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Sigma Delta Chi Foundation Grants
Sigma Delta Chi Foundation Grant Proposal Guidelines and Procedures

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The deadline for grant proposals is February 19. You may submit your application online using this form..

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— Guidelines
— Processing the Grant Application
— Grant Monitoring
— The Application
— Documentation
— Follow-up: Grant Performance Report
— Guidelines for continuing funding

I. Guidelines

The Sigma Delta Chi (SDX) Foundation seeks, accepts and manages funds for educational and training projects for the Society of Professional Journalists.

The SDX Foundation Board is responsible for the investment, management and disbursement of Foundation funds.

The SDX Foundation allocates funds to grantees periodically (usually once a year) on the basis of:

—Written requests and recommendations from the Board of the Society of Professional Journalists.
— The availability of SDX Foundation funds.
— The relevance and value of the request, as judged, independently, by the SDX Foundation Board.
— Evidence of the sound use of funds in projects requiring periodic funding.

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II. Processing the Grant Application

Applications are first reviewed and discussed by SDX’s Review Committee (the "Committee").

The Committee may request additional information if necessary.

Proposals are evaluated against competing proposals and the committee makes recommendations to the SDX board. The full board votes to approve or deny funding.

Any grant approved will be administered according to the instructions of the SDX Board.

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III. Grant Monitoring

The trust placed in the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation — by its own donors and contributors and its status as a tax-exempt charitable organization — requires fiscal integrity.

Requirements for grant recipients include the following:

—The grant must be used in accordance with the goals and purposes set forth in the grant proposal, for purposes clearly identified as educational and as charitable under applicable state and federal laws.
— When projects or programs are operated for less than the anticipated budget figures, all excess (unexpended) funds and any earned interest must be returned to the SDX Foundation.
—All grant recipients must submit a midterm (six months) and a final (annual) narrative report — the grant performance report — describing the process of the program or project as well as a financial report detailing how the funds have been used. These performance reports will be reviewed by the board to determine if the program or project is progressing as anticipated and to verify that the expenditures are in accordance with the grant proposal. If these reports are not submitted or reflect discrepancies, additional funding may be withheld.

The SDX Foundation maintains the right to order an independent audit or to recind funding for noncompliance.

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IV. The Application

You may now apply for grants using our online form. Deadline: February 19.

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V. Documentation

As part of your application, please provide the following documents:

— your organization’s 501 (c)(3), IRS exemption letter or 501 (c)(3) application

— your organization’s most recent year-end financial statement

You will be asked either to upload or email the documents when you apply.

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VI. Follow-up: Grant Performance Report

Grantees also are required to submit a Grant Performance Report.

Within 30 days following the expenditure of the grant, or within one year — whichever occurs first – submit a brief Grant Performance Report to the Foundation which includes the following:

— A brief description of grant use: How have the funds been used?
— Have the goals of the program or project been accomplished?
— Who was served?
— What was the impact?

Attach any additional description as needed.

Also describe:

—The payee
— The recipient
— Payment date
— Payment amount
— Purpose of expenditure
— Submit any brochures, news articles or products created by the grant.
— If the grant funds have not been spent and the grant purpose not achieved, explain and provide a time table for completion.
— Please identify the author of the report. Include name, title, address, signature, date and phone number.

Submit the Grant Performance Report to:

Grant Performance Report
Sigma Delta Chi Foundation
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208

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VII. Guidelines for continuing funding

Prior to receiving additional funding, all projects and programs which seek renewals of funding are required to annually document performance. Performance Reports will be shared internally by the SPJ and SDX boards.

The funding of ongoing projects will be reviewed, annually, by the SDX Board based on:

— A recommendation to continue funding from the SPJ Board.
— A review of the program/project’s annual performance report.
— The availability of Foundation funds.
— The SDX Board’s independent determination that the program or project funds have been administered effectively to date.
— The SDX Board’s independent determination that the program or project remains relevant to SPJ goals.

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Direct questions about the SDX Foundation’s grants or grant proposal procedures to sdx@spj.org or call 317/927-8000.