SOS accepts Grant Applications BY INVITATION ONLY.  Submit a proposal ONLY if you have submitted a Letter of Inquiry and SOS has requested a full proposal

SOS Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

SOS is committed to equity, diversity, collaboration, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability because all people deserve to live full and abundant lives free of prejudice, discrimination and oppression. We will prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in our philanthropy.

Step One:  Resources on the SOS website under “Apply for a Grant”

Single Year Eligibility:

Single-year grants of $5,000 – $25,000 are awarded to nonprofit organizations in the Greater St. Louis community.   Applicants are encouraged to submit Letters of Inquiry for general operating support, project/program support, and capacity building. Capacity building strengthens the development of an organization’s core skills and capabilities, such as leadership, management, finance/fund-raising, programs, and evaluation, in order to build the organization’s effectiveness and sustainability.

Multi Year Eligibility:

In the 2022-2023 granting cycle, SOS will be investing in one, renewable, three year accelerator grant for $33,333 a year, totaling $100,000. The application can be for a specific project or for general operating support.

Organizations that apply for multi-year grants must:

• Demonstrate a history of successful programming and financial stability
  
• Show collaboration with other agencies
  
• Exhibit strong leadership in board and organizational management
  
• Have a clear multi-year plan that is visionary, meets an urgent community need and significantly enhances the applicant organization’s ability to serve their mission into the future
  
• Demonstrate how having consistent funding will allow your agency to think big and take chances
  
• Have specific and numerically measurable project goals, objectives/actions and outcomes/impact described for each year
  
• Include a three year budget:
  • If applying for a project include a separate project budget for each year
  • If applying for general operating support, submit the organization’s budget for the current year and two subsequent years
  • Have the option to include up to 2 additional supporting documents such as an Annual Report or Strategic Plan

Organizations that have received single-year SOS grants for the past two consecutive years CAN apply for a
multi-year grant. However, organizations applying for a multi-year grant CANNOT apply for an SOS single-year grant in the same grant cycle.

• You may submit up to 2 optional attachments such as your organization’s strategic plan or annual report. These can be documents you already have; do not recreate specifically for SOS.
• Read the Full Grant Application User Guide carefully before beginning the application
• View the Grantee Training, with attention to the video, Submitting a Strong Proposal
• Download the Single Year Budget Templates and follow instructions in the Full Grant Application
  • Download the Project Budget Template HERE 
  • Download the Organizational Financial Summary Template HERE 
  • Download the Organizational Budget Template HERE 
• Download the Multi-Year Project Budget Templates and follow instructions in the Full Grant ApplicationDownload the Project Budget Template HERE
• Download the Organizational Financial Summary Template HERE
• Download the Organizational Budget Template HERE
• Download the Multi-Year General Operating Support Budget Templates and follow instructions in the Full Grant ApplicationDownload the Organizational Financial Summary Template HERE
• Download the Multi-Year Organizational Budget Template HERE

Step Two:  Access the Full Grant Application

SOS grantmaking is now executed in partnership with the St. Louis Community Foundation

• Full grant applications and required documentation can only be submitted online at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=stlgives
• Organizations that are previously registered in the St. Louis Community Foundation grants management system may use their existing login credentials
• The Full Grant Application will be accessible on the “Apply” page

Step Three:  Required Proposal Attachments

Prepare and upload required organizational documents as instructed in the Full Grant Application

(Note that evidence of tax-exempt status has already been determined with the Letter of Inquiry application)

• Financial Documents
• Current Funding Sources
• Board of Directors
• Key Staff

Step Four:  Site Visit

All organizations invited to submit a Full Grant Application will receive a site visit from an assigned team of SOS members in February or March.  Your organization will be notified in advance.  The objective of a site visit is to conduct a general due diligence review and to resolve any questions still outstanding after SOS site team members review the Full Grant Application.

Step Five:  Grant Awards

• Organizations will be notified by mid-April if they are being placed on the final membership ballot for grant consideration
• Grants are awarded based on a formal vote of the SOS membership in late April
• Organizations will be notified in early May if they have been selected to receive a grant
• Representatives from each organization accepted for a grant will attend the Annual Meeting and Spirit Awards ceremony on May 17, 2023

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE FULL GRANT PROPOSAL IS
JANUARY 27, 2023 BY 5 PM