Grants

1.  CAPITAL FUNDING

 

Unless linked to a valuable programmatic and/ or quality-of-life enhancing effort, the construction or purchase of buildings or other physical facilities, in and of themselves, rarely solve community problems or maximize community opportunities.

 

 

2.  DEBT RETIREMENT OR REDUCTION

 

YVCF encourages the development of strong, fiscally responsible, self-sustaining not-for-profit organizations. Investing in organizations with outstanding debt is inconsistent with this stance. 

 

 

3.  GRANTS TO OTHER ENDOWMENTS

 

Serving the community as a community endowment builder is one of the fundamental ways in which YVCF improves the quality of life in Yakima County. The Foundation is the best place to invest endowed dollars for the good of the community. YVCF meets the needs of the full range of donors, whether their charitable interests are general or specific and can offer sophisticated investment management as well as other benefits associated with the economies of scale afforded by a large diversified portfolio.

 

 

4.  SECONDARY GRANTS (RE-GRANTING)

 

YVCF boasts a knowledgeable and committed board and staff team sensitive to community needs. It is in the best interest of the community that this team be as directly linked as possible to the beneficiaries of the grants it awards. Remaining close to the end results allows YVCF to be both visible and accountable to the community we serve.

 

As a matter of policy, YVCF does not provide organizations with funds for making grants to other organizations.

 

 

5.  UNITS OF GOVERNMENT (city, county, township, etc.)

 

Units of government are supported by taxpayer dollars. Government spends those dollars on providing essential goods and services to the residents of their municipalities. There are, however, goods and services that are not essential, yet are important to enhancing the quality of life for residents. It is rare that taxpayer dollars are available to fund these nonessential but important enhancements. Funding from YVCF to units of government is most appropriately considered when used for exclusively public purposes and to provide nonessential, quality-of-life enhancing goods and services not typically funded through taxes. The examples below are meant to be used as a guide in determining whether or not to consider funding a particular request.

 

Typically Supported by Taxpayers

As a matter of policy, YVCF will consider requests from units of government when the request for support is judged by YVCF to be for programs, goods or services that would not be considered essential and therefore not typically funded through taxpayer dollars.  Funds are to be used for charitable purposes only.

 

6.  REPEAT FUNDING

 

At this time, YVCF does not consider it a wise use of the community resources entrusted to it to fund programs, services or organizations on a long-term basis. Rather, the intent is to encourage nonprofits to develop realistic written plans for long-term sustainability.  

YVCF also recognizes that there are many instances when the same organization approaches for funding several times, each time with a request for a different program. If the program is truly new and different each time, the Foundation will consider these requests entirely legitimate and not technically a form of repeat funding.

 

As a matter of policy, YVCF will not consider repeat funding.

 

7.  OPERATIONS OR MAINTENANCE

 

YVCF believes that the best use of the community resources entrusted to it is to fund start-up costs rather than the costs of sustaining programs, services and/or organizations. Operations and maintenance costs are typically considered to be costs involved in sustaining these endeavors.

 

 

8.  COMPUTERS

 

YVCF considers basic computer workstations to be standard office equipment. As such, they are part of operational expenses and would not be considered for funding except in start-up situations or in situations where there is a need for specialized equipment designed to meet a special need. It is understood that there are nonprofits that are already in existence (and not just starting up) that lack the financial resources to computerize. Fortunately, rapidly changing technology has resulted in an ample supply of free and/or inexpensive used computers from a variety of sources. YVCF eagerly directs inquiring nonprofits to these readily available resources. 

 

As a matter of policy, YVCF will only consider funding computers/computer equipment in start-up situations or in situations where the request is for specialized computer equipment designed to meet a special need. An example would be an oversized display screen/monitor to be used for group demonstrations.

 

9.  FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

 

Churches and other faith-based organizations are increasingly playing a key leadership role in addressing human service needs particularly at the grass roots level. YVCF welcomes their involvement. In considering applications for funding from faith-based organizations, however, it is extremely important to make clear that YVCF does not fund religious activities. The foundation will consider funding secular activities sponsored by churches and other faith-based organizations when participation in those activities is not based on religious beliefs and/or affiliations. 

 

 

10.  NONDESCRIMINATION IN GRANTMAKING

 

YVCF believes that a community-wide commitment to lifelong learning, development and growth for all citizens is essential to sustaining a healthy community. YVCF also believes that a diversity of individuals, organizations and perspectives is essential to any effective community effort, and actively seeks to promote access, equity, and inclusiveness, and to eliminate discrimination. The Foundation does not knowingly support organizations that discriminate.

 

GENERAL POLICY NOTE

 

In recent years, cutbacks and changes in government funding for charitable programs and services have become an accepted part of the nonprofit environment. YVCF basic assumptions about the roles and responsibilities of government in supporting charitable activity have been significantly altered. The Foundation can no longer assume that government should and will take on support of those charitable programs and services that in the past were regular beneficiaries of that support. Under YVCF’s previous grantmaking policies, there has been no funding for programs that were seeking support primarily as a replacement for cutbacks in government funding. In the future, the question of whether or not YVCF funding replaces government funds will be considered irrelevant. Consideration for YVCF funding will be based on the YVCF mission, beliefs, strategic goals and the grantmaking policies stated above. 

 

Approved:  February 7, 2007