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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
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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)
We welcome applications within the scope of our mission from all, regardless of whether that involves race, age, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, or other aspects of social identity. We are committed to the Quaker principles upon which the Fund was established.
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. Organizations seeking funding will be asked to complete an online Eligibility Quiz and if successful, may proceed with an online application.
Grantee Portal Transition Notice
Our grantee portal is transitioning from the current Blackbaud® Legacy Portal to the new Blackbaud® Your Cause Applicant & Grantee Portal.
The new portal will make the application process easier. The new login will let applicants see all applications from ANY foundation using Blackbaud® Your Cause Grantmaking. You will only have one login to manage and if you use other Blackbaud® products, such as Raiser Edge, you will not need to create a secondary login.
New Applications for the Fall 2025 Grant Cycle:
New login credentials will need to be created if you don’t already have a Blackbaud ID.
Click here to start a NEW Fall 2025 application on the Blackbaud® Applicant & Grantee Portal.
Click here for instructions on setting up a Blackbaud ID and navigating the new application
Click here to continue a SAVED (in progress) application or grant report
Previously submitted applications and reports on legacy portal:
If you would like to retain a copy of previously submitted applications or reporting requirements, please access the Blackbaud Legacy Portal to download those files before September 15, 2025. Regrettably, we are unable to transfer these to the new application system.