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Proposal Guidelines |
SDX Funding Policy
Sigma Delta Chi Foundation Grant Proposal
Guidelines and Procedures
Due Date: February 15, 2009
— 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
No original documents should be sent. No portion of the applications
and materials submitted are returned.
All grantees should submit the following, where applicable, in
a document not to exceed five pages:
Contact Information: Name of the grantee, organization, contact person, title, address, phone, fax, e-mail address
Abstract / Summary: Please prepare a concise abstract/summary which briefly states the reason or goal of the proposal, the objectives and the activities that will be undertaken
to achieve these objectives. The abstract should state the amount requested
and it should provide a timeline for completion of the project.
Introduction: Describe the qualifications and background of the organization or individual(s) seeking the grant. The introduction should describe the applicant(s) in terms
relevant to the context of the proposal. The introduction should include such
information as:
— Organization. Why was the organization formed and whom does it
serve?
— Management. Who specifically will supervise the use of these
funds. What are their qualifications to achieve the goals of this project?
What evidence supports the ability of the organization to implement this
project? How will this project enhance or improve the organization’s
goals and/or effectiveness?
Needs assessment: State the problem or opportunity your project addresses. Provide evidence to support the likelihood of achieving the stated objectives.
Objectives: Describe the anticipated objectives. Describe the expected impact of
this program or project on the organization, on the industry, the problem
to be solved or on the public.
Methodology: Describe the specific activities to be undertaken and the steps planned to achieve the stated outcome. This should be the major segment of your
proposal. Give details concerning who is doing what, how it will be done
and when it will be done.
Evaluation: Describe how the program or project will be monitored and how the results
will be evaluated.
Continuity: Address issues of continuity. Indicate if future funds will be required. Describe how the project will be sustained in the future.
Marketing and Promotion: Explain strategies for marketing and promoting the program or project so that the greatest amount of good will is realized. Indicate who will benefit from
the product and how you intend to reach them. Recognize and ensure that marketing
and promotion language will include an acknowledgement that funding for the
project comes from the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation. Specific language should
include the following wording: “ Funding provided by the Sigma Delta
Chi Foundation, a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) public foundation organized for the
purpose of supporting the educational programs of the Society of Professional
Journalists and to serve the professional needs of journalists and students
pursuing careers in journalism – www.spj.org”
Budget: Prepare a detailed budget for the project which describes how Foundation (and
any other) funds will be used.
Other: Describe any other matters that the board needs to know about the value of
the proposal.
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V. Documentation
In addition to the (no longer than five page) proposal, please
submit to the SDX Foundation copies of:
— Your organization’s 501 (c)(3), I. R. S. exemption letter or your 501
(c)(3) application the I. R S.
— Your organization’s mission statement.
— The names and addresses of your organization’s Board of Directors.
— Your organization’s most recent year-end financial statement.
— Your current month and year-to-date financial statements.
Please submit clear copies, using at least 12-pt. type, of all
funding requests to:
Terry Harper
Executive Director
Sigma Delta Chi Foundation
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317/927-8000 x. 220
Please include:
— Grantee signature
— Grantee title
— Grantee address
— Date
Deadline: February 15, 2009
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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.
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The work of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation depends on time, talent and financial support from journalists and others who support these goals. Our online giving process will only take a few moments. Please visit our donation page to support SPJ and the SDX Foundation.
Staff contact
Director of Development
Amy Posavac
317/927-8000,
ext. 213
E-mail
Who we are
Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. SDX is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.
Liberty and self-government require a well-informed public. It is the responsibility of journalists to provide fair, balanced and accurate information in a comprehensive, timely and ethical manner.
SDX helps by:
— Advocating for open government
— Promoting integrity
— Encouraging excellence
— Fostering diversity
— Inspiring new generations of talented journalists
— Protecting freedom of speech and press
Through the years, SDX has created a legacy of worthwhile programs to achieve these aims, including:
— Pulliam/Kilgore Freedom of Information Internships
— Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writers
— Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award
— Diversity Toolbox/Rainbow Sourcebook
Contributions to the Foundation help support these and other programs:
— SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference
— Ethics in Journalism Week
— The Ethics AdviceLine
— Diversity Leadership Outreach Program
— National Freedom of Information Coalition Annual Conference
— Eugene C. Pulliam Editorial Writing Fellowship
— Training on the Go newsroom training seminars
— SPJ Narrative Writing Workshops
— Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award
— Spring Journalism Conferences
— Mark of Excellence Awards honoring collegiate journalists
— Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
— National Conference of Editorial Writers Minority Writers Seminar
— Annual Surveys of Journalism and Mass Communications
The work of the Foundation depends on time, talent and financial support from journalists and others who support these goals.
Contribute to the SDX Foundation
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