What does the Foundation fund?
The Bishop-Parker Foundation will only consider funding:
- Organizations with a 501c(3) status (including eligible government or educational units serving a charitable purpose)
- Projects that serve residents of Manatee County (with the exception of research projects)
- One application per organization per year for the same purpose
- Capital projects that have required land use approvals
- Education projects for at-risk K-12 students
- Organizations with missions in the following field of interest areas:
- Arts
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human services
- Animal welfare
Bishop-Parker Foundation will not fund the following:
- Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes or require participation in faith-based programming
- Grants to individuals
- Debt reduction
- Political campaigns or lobbying
- Annual or endowment campaigns
- Event sponsorships
- Team or sport travel
When are requests for funding considered by the Foundation?
Grants of more than $15,000
Applications are considered twice each year – in Spring and Fall cycles. No requests are considered outside of the application cycles. The opening and closing dates of these cycles are listed on our website.
Grants of $15,000 and below
Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Where do I go to apply for a grant?
You will need to create an account on our online grant portal. Once you create an account, you will be able to apply.
How do I know if my organization is eligible to apply?
- Your organization must have a 501(c)(3) designation.
- Your project must be located in or serving a population in Manatee County.
- Your organization must have an up-to-date profile on The Giving Partner
When can I apply for a grant of $15,000 or less?
Applications for grants of $15,000 or less may be made at any time. If you are considering applying for this level of grant, please contact the Foundation’s staff to schedule a pre-application meeting here.
When are grant payments made?
Notifications to all applicants are sent to the organization’s designated email contact following the Foundation meeting approving grants for the cycle. This is usually a less than two months following the grant application closing date.
What are the Foundation’s guidelines for capital grants?
Capital requests, such as those for buildings, land, or equipment, are supported when they help meet a compelling community need in one or more of the Foundation’s fields of interest and offer a broad social benefit. Ideally, a capital project should accomplish more than building a building or providing equipment for a program. It should also seek to strengthen the organization’s base of support and its ability to carry out its work.
When the Bishop-Parker Foundation participates in a large capital project, its support is contingent on funding from other sources. For large projects, the Foundation will consider funding matching, challenge, or capping funds of a portion of up to 30 percent of the total project cost. Smaller capital grants are also considered and may not require a match.
Capital Grant Criteria and Requirements
- Capital grants are available only to 501(c)3 nonprofit entities that provide programs or services to residents of Manatee County and have a current profile on The Giving Partner.
- In general, eligible organizations will have been in existence for at least two years and have achieved a record of effective service and sustainability. Below are a few recommended reading sources that may assist you in determining your organization’s ability to take on a significant capital campaign.
- The Bishop-Parker Foundation will consider the following types of capital grant funding:
- new construction
- land acquisition
- land conservation
- renovations to existing building(s)
- equipment (including software and hardware)
- vehicles
- Organizations can receive one capital grant award for new construction or renovations from the Bishop-Parker Foundation every two years.
- Organizations may receive one capital grant award for equipment or vehicles from the Bishop-Parker Foundation annually.
- Organizations requesting funding for new buildings will be asked to provide the following:
- Proof of control of property
- Final planning approvals (comp plan, zoning, etc.)
- Confirmation that at least 35 percent of the total project cost has been raised and the cash is on hand
- Details on the capital campaign, including timelines, strategies, board committees, and participating donors
- Final construction contract (fully executed AIA agreement (or its equivalent) with the selected contractor) with confirmed total project cost and projected drawdown schedule must be provided within 90 days of notification of grant award
- Organizations may apply during the spring or fall cycle for funding for renovations to existing buildings.
- Requests for projects with a total budget under $200,000 must provide
- Proof of control of property (deed, lease, etc.)
- Estimates from two qualified contractors
- Requests for projects with a total budget under $200,000 must provide
Requests for projects with a total budget over $200,000 must provide:
- Proof of control of property (deed, lease, etc.)
- Confirmation that at least 35 percent of the total project cost has been raised and the cash is on hand
- Details on the capital campaign, including participating donors (if applicable)
- Final construction contract (fully executed AIA agreement (or its equivalent) with the selected contractor) with confirmed total project cost and projected drawdown schedule must be provided within 90 days of notification of grant award
Organizations for funding for equipment or vehicles and must provide the following:
- Budget and timeline for purchase(s)
- At least two recent estimates
The Foundation will not make capital grants for:
- Retirement of debt or to cover costs of capital items already acquired
- Private educational institutions unless they are serving a special needs or disadvantaged population
- Religious organizations or churches unless it directly benefits a program in one of the Foundation’s fields of interest
Who should I contact to discuss a grant proposal?
Access to grant applications is provided once you’ve discussed your idea for a funding request with the Foundation’s staff.
To schedule a time to discuss a small grant proposal, click here.
To schedule a time to discuss a large grant proposal, click here.
If funding is denied, will the Foundation provide an explanation?
Due to the high volume of requests, we are unable to provide detailed explanations. However, we encourage you to consider applying at subsequent grant cycles. The grant process is competitive, and a request may be denied due to funding restrictions