Grant FAQs

We support a wide variety of organizations, programs, and projects throughout the Quad Cities. We rely on our agency partners to advise us of the needs in their fields through their grant requests so that the Doris & Victor Day Foundation may meet those needs. Areas of interest are highlighted below, but we recognize that important or emerging needs require responsiveness and flexibility.

The Board of Directors generally does not consider requests of annual fund-raising drives, services which are commonly recognized as government or school obligations, debt reduction, endowments, religious programs that advocate specific religious doctrines or do not serve the broader community, or grants to individuals (other than scholarships).

Our committees make decisions based on our efforts to:

• Invest wisely: Consider the strength of the organization and the potential benefits to the Quad Cities residents; the Doris & Victor Day Foundation may fully fund, partially fund or decline to fund a request
• Prioritize: Determine which programs meet real needs in the community and how Doris & Victor Day Foundation funding can be most valuable
• Be Diligent: Require clear plans for implementation and evaluation of the program or project
• Think Long-Term: Consider the sustainability of the project
• Consider Other Funding: Encourage diverse funding, including the organization’s own
• Think Bigger: When possible, we hope grants can have more transformational impact on your organization or the community

• The narrative is written clearly and succinctly
• The application explains what the program or project hopes to accomplish, why it is important, and how that outcome will benefit community members
• Board of Directors will understand how you will achieve the results you propose in the application
• Based on the explanation of the budget and other funding, Board of Directors will know your priorities and how the project will change depending on changes in funding

• Use the grant exclusively for the purpose(s) stated in your grant application. If there are major changes, please email tyla@dayfoundation.org
• Maintain your status as a tax-exempt, charitable organization
• Credit the Doris & Victor Day Foundation in news media, printed materials, website, and social media as a supporter of your work
• If appropriate, share opportunities with the Executive Director, Tyla Sherwin-Cole to attend, participate, or visit to learn more about your program, project, or organization
• Log in to our grants portal to submit a final report on or before the deadline listed, generally nine months after the award. The final report should detail how grant dollars were spent and include any publicity mentioning the Doris & Victor Day Foundation

Our expectations of your project start with your submitted grant proposal. What we read in your grant proposal is what we are expecting unless we hear otherwise from you. We do understand that things can change, and some flexibility is important. However, we ask that you please talk to us prior to making any major changes to a project we have funded. An email to tyla@dayfoundation.org is the best place to start.

We serve the community through nonprofit organizations. If your tax-exempt status changes or is revoked during the course our grant, we need to know about it.

Log in to our grants portal to submit a final report on or before the deadline listed, generally nine months after the grant award. The final report should detail how grant dollars were spent and include any publicity mentioning the Doris & Victor Day Foundation.

The grant period may be extended depending on the project. Please contact Tyla Sherwin-Cole by email at tyla@dayfoundation.org

The following information is intended to help you meet the publicity condition:

Our name: Doris & Victor Day Foundation. Please refrain from using any abbreviations unless it is specific to our website, www.dayfoundation.org

Avenues for Publicity:

• Press Releases – Be sure to focus on the impact expected and the stories resulting from your project and remember to acknowledge Doris & Victor Day Foundation. Ask us about our “Big Check” presentations and we will set up a photo op with you and your organization
• Social Media – Share your grant award through your social media channels. On Facebook and Instagram, please tag and mention the Doris & Victor Day Foundation. Be sure to like/follow the Doris & Victor Day Foundation’s social channels from your organization’s page as well
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RIDayFoundation
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doris-victor-day-foundation/
• Website – Add your press release as a news piece on your website – feel free to include the Doris & Victor Day Foundation’s logo and link to www.dayfoundation.org

When you submit your final report, be sure to include a PDF of the press release, a screen shot of or link to your website and/or social media posts, or a clipping from your newsletter or enews.