)
• Scholarships or other grants to individuals
• Requests for funding to maintain routine day-to-day operations unless the
applicant clearly identifies the community’s need for an existing project/program
to be expanded
• Organizations outside of Henderson County

Preliminary Proposals

The application process starts with completion of the preliminary proposal questionnaire. Preliminary proposal questionnaire helps in determining whether a funding request qualifies for consideration before the applicant invests time and effort in completing a full grant proposal.

Upon completion, an email containing a copy of your preliminary proposal questionnaire will be delivered to the email address provided in your preliminary proposal which can be submitted here: https://form.jotform.com/240953263157155

Deliberation and Award

After review of preliminary proposal questionnaires, selected applicants will receive a formal invitation to submit a full grant proposal which must be submitted by June 30th. The Advisory Board will also submit the names of the of the approved finalists to the CFH Board of Directors and the CFWK Board of Directors for verifications for eligibility. Any finalists found to be not eligible will no longer be considered for a grant. Site visits will be scheduled with the month of July. All grant applicants will receive formal notification of the outcome of the deliberation process. Following the site visits, three finalists will be chosen. All semi-finalists will be notified. The finalists will present their proposal to the full membership of POW! at POW!’s annual dinner held in August. Each organization will have seven minutes to present the night of the dinner. The presenters will be signaled when two minutes remain during their allotted presentation time. No audio-visual presentations or aids will be permitted. No more than three (3) representatives from any organization will be permitted to make the presentation.

If the Organization does not allow site visits or does not present at the annual dinner, then the Organization will be disqualified from receiving a grant. The site visit must be open to all POW members who wish to attend. Grant finalists may not directly or indirectly contact or lobby the Membership at any time to influence voting of decision making, including but not limited to utilizing social media or other media outlets with regard to the grant application. If the Grants Committee determines that a Grant finalists has directly or indirectly contacted or lobbied the Membership in violation of this provision, The Grants Committee, in its sole discretion, will have the right to terminate the organization as Grant finalist and no funds will be awarded to the organization.

Distribution of Awards

In 2025, the successful organization will be awarded $15,000 and two runner-ups will
receive $5,000 each. Grants checks will be distributed within thirty (30) days of the
annual dinner.