Grant Making
We are a community foundation, serving Hardin, Jefferson and Orange
counties. We provide management, investment and administration of funds
given by many donors for numerous charitable purposes. These funds held
by the Foundation support activities focused primarily on local needs
designated by the donors and the Board of Directors. The Foundation
For Southeast Texas is a public, nonprofit 501(c)(3) Corporation.
In many grants made by the Foundation the recipients are designated
by the donor. The "endowed designated grants" are awarded each January.
The amount awarded is based on the December 31 market value of the fund.
Donor-advised non-endowed funds are awarded to various recipients at
the request of the donor and approval of the board on an ongoing basis.
Grants from "unrestricted funds" are awarded competitively once a year
with the application process beginning in January. The amount available
for grants is determined by the board and varies according to the market
value of the funds. Applications forms, guidelines and policies are
available at local libraries and on this web site.
Grant Policies for unrestricted funds
1. The number and size of grants awarded are directly related to the amount of funds available in unrestricted funds each year.
2. Grants will only be made to qualified 501(c)(3) and governmental tax-exempt organizations.
3. Grant applicants must be based in Hardin, Jefferson or Orange Counties and grants must serve populations in at least one of the three counties. The grants committee will consider applications from all communities in the area it serves for projects beginning May 1 of the current year to April 30 of following year.
4. Grants are made to provide for continuously changing and emerging community needs.
5. Grants will address the following areas of civic and social concerns: arts and culture, preservation, education, health, social services, youth and elderly, economic development, and civic affairs. Governmental organizations may also be served if purpose of grant goes beyond normal limits of service.
6. Grants are awarded once a year.
7. Grant recipients are required to make a report to the Foundation upon completion of the project for which the funds have been awarded. No new application will be accepted from the recipient before receiving this report.
8. All grants awarded must be used exclusively for the purpose requested. If the grant is not completed, or if funds are not used for the grant, the funds must be returned to the Foundation.
9. Grants will not be made to individuals, for political purposes, for financing fund raisers, for endowments, for religious purposes, or for paying off indebtedness.
10. The grants committee may ask the applicant for an interview.
11. The Foundation will distribute funds at commencement of the funded project.
12. Grants will not be awarded for regular salaries, but will be considered for special programming and services of performers or contracted specialists required to make the project possible.
13. If grant application is for scholarships for camps, programs, etc., detailed criteria for selection of the scholarship recipients must be provided in the grant application.