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Guidelines and Procedures

The Hilles Fund prioritizes grants to programs that serve those with the greatest needs in the city of Philadelphia and the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia counties. Priority is given to organizations with operating budgets under $2 million.

Grants from the Hilles Fund support both proven approaches and also new approaches and can include direct services as well as systems change activities. We seek to support organizations for whom our modest grants of between $4,000 and $10,000 will have an impact.

The Hilles Fund makes grants to organizations that provide children, youth, and women with pathways to economic independence. Examples of strategies we fund are those that:

1. Facilitate the development of children and youth (Ages 3-24 years) through:

• High quality learning opportunities both in and out of school time
• High quality early education, school readiness support, and literacy programs
• Youth leadership development

2. Social services for women in the areas of health care access, education, legal assistance, housing, employment, workforce development, and financial services.

In addition to direct service programs, the Hilles Fund supports advocacy efforts consistent with its priority areas (children, youth women)

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Application deadlines are March 15, and September 15. If March 15 or September 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, applications may be submitted the next business day. No more than one request from an organization will be considered within a twelve-month period.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To be complete, your application must include the following information about your organization and the activities for which you are applying for support

Description of your organization

1. Mission
2. Organizational background and history (if a first time applicant)
3. Services provided

Description of the project for which you are seeking funding

(If your request is for operating support, please substitute “organization” for the word “project” in your description.)

4. What are your organization’s goals and objectives for the year and how will this grant help you implement these goals?
5. Geographic area served by the project.
6. How does your organization include the people it serves in its decision-making process?
7. How does your organization’s leadership reflect its constituency?
8. What is the need for the project? Who will benefit from it, including number of people served? How will the project help those served? What do you expect to be its impact?
9. Describe how the project will operate. Include hours, days and months of operation, full- and part-time staff and their qualifications. If volunteers are used, describe how they are recruited and trained.
10. Who will be in charge of the project? What are their qualifications?
11. How will you measure the impact of this project?

ATTACHMENTS

• 1 copy of the 501 (c)(3) IRS “determination letter” demonstrating your tax-exempt status
• Leadership, including officers, directors and Board members
• Organization budget, including anticipated sources of income
• Your most recent annual financial statement (audited if available)
• Program budget, if applicable

CONTINUOUS SUPPORT/WAIT POLICY

Agencies that have received continuous funding for 4 years are occasionally asked to refrain from requesting support for one year.

ONLINE APPLICATION

The “New Application Login” link below will be activated 6 – 8 weeks prior to the start of the March and September grant cycles and deactivated at the end of each cycle deadline. Details of what is asked in the application can be found in the APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS and ATTACHMENTS paragraphs above.

Before you submit your application:

• Review the application and attachments for accuracy.
• Confirm required attachments are uploaded.
• Print the application for your records using the Printer Friendly link.
• Click on the “Submit” button when completed.

Previous Grants

Hilles Grants 2024