FAQs
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General
How do I apply for funding from the Tower Foundation?
Please refer to the Grant Guidelines.
Can I apply online?
No. Online applications are not accepted. Please refer to the Grant Guidelines for more information.
What types of projects does the Foundation support?
The Foundation has two main funding categories: 1) education and 2) mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities. Please refer to the Grant Guidelines for more information.
Can I meet or talk with someone from the Foundation's office?
Yes. Potential grantees are encouraged to first review the information provided on the website and to then contact Foundation staff if additional information is needed.
Does the Foundation staff make site visits?
Yes. Site visits are used to gather more information about a specific project or organization. Site visits are also often made after funds are awarded to determine if the terms and conditions of the grant are being met and if the goals of the grant are likely to be achieved.
What is an appropriate amount to request when submitting a project?
Each organization must determine its own needs, present a budget for the project that is being submitted and indicate what amount is requested from the Foundation. Please refer to the Grant Guidelines for our typical funding range.
Does the Foundation prefer to fund projects rather than ongoing operation costs?
Yes. Priority is given to projects where the incremental costs, i.e., the costs that are new to the organization as a result of the proposed project, are a substantial portion of the budget.
Does the Foundation award multi-year grants?
Yes. Multi-year grant requests are encouraged.
Does the Foundation provide start-up funds?
Yes.
Does the Foundation fund religious or faith-based organizations?
Requests from faith-based organizations are evaluated on the same basis as all other requests.
Does the Foundation fund capital projects?
No.
Does the Foundation make grants to endowments?
No.
Does the Foundation make challenge grants?
No.
Does the Foundation fund individuals?
The Foundation does not consider requests for grants to individuals.
Does the Foundation make scholarship grants to individuals for education purposes?
No. The Foundation makes grants only to tax-exempt organizations as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and not to individuals.
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Requests For Funding
To whom do I speak if I have questions regarding a letter of inquiry or proposal?
The Foundation's Program Officer or Executive Director.
May I mail the request on the deadline date and still meet the deadline?
No. All materials must be received by the deadline date and time.
May I hand deliver or have a courier service or an organization such as Fed Ex deliver the proposal or letter of inquiry?
Yes, as long as the materials are received by the deadline date and time.
May I submit a partial request in order to meet the deadline and send the rest later?
No. All materials and information must be received by the deadline date and time.
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Letters of Inquiry
Should a letter of inquiry or intent be sent first?
Yes. Please refer to the Grant Guidelines for more information.
What are the deadlines for letters of inquiry?
Please refer to the Grant Guidelines.
How many letters of inquiry can my organization submit?
An organization may submit one letter of inquiry per funding category per year.
If my organization receives a grant in one grantmaking category, can we submit a letter of inquiry in a different grantmaking category?
Yes.
If my organization receives a multi-year grant, can we submit a letter of inquiry in the same category for a different project during the multi-year grant period?
Yes.
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Proposals
Does the Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No. Please refer to the Grant Guidelines for more information.
What are the deadlines for submitting grant proposals?
The dates vary from year to year. Please refer to the Grant Guidelines for this year's deadlines.
What makes a good proposal?
A good proposal starts with an idea that makes sense in relation to the mission of the organization. It is the result of solid planning that studies the idea in the context of the community, reviews alternatives, addresses details, and realistically projects the project's future. A good proposal has a carefully detailed and realistic budget, and a plan for ongoing funding.
How important is it to have a well-written proposal?
It is very helpful to read a proposal that is clearly and succinctly written. We read numerous proposals each cycle and need to be able to find information easily and quickly.
Why are proposals declined?
For many reasons. The most common is that there are more worthwhile projects than funds available. Sometimes, however, relevant information is missing from the grant request, e.g., how a project will be sustained once grant funds terminate or how the project outcomes will be evaluated. Occasionally, the work plan will be incomplete or not thought to be adequate to achieve the desired outcomes.
What is an appropriate time frame to follow up on a proposal?
Notification dates are included on both the Grant Guidelines and the grant application. You should hear from Foundation staff by these dates. If not, call or e-mail either the Program Officer or Executive Director.
May I include extra items with my proposal such as video/audio tapes, newspaper articles, cd-roms, etc?
Supplemental materials should be held to the minimum necessary to convey a basic understanding of the organization, e.g., the annual report. Videotapes should not be sent unless specifically requested. Materials included with proposals will not be returned.
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