How to Apply for a Grant from The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJF)
General Statement
The mission of DJF is to award grants to programs that benefit adolescents and adults with Autism. Each year, DJF Board of Trustees receives proposals from around the world seeking grant support for programs that may involve vocational, educational, residential, recreational or family related endeavors. In each calendar year, DJF Board of Trustees will determine, at their sole discretion, the number, dollar amount and type (s) of grants to be awarded. Generally, these decisions are based on the quality of the proposals received and the feasibility of implementation by the prospective grantees; however, the determination is not limited to these factors.
DJF will NOT be held liable for any disclosure of confidential or proprietary information submitted by a prospective grantee. The submission of a letter of inquiry and/or proposal to DJF affirms the acceptance of the above statement by the prospective grantee.
Before You Begin The Process CHECKLIST
1) Does the program specifically benefit adolescents and/or adults with Autism? Please note that an adolescent is age 13 years of age or older for purposes of a DJF grant.
2) Does your inquiry involve a program for adolescents and/or adults with Autism? Please note that DJF does not award grants to individuals.
3) Does your inquiry relate to a specific program? General operating expenses will not be considered to be a program by DJF.
4) Is your Letter of Inquiry postmarked no later than August 1st of the year preceding your grant request?
If you have answered NO to any of these questions, please DO NOT begin the grant proposal process.
Letter of Inquiry Guidelines
Letters of inquiry must include the following but not limited to:
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Statement about your organization
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Statement about the proposed program
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Statement about the number of individuals to be served including age range
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Amount of funding requested
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Is this a new or existing program?
Please note that the grant cycle begins approximately at the end of January in each calendar year and funding is for one year. Thus your program should be developed to fit within DJF’s calendar year. (For example, a school program should request funding to commence in the spring of the calendar year to continue in the fall of the calendar year, which will be the fall of the next school year).
Because DJF is run completely by volunteers and we are not staffed to contact each applicant, YOU WILL ONLY BE CONTACTED IF YOUR LETTER OF INQUIRY IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR A FULL PROPOSAL REQUEST.
ALL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE PUT IN WRITING TO US at info@djfiddlefoundation.org
Unfortunately we will not be able to answer phone calls due to limited staffing. All e-mails will be in answered in a timely manner by DJF.
Grant Application Guidelines
Once you have been contacted by DJF to submit a full grant proposal, please refer to the information following that is required:
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Cover sheet supplied by DJF (click here)
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The need for the program. Include the impact and significance of the program.
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The plan of action.
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The qualifications of the organization and staff to implement the program successfully. Please include a history of the organization, description of current programs and if this is a program currently in existence, the history of the program including previous funding.
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The most recent annual report, roster of the Board of Trustees as well as officers, employees and their affiliations and occupations.
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The relationship of this proposal to other similar programs currently in existence at your organization.
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The relationship of this proposal to other similar proposals you are submitting to DJF or have submitted to DJF or to other funding sources?
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How the program will be evaluated by you, including dissemination of results. Be specific regarding how the organization or project is addressing the issue or problem, indicate specific activities to be undertaken to achieve the goals and the potential barriers to achieving the stated goals.
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A copy of your letter of tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service.
Please mail your cover sheet and proposal to be postmarked no later than November 1 of the calendar year preceding your grant request to:
P.O. Box 1149
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07451-1149
Financial Information, including but not limited to:
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A line-item budget identifying the project’s income and expenses for its fiscal year(s).
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A statement of actual revenue and expenses for the last two years for the organization as a whole and for the project, including an audited statement and 990.
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A list of other contributions and sources of support for the project including any applications currently being solicited.
Funding
The funds awarded shall be used solely for the purposes specified in the application submitted to DJF. Failure to provide complete and accurate information could result in an application not being reviewed or an entire award or grant being terminated. All grants will be awarded only after an approved press release has been issued by the grantee and the grant contract has been executed in full. If these requirements are not fulfilled in a timely manner for administarive purposes, on or before June 1st of the grant award year, DJF reserves the right to revoke the grant award at its sole discretion.
Confidentiality of Information and Liability
In processing and reviewing applications, DJF will use its best efforts not to disclose confidential or proprietary information contained in submitted proposals. However, DJF has no mechanism to maintain or guarantee the confidentiality of information, and as a not-for-profit organization, does not have the financial resources to: (a) sustain liability for disclosure of information, or (b) institute mechanisms to maintain the confidentiality of information. Submission of an application is deemed acceptance of these provisions and the applicant agrees not to hold DJF liable for any breach of confidentiality.
When requests for support of a specific project are accepted by more than one granting agency, DJF support must be relinquished. DJF support cannot be accepted in duplicate of other support. In addition, there can be no continuing commitment beyond the expiration of the grant.
Application Screening Process
Each year DJF expects to receive numerous requests for funds. Although many of these inquiries merit support and fall within our guidelines, DJF is only able to grant a limited number of grant funds each year. Applications are reviewed by members of our Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee Members. Outside consultants may be used where applicable. The Board of Trustees awards grants upon the recommendations of reviewing members and at their sole discretion. Submission of a proposal is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.
Contact with DJF Staff
DJF welcomes e-mails from prospective applicants to discuss questions relating to a letter of inquiry or grant proposal. Please send your e-mail to info@djfiddlefoundation.organd we will respond in a timely manner. Unfortunately we will not be able to answer telephone inquiries due to our limited, volunteer staffing.
If we need to schedule a site visit during the course of our review process, we will contact you. In addition, DJF may contact you to further clarify your proposal. Your application should include the contact person and their contact information for both telephone and e-mail.
Notification to Grantees
ONLY successful grantees for a given calendar year will be notified. Grantees are notified approximately at the end of January. There may be situations when this is not possible due to specific situations relating to a grant. In this case, the grantee will be notified regarding the reason(s) for the delay.