Program: Grant Making: Grant Making Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Organizational Technology Grants Program

1) What types of organizations are eligible for PTP grants?

PTP's focus is to support grassroots organizations that engage in multi-issue social, economic and environmental justice efforts to empower low-income people and communities of color. PTP uses the following broad criteria when making decisions on organizational fit. Eligible organizations should:

PTP believes that community organizing at its best is about developing relationships, skills and understandings among people that increase their ability to change unjust conditions in their communities and beyond.

At this time, PTP is only accepting proposals from organizations focused on and based in the United States. PTP will not consider funding for organizations that primarily engage in the following activities: scholarships/fellowships; technical service provision; direct services; technology projects unrelated to grassroots social change efforts; child care programs; emergency shelters; medical services; books; publications; capital improvement and job training or readiness projects.

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2) What makes for a successful grant proposal to PTP?

PTP's Organizational Technology Grants Program is made available to help grassroots groups figure out how to use technology in their work. That means there is no one technology to ask for or right way to apply to PTP. That said, the most effective proposals share some common features:

3) What types of Organizational Technology Grants Program proposals have been funded in the past?

Descriptions of previous PTP grant awardees are available here. Grants have been made for a range of different requests and projects. Some examples of those projects and requests include:

5) What are the funding deadlines?

The organization application and grant application must be received by November 28, 2006. Fill out the organization application far enough in advance so that we have time to tell you if your organization qualifies to apply. You will be sent a link to an online form that you will use to complete the applicaiton. If you need to complete a paper application, send it early enough to be in our office on November 28, 2006

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6) What if my organization doesn't have IRS 501(c)(3) status-can we still apply for a grant?

Yes. You can use a sponsoring organization or fiscal agent. In each case, you will need to submit their 501 (c) (3) letter and a letter of agreement between you and the sponsoring organization stating they agree to play this role and it is in keeping with their purpose and 501 (c) (3) status.

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7) How will my application be reviewed?

When proposals are received in the office, PTP staff is responsible for an initial eligibility evaluation based on organizational fit and materials included in the proposal packet. All proposals that pass that initial review are forward to a grants panel. The grants panel is comprised of community organizers, technology specialists and funders. The grants panel reviews all proposals using a set of evaluation criteria. The panel goes through several rounds of evaluation and ranking before funding decisions are made.

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8) How long will it take PTP to make grant decisions?

Generally speaking, it takes about 8-10 weeks from the due date of the proposals to make funding decisions. PTP receives between 200-400 proposals for each Organizational Technology Grants Program round. PTP plans to have decisions for this round made by the end of October 2003.

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9) How many grants are awarded this round and how many proposals is PTP likely to receive?

In this Organizational Technology Grants Program round, PTP will make between 10-15 grants of up to $10,000. In the last grants round, PTP received about 180 qualified requests, and we were only able to fund 12 of them. Most of the proposals we receive represent good and worthy work, so it is very difficult to select one project over another. But we have to.

PTP is continually working to raise more funds to grant and evaluate our grant-making activities. We encourage you to remind your other funders about the need for more technology funding.

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10) What are my obligations if I receive a grant?

You will be asked to sign a letter of understanding that establishes your responsibilities as a grant recipient. PTP will ask you to write a grant final report one year after receiving your grant. All grant recipients are asked to share the accomplishments, challenges and lessons learned in their work.

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11) If I don't get a grant, what are my options?

As noted above, PTP has limited resources and cannot give as many grants as we receive proposals worthy of funding. Increasingly, other funding sources are valuing the role of technology in making organizations more effective in their work. Several web sites offer good suggestions of possible funding sources and fundraising tips (in addition to offering other technical assistance information). Check out our resources pages.

PTP seeks to work with funders to make more funds available to organizations using technology to advance their social justice goals.

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12) Can I get feedback if I do not get a grant?

Yes, but it is limited. PTP will try to give everyone who asks for it feedback about their proposal and why it was not funded. Please bear with us as the number of proposals we receive makes this slower than we would like.

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13) Does PTP support international groups not based or working in the US?

No. Currently, PTP only accepts proposals from organizations focused on and based in the United States.

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14) Is PTP an endowed foundation?

No. PTP raises all of the money it re-grants.

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15) If I have received a Organizational Technology Grants Program grant in the past, can I receive another?

PTP will not review proposals from organizations it has funded within the last two years. PTP is trying to spread its resources to as many groups as possible. Please call if you have any questions about this.

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16) What about PTP's other grant-making activity?

Currently, the Organizational Technology Grants Program is PTP's only open grant-making program.

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