Proposal Requirements

Please submit electronic versions of your proposal and all attachments to Julie Thibodeau (julie@ourconservationlegacy.org). If your proposal is approved for funding, you will be asked to send a hard copy of the full proposal and all attachments to the Foundation office at 679 E 2nd Ave, Suite 3, Durango, CO 81301.

Proposals should not exceed 4 pages and should include:

HEADING

• Name and address of organization
• Telephone and fax of organization
• Email and website address
• Name and title of contact person(s)
• Date you are submitting proposal
• Proposal title
• Amount requested

STATEMENT OF NEED (UP TO 1 PAGE)
A brief statement of the need for your project.

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION (UP TO 1 PAGE)
This section should briefly describe your organization’s current status and your plans for future development. We would prefer that the narrative include:

• Mission. A short statement of why your organization exists.
• History. A brief description of how the organization was formed, and any major events in your development.
• Accomplishments. Highlights of the organization’s accomplishments.
• Structure. A short overview of the organizational structure – including your board, staff, and any volunteers or membership.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION (1-2 PAGES)
This section should describe what your organization is trying to accomplish through this project. You may find it helpful to use bulleted lists in this section.

A description of your project, including:

• Goals and Objectives. What are you trying to achieve? How will this project help protect, restore or expand the Conservation System?
• Activities. What will you do to achieve that goal?
• Timelines. When will the activities take place?
• Outcomes/Indicators. Your outcomes should provide a concrete measure of how you did in reaching your goals.

ESTIMATED BUDGET
A short budget table that shows your project expenses and how Foundation funds will be used. Please include any other funds that will support the project with a note detailing the status of those funds (committed or pending).

A NOTE ON LOBBYING
The Foundation encourages its grantees to use all the tools legally available, including public advocacy and engagement with the political process. We are also interested in hearing about these activities in your written reports and proposals. However, it is important that your proposal accurately states what portion of the Foundation’s funding will be used to support lobbying activities. As a 501(c)(3) public charity the Foundation must track and report to the IRS the portion of our resources that go to lobbying and ensure that we do not exceed legal limits on the amount of funds spent on lobbying. Please specify in your Budget the amount of Foundation funds that will be used to support lobbying and note in the description of your work which activities will contribute to that total. In general, lobbying occurs when a person or group of people express an opinion to a legislator on a specific piece of legislation or on a legislative proposal or otherwise attempt to influence legislation. Lobbying also includes a communication that asks the public to speak to a legislator about specific legislation or a legislative proposal.

ATTACHMENTS

• Supporting Materials. Examples of materials your organization has produced, press clips, or other materials that demonstrate your ability to successfully complete the project. (3 items maximum)
• Copy of your IRS determination letter or that of your fiscal sponsor if not on file with the Foundation. We also require a copy of the agreement letter between you and any fiscal sponsor, if applicable.
• Copy of your organization’s financial statement (either audited or un-audited) for the most recently completed fiscal year; if your group is not audited, you may submit your most recent 990 or whatever accounting report you use to review the previous fiscal year’s income and expenses.
• Project Staff biographies.