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Texas Lions Foundation
Grants
ARTICLE VIII PURPOSES FOR
WHICH FUNDS MAY BE EXPENDED (TLF Constitution)
The funds of the Foundation
may be expended by the Board for its normal operating
expenses. All grant requests other than emergency requests to
the Foundation must be submitted to the Executive Committee
forty-five (45) days prior to the Board meeting:
SECTION 1. The Trust Fund Corpus may not be spent for
any purpose.
SECTION 2. The income from the corpus funds of the
Foundation from the previous year may be expended by the Board
of Trustees for the giving of grants by the Foundation in
accordance with the requirements of Article XIV of the
Constitution and By-Laws in the following manner.
All operating expenses must be paid first. Grants then
would be paid next. If any money is left over from that years
allocation, it would be carried over to the next year for use
in further grants.
Grants will be given to:
A. To promote any qualified humanitarian project
sponsored by any Lions organization in Texas.
B. To help defray the cost of any natural disaster
evidenced by significant mortality, injury, property damage
and loss, population displacement or any substantial
combination of these.
C. A sum of 10% of the operating funds each year shall be
used for publicity and public relations by the Foundation.
SECTION 4. All grants
disbursed will be directed through the District Governor and
the District Trustee within the respected District and an
accounting of all funds used is required from the responsible
individual within thirty (30) days upon completion of the
project.
ARTICLE 4.
Criteria for Issuance of Grants (TLF Operations Policy)
The funds of
the Texas Lions Foundation may be expended according to
Article VIII of the Constitution. Requests for grants must be
submitted in thorough detail, showing how and when the funds
are to be spent and with the understanding that after the
activity has been completed, a full accounting of the
expenditure will be submitted to the Texas Lions Foundation.
TLF concentrates its efforts in two areas: humanitarian
services and disaster relief. The Foundation strives to
support projects that, while falling into one of these two
categories, also have long-term and far reaching effects,
and promote the objectives of the Texas Lions Foundation.
Overall, the Foundation maintains a strong commitment to
helping people achieve their own potential, and to
implementing projects that make permanent and positive
changes. Projects are favored that provide benefits to as
many people as possible.
HUMANITARIAN SERVICES - Humanitarian Service grants can be
issued in support of a broad range of projects designed to
fill diverse needs. In general, projects designed to create
or expand community programs or institutes are preferred.
DISASTER RELIEF - Disaster Relief grants are made in
response to natural disasters that cause significant
mortality, injury, and property damage and loss. Priority is
given to projects aimed at creating or reconstructing public
facilities and services.
ADVICE TO APPLICANTS
ELIGIBILITY:
In reviewing grant applications, the Foundation's Trustees
pay careful attention to service factors. Each should be
thoroughly addressed in the grant application form.
1. A need is being filled. Applicants should provide
a detailed description of the current situation and how it
will change after the project is completed.
2. Long-term benefits. Projects are preferred that
have long-term and far-reaching effects.
3. Lions identification. The Trustees prefer projects
which incorporate the word "Lions" in their name and/or
provide immediate public recognition of Lions involvement in
the project.
4. Number of people served. Because of more favorable
cost-effectiveness, projects serving many people are
preferred.
5. Promotional value. To help the Foundation publicize
and promote its important work, projects of high promotional
value are preferred.
6. District financial commitment. Grants are made to
assist projects which are beyond the scope of traditional Club
and District fund-raising. The Trustees look very closely at
the extent of a District's financial contribution in support
of the project. Projects initiated by a Lions Club must have
the full support, including the financial support, of the
District.
Texas Lions Foundation does not fund:
1. Programs or services otherwise available through
governmental, charitable or social welfare systems.
2. Projects more appropriately the responsibility of
Lions Clubs, Districts and other Lion units.
3. Operating expenses of existing programs (except when
those expenses represent a significant increase in services
over those previously offered).
4. Any one project on a continuing basis.
5. Programs of non-Lion organizations (except when they
significantly contribute to TLF's service potential and exceed
the capabilities of available Lions programs).
6. Programs through which Lions and/or their families
receive direct benefit, or in which they may have a
proprietary interest.
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION:
The Grant Application and all supporting documentation should
be sent to the Texas Lions Foundation. A brief letter of
acknowledgement will be sent to all applicants. A more
detailed response will be sent upon completion of a
preliminary review of the proposal. Applicants failing to
respond to correspondence regarding their application within
120 days will be notified that the application will be
withdrawn unless a response is received within 60 days of the
date of that notice. Applications are considered for approval
three times each year by the Foundation's Executive Committee
and Board of Trustees. Applications must be received by the
TLF office, in complete form, at least 30 days before a
scheduled Executive Committee meeting in order to be placed on
the agenda for that meeting. (Download
TLF Grant Application Form)
EMERGENCY GRANTS
Emergency Grants are limited to $2,000.00. (Download
TLF Emergency Grant Application Form)
ELIGIBILITY:
Note: Based on past experience the Trustees feel that Lions
are usually better equipped to assess long-term needs, and
that local interests are most often better served through
Standard rather than Emergency grants.
Lion Districts are eligible to receive emergency grants only
if immediate needs in the wake of a natural disaster are not
being met by primary relief agencies. Grant funds are
generally limited to the purchase of food, clothing, medical
supplies, construction materials and blankets for disaster
victims. They may not be used to provide direct financial aid
to victims. Emergency Grant funds not used within 30 days of
their receipt must be returned. Receiving an Emergency Grant
does not necessarily preclude applying for a Standard Grant.
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION:
To apply for an emergency grant, a District Governor or
Trustee may contact the TLF office by telephone or telegraph.
Requests for emergency assistance must include: (1) a
description of the extent of damages, injuries and/or
fatalities, (2) the specific amount of funding requested, and
(3) a definite plan for the use of the funds.
Emergency Grants are issued upon the approval of the
Foundation Chairman and Executive Committee. The District
remains responsible for submitting a complete written grant
application form as soon as possible and for a final report on
the use of the funds. |
