How To Apply for a Grant
Mission Statement
The Dresher Foundation is committed to providing hope in community life. We serve those who strengthen the capacities of others to help improve lives, primarily in Harford County, Maryland.
There are 3 steps to apply for a Dresher Foundation grant. They are separate processes and may not be combined.
Step 1: Pre-Approval
- Please review the Grant Guidelines to understand The Dresher Foundation’s funding priorities.
- Call 410-933-0384 or email psterling@dresherfoundation.org for Pre-Approval.
Step 2: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
- After you have received Pre-Approval, please complete a Letter of Inquiry.
- Your LOI must be submitted by one of the deadlines below.
- Your LOI must not be submitted at the same time as your Grant Application.
- The Screening Committee will meet to decide if your organization’s mission and programs are compatible with the mission and interests of the Foundation.
2023 LOI Deadlines
- Friday, January 13
- Friday, April 7
- Friday, July 14
- Friday, October 13
Summer camp requests are considered only for the January 13 and April 7 deadlines.
Behavioral health requests are considered only for the April 7 deadline.
Complete Your LOIStep 3: Grant Application
- Please submit an application only after the Foundation has requested one.
- Your application must not be submitted at the same time as your LOI.
- At the following Board Meeting the Trustees will review your application.
- Any inquiries should be directed to the Foundation office. Direct communication with trustees is discouraged.
2023 Grant Application Deadlines
- Friday, January 13
- Friday, April 7
- Friday, July 14
- Friday, October 13
Summer camp requests are considered only for the January 13 and April 7 deadlines.
Behavioral health requests are considered only for the April 7 deadline.
Apply Online2023 Board Meetings
- Friday, March 3
- Friday, June 16
- Friday, September 15
- Friday, December 1
What’s Next?
After submitting a Grant Application
- You may receive telephone calls, emails and/or a site visit for clarification of the application.
- You may be asked to submit additional supporting information.
- The board of trustees makes the final decision on whether to award a grant, the amount and any conditions for funding.
Site visit
After submission of a Grant Application, the staff may contact you to arrange a site visit. The site visit will be made at a mutually convenient time. The purpose of the visit is to learn more about your organization, to discuss in more detail the Grant Application, and/or to meet staff and/or clients. It is also an opportunity to answer your questions about the Foundation and its grantmaking process. A site visit is not necessarily conducted for every application and is not an assurance of funding.
If a grant is awarded
- Your organization will receive an award letter and two copies of a Letter of Agreement. Both copies of the Agreement must be returned to the foundation office.
- A countersigned copy of the Agreement, the check and a post grant form will be sent to you within six weeks from the board meeting.
- The post grant report must be completed within one year of the check's receipt. The post grant report is specific to your application.
- Challenge and Matching Grant funds must be raised by the nonprofit, not third parties or outsourced in any way.
Applying for a New Grant
- Currently or previously funded grantseekers have the same steps as first-time applicants:
- You must obtain Pre-Approval from Foundation staff. Call 410-933-0384 or email psterling@dresherfoundation.org.
- After Pre-Approval, please submit a Letter of Inquiry by the deadline.
- We will contact you after you have submitted an LOI to request a Grant Application.
- We must receive your post-grant report before you seek grant renewal. Do not combine the submission of a post-grant report with a Letter of Inquiry for a grant renewal.