Dunn Family Foundation: Community Empowerment & Support

Guidelines & Eligibility

The majority of grants from the Dunn Family Foundation are made to organizations in Dyer County, TN, and its surrounding area, or to organizations that have direct outreach to or impact within the community support network of Dyer County, TN, and its neighboring regions.

Grants are also awarded selectively to organizations located in areas where voting members of the Foundation reside, including Nashville, TN, Chicago, IL, and Hernando, MS/Memphis, TN.

The Foundation primarily supports non-profit organizations that are qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as selected public sector activities.

Grants are typically awarded in the fields of Civic Affairs, Education, and Health and Social Services. Most funding is directed toward program-related activities, with some grants available to support capital improvements and capital campaigns when specific criteria are met. Projects aimed at addressing the root causes of social problems are of particular interest to the Foundation, as they align with empowering communities.

In general, the Foundation does NOT award grants for:

- Debt reduction

- Academic research projects

- Event sponsorships

- Individuals

- Fiscal Agents

- Endowments

Occasionally, grants for capital purposes may be made when specific criteria are satisfied, such as:

- The organization requesting support clearly serves an under-resourced population.

- The Foundation’s support is likely to leverage significantly greater contributions from other community sources, including government, corporations, individuals, and other foundations.

- There is evidence of an effective local campaign that involves extensive citizen participation and grassroots leadership. Note: Program grants, which may include requests for capital items like furniture, computers, or video recorders, are not included within this general policy.

Applying for a Grant

All grants provided by the Dunn Family Foundation are intended for non-profit organizations that are qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as selected public sector activities aimed at empowering communities.

Your grant request should clearly communicate your organization's mission, demonstrate a significant community need, provide a detailed, measurable plan for how the funds will be used, and explain how you will track progress and measure success. For grants requests under $2,500, we use a simple grant request form. For access to this simple form, please email ken@dunnfamilyfoundation.net. For larger grant requests, we request that the following format be used:

1. Cover letter

One-page document introducing your organization and the proposal. It should be signed by an executive director or board chair.

Introduction: Briefly introduce your organization and the specific project or program for which you are requesting funding.

Request: Clearly state the amount of funding you are seeking.

Alignment: Briefly explain how your project aligns with the Dunn Family Foundation's specific mission and funding interests.

Contact information: Include the contact details for the person the foundation can reach out to with questions.

2. Executive summary

Core idea: Present the core, compelling idea of your project and why it is urgent and important.

Problem/Need: Briefly state the problem or need you are addressing.

Solution: Outline your proposed solution and how the grant funding will be used.

Organizational credibility: Briefly establish your nonprofit's capacity to complete the project successfully.

3. Statement of need

Problem definition: Define the specific problem, its urgency, and who is most affected by it.

Supporting evidence: Use statistics, research, and anecdotal evidence to back up your claims.

Target population: Identify the specific group of people or geographic area your project will serve.

4. Goals and objectives

Goals: Broad, ambitious outcomes you aim to achieve (e.g., 'to improve literacy rates in our community').

Objectives: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) steps you will take to meet your goals (e.g., 'to provide 500 students with one-on-one reading tutoring by the end of the school year').

5. Methods and strategies

Activities: Describe the specific tasks and activities that will be carried out with grant funding.

Timeline: Include a timeline with start and end dates for major project activities.

Key personnel: List the people and partners involved in the project and describe their roles.

6. Evaluation plan

Measurement: Describe how you will measure each of your objectives and what data you will collect.

Accountability: Explain who will be responsible for evaluating the project and how results will be reported to the foundation.

7. Budget

Detailed list: Include a line-item budget that lists each expense category, such as staff salaries, equipment, and overhead.

Budget justification: Explain why each expense is necessary for the project's success.

Sustainability: Show how your organization plans to sustain the program after the grant period ends.

8. Organizational background

Mission and history: Describe your organization's mission, history, and track record of successfully implementing projects that provide community support.

Relevant experience: Highlight past achievements that demonstrate your capacity to deliver results for this specific project.

Governance: Provide a list of your Board of Directors and key staff.

9. Attachments

IRS letter of tax-exempt status.

Financial statements (audit if available).

Letters of support from partners or community leaders.

Resumes of key project staff - if applicable.

All inquiries, requests for the simple grant request form, and all grant requests or questions about grant requests should be directed to ken@dunnfamilyfoundation.net.

Proposal Deadlines

Grant requests under $2,500, aimed at empowering communities through community support, will be reviewed monthly. All simple grant requests received before the end of the month will be evaluated, and feedback will be provided by the 15th of the following month.

Larger grant applications and proposals must be completed and submitted according to the following schedule.

- March 1st – for an April decision

- June 1st – for a July decision

- Sept 1st – for an October decision

- Dec 1st – for a January decision

If these submission dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday, proposals will be accepted by 5 PM the following Monday. Feedback on decisions will be given no later than the end of the noted month.

Questions about your grant request should be directed to ken@dunnfamilyfoundation.net, where the Dunn Family Foundation is dedicated to supporting initiatives that empower communities.

Diversity and Non-Discrimination Statement

The Dunn Family Foundation respects, celebrates, and encourages diversity that positively contributes to our community support efforts. As an equal opportunity provider of services and employment, the Foundation does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status, age, disability, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, the Foundation actively promotes these principles among its grantee and partner organizations, all aimed at empowering communities.