Endowment Challenge Fund

2015 Guidelines

Purpose and Eligibility: The Endowment Challenge Fund is a matching grant supporting nonprofit organizations in building endowments to create sustainable funding. The matching endowment fund must be opened at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation after notification of funding. Nonprofit endowment funds are an investment in the mission and the future of the organization by providing general operating support, stability during cyclical income variances, and income for areas of high importance to the organization. Nonprofit organizations in Linn County, Iowa, that are at least seven years old (based on the date of the IRS letter of determination) and hold 501(c)(3) status may apply.

Deadline: June 12, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.

Maximum Request Amount: $25,000 and five years to meet the match

Organizations may receive up to $50,000 in Community Foundation grant payments in one calendar year from any combination of the Program Fund, Organizational Development Fund, Endowment Challenge Fund, Linn County Fund and President’s Fund grants. For the purpose of this total, an Endowment Challenge Fund is considered a one-year, $25,000 grant.

Frequency of Application: Only one active Endowment Challenge Grant is awarded at any given time. Also, organizations may have no more than two active grants from the Program, Organizational Development or Endowment Challenge Funds at any given time.

Guidelines:

  • Endowment Challenge Grants are designed for organizations with a demonstrated history of success. Typically, funded organizations will have an existing annual donor fund campaign, steady budget growth, sound financial condition, long-range plan, a minimum budget of $100,000 and at least one full-time equivalent employee.
  • While applicants are not required to have an existing endowment fund at the time of application, strong applicants will demonstrate a well-conceived endowment growth plan.
  • The Endowment Challenge fund must be held at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. The Community Foundation will match gifts deposited into the organization’s endowed fund at the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation will work with the organization to leverage additional benefit from the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program.
  • In the Endowment Challenge match, the Community Foundation will contribute $1 for every $3 raised by the grantee up to a Community Foundation maximum of $25,000. (See “Organization Size and Match Limits” below.)
  • Only new donor gifts received after the award date will be eligible for this match.
  • For this match, a “donor” is a household and includes related corporate matching gifts.
  • The maximum match per donor can be met over time in more than one gift.
  • Example: a donor gives $1,500 one year and $1,500 the next year— each gift would be matched with $500 for a total match of $1,000 to $3,000.

About the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program:

Donors who give to a permanently endowed fund at a qualified community foundation are eligible to receive 25% tax credits on their Iowa income taxes as a result of their gift. This tax credit is in addition to federal tax deductions. The tax credits can be claimed by individuals, businesses, or financial institutions. The program is administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information, visit gcrcf.org and select “Donors” and “Tax Benefits.”

Endowment Challenge Matching Grant: Organizational Size and Match Limits

The Community Foundation strives to help organizations create a commitment to endowment contributions within an existing donor base. The Community Foundation assumes that large organizations will have more donors, and has therefore instituted a cap on the Community Foundation match per donor based on size of organization. There is no minimum size of contribution; every gift will be fully matched by the Community Foundation up to the maximum amount per donor. The Community Foundation will not award matching funds for contributions that were received prior to the notification of the grant award.

Operating Budget / Maximum match per donor
$0-$750K / $5,000 (donor gift $15,000)
$750K-$2M / $2,500 (donor gift $7,500)
$2M+ / $1,000 (donor gift $3,000)

Endowment-building options available to a nonprofit organization (Agency) through the Community Foundation:

  • Agency Fund – owner of assets in fund is the Agency
  • Agency Friends Fund – owner of assets in fund is the Community Foundation, because donor received Endow Iowa tax credit on their contribution
  • Named Endowed Designated Fund – owner of assets in fund is the Community Foundation
  • Endowment Challenge Grant Fund ($3:$1 match up to $25,000) – owner of assets in fund is the Community Foundation

Additional information about management of Endowment Challenge funds:

QUESTION: Once the match is complete at $25,000, what happens to the contribution and the match?

ANSWER: Both the contribution and the match would be placed in a permanently endowed fund and the owner of the assets in the fund would be the Community Foundation.

QUESTION: What if a donor wants to make a contribution in the amount of $10,000 to gain the match but did not want/need the Endow Iowa tax credit?

ANSWER: The Agency may approach this contribution as follows:

  • $3,000 contribution to Endowment Challenge Fund – owner of assets in fund is the Community Foundation
  • $1,000 match from the Community Foundation to the Endowment Challenge Grant Fund – owner of assets in fund is the Community Foundation
  • $7,000 contribution to the Agency Fund – owner of assets in fund is the Agency

How to Apply:

  • Request Grant Portal Access (for first-time applicants only)

In order to complete the online application process, nonprofits must select one person to act as the grant administrator for the organization. The grant administrator will have access to the grant portal to submit online applications, check the status of applications, review grant histories and submit final reports. To request a grant administrator, the organization leader (president, CEO, executive director or board president) must send an email to with the first and last name, title and email address of the appointed person. Within two business days, theGrant team will email both the grant administrator and the organizational leader with a username and password. Note: Organizations will not have access to the online application portal until they have received this username and password.

  • Login and Complete the Online Grant Application
  • To login, go to and click User Login found in the upper right corner.
  • We encourage you to complete the application in this document before logging in to the grant portal.
  • The online application portal is open one month before the grant deadline.
  • If you need assistance, please feel free to contact the Grant team at 319.774.2370 or . Please be advised to begin the application process early. The Grant team is happy to provide assistance but may have limited capacity for technical assistance on the day of the deadline.
  • In the grant portal:
  • Note: The “Organization Snapshot” should be updated as information changes and reviewed for accuracy at least once per year.
  • Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the deadline. Please note the time stamp on the application PDF is Eastern Time, however, the deadline is calculated as Central Time.

Application Checklist:

Information: / Online Application / Required Uploads
Organization Snapshot including Board List / X
Proposal Narrative / X
Most recent IRS 990 / X
Most recent Audit/Review/Compilation / Requested
Project Budget (Form provided)
Budget forms can be downloaded from each fund page on our website. Go to select the fund you are applying to, go to the bottom of the fund page, and download the required budget form(s). / X
Organization budget (Fiscal Year, 2 page max) / X
Strategic Plan / Requested
Budget Narrative explaining unusual or uncommon circumstances(1 page maximum) / Optional
Supplemental materials / Optional

Questions? Contact: Rochelle Naylor, Program Officer, at or at 319.774.2373.

Endowment Challenge Fund

2015 Application Questions

Organization Snapshot: Please note: This snapshot will be available to all Community Foundation fund holders.

Mission statement: (500 character limit)

Brief organizational history: (900 character limit)

Describe target population: (250 character limit)

Briefly describe key programs: (1500 character limit)

Number of paid employees:

What is the total dollar amount of the current fiscal year organizational budget?

Describe volunteer support within organization: (250 character limit)

What year did your organization receive your IRS 501c3 letter of determination?

List Board of Director names and professional roles: (Do not copy and paste from a PDF or from a formatted table).

Pre-qualifying questions:

Does the organization hold 501(c)(3) status?

Is the organization based in Linn County, Iowa?

Is the organization at least seven years old (based on the date of the IRS letter of determination)?

Section 1: Proposal Summary

Organization (Legal) name: (This will auto-populate from snapshot.)

Proposal title:

Proposal summary: (purpose of requested funds) (900 character limit)

Dollar amount requested: $25,000

Section 2: Organization Overview

All of these fields are auto populated based on information in the Organization Snapshot. You may amend the content of the following fields for the purposes of this application.

Mission statement: (500 character limit)

Brief organizational history: (900 character limit)

Describe target population: (250 character limit)

Briefly describe key programs: (1500 character limit)

Number of paid employees:

What is the total dollar amount of the current fiscal year organizational budget?

Describe volunteer support within organization: (250 character limit)

What year did your organization receive your IRS letter of determination 501c3 letter?

List Board of Director names and professional roles: (Do not copy and paste from a PDF or from a formatted table).

Section 3: Organizational Practices

Describe how the organization establishes and maintains organizational relationships at the local, regional and/or national levels to stay abreast of best practices and innovations in its field. (2,000 character limit)

How does the organization plan for the future? What the organization’s vision of itself in 5 years? 25 years? How, specifically, will this endowment grant help you achieve your vision? (2,000 character limit)

How is staff development addressed at the organization? (1,500 character limit)

Does the organization have the capacity to deal with leadership succession? The organization may have a formal document or have held a series of board-level conversations that will provide guidance to the organization in the occasion of a leadership transition. Please summarize the organization’s approach. (1,500 character limit)

Section 4: Resource Development Plan

Describe current resource development efforts, including the existing annual donor fund campaign and current endowment building efforts. Has the organization met its recent fund raising goals? (1,500 character limit)

What is the size of organization’s current endowment, if any? (100 character limit)

Does the organization have an endowment goal? How will you use endowment funds? (2,000 character limit)

Why is this the right timing for your organization to receive an endowment challenge grant? Address internal organization circumstances and external fundraising climate. (2,000 character limit)

What impact will the successful completion of an endowment challenge grant have on your sustainability and/or long-term financial health? (2,000 character limit)

Describe the commitment of the current board to this endowment-raising effort, both in terms of financial commitment and time commitment. Specify the percentage of board members contributing and the combined value of their financial contribution to this endowment effort. (1,500 character limit)

Outline the action steps to be taken to implement this grant. How will the organization identify targeted prospects, and how will the organization approach them? What is the anticipated timeline? (2,000 character limit)

Who will be responsible for soliciting endowment gifts? Why will they be successful?(2,000 character limit)

Section5: Organization Contact Info

This will auto populate from the Organization Contact Information in our system.

Tax ID:

Name of organization primary contact: This is the Executive Director, Board Chairperson or organization President

Address information:

Website address:

Organization phone number:

Organization fax:

Additional questions include:

Primary Contact Organizational Role: This is the Executive Director, Board Chairperson or organization President

Primary contact phone and extension:

Primary contact email:

Section 6: Submission Information and Signature

Who should we contact with questions regarding this specific application?

Application contact’s organizational role:

Application contact’s phone and extension:

Application contact’s email:

Submitter’s name/Electronic Submission Authorization

Submitter’s organizational role:

To Complete the Application:

To Complete the Application: Go to Upload Documentation page shown under Applicant Dashboard

Look for the application ID of the recently submitted application and select the link for each of the required documents.

A green checkmark will verify that a document has been uploaded successfully.

The following documents are required to complete the application.

  • Most recent IRS 990 (required)
  • Most recent Audit/Review/Compilation (requested)
  • Project Budget (form provided is required).Budget forms can be downloaded from each fund page on our website. Go to select the fund you are applying to, go to the bottom of the fund page, and download the required budget form(s).
  • Organizational Budget (required)
  • Strategic Plan (requested)
  • Budget Narrative (optional)
  • Supplemental Materials (optional)

Your application is not complete until all mandatoryrequirements are checkmarked ()

Endowment Challenge Fund

2015Scoring Criteria

A strong application will show the organization addresses the criteria below in relation to both the soundness of the capacity building activity and the readiness of the organization to undertake this activity.

Organizational Practices (maximum 20 points)

  • Widespread organizational relationships
  • Plan for the future/Strategic Plan
  • Staff development plan
  • Capacity to weather leadership succession

Resource Development Plan (maximum 40 points)

  • Adequacy and success of current and recent resource development efforts
  • Appropriate goal
  • Potential for high impact to organization; appropriate timing for grant
  • Board commitment
  • Implementation readiness/appropriate action steps; appropriate timeline
  • Appropriate staffing for endowment building work

Financials (maximum 20 points)

  • Appropriate project budget to implement endowment building plan
  • Budget stability (steady budget growth, regular surpluses, no deficit greater than 10% of the operating budget for one year out of three years)

Total Score (maximum 80 points)

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