FAQs
Question: What types of grants does the Foundation make?
Answer: We invest in projects and initiatives that help children, young people and communities to thrive. For specifics and background information about our grantmaking priorities please review our Grantmaking Areas of Interest.
Question: What communities does the Foundation serve?
Answer: We make grant investments in the communities where our founder, Mr. Chester Dekko, had an interest during his lifetime. For more information please review our Geographic Areas of Interest.
Question: When are the Foundation’s application deadlines?
Answer: We do not have grant application deadlines; however we help grant seekers with their timing by asking that they send their application at least 90 days before they would like to have a decision from our board of directors. Our board considers grant proposals six times each year in February, April, June, August, October and December.
Question: How soon after I apply can I expect a response from the Foundation?
Answer: It is our goal to acknowledge receipt of grant applications within a week. If you have questions about whether or not we’ve received your application (or any other communications) you are welcome to call our grants manager at: 260-347-1278 or send us an email.
Question: Does the Foundation have an online application?
Answer: Yes, and it can be accessed here. If you would like a copy of our application in print, please feel free to call us at: 260-347-1278.
Question: Can I partially complete an application and then come back later to finish it?
Answer: Yes! Just be sure to click on the words “Save and Finish Later.” PLEASE NOTE: This is the only way to save your grant application. After you’ve created an account, you will receive an email confirming your password and containing a new link to access your saved application.
Question: May I change or delete an application after I submit it?
Answer: While it is not possible for you to change or delete an application electronically, you may certainly talk with our staff to address any problems or changes with your application. Please feel free to call our grants manager at: 260-347-1278.
Question: May we review your grant application questions without actually filling it out?
Answer: Yes, please visit the Grant Application Preview for the type of funding you are requesting. See our Apply Now section and follow the links. Please feel free to call our grants manager at 260-347-1278 if you have any questions.
Question: What if my project fits into more than one of your grantmaking areas of interest?
Answer: If your project fits into more than one of our grantmaking areas of interest, just select the one that you think is the best fit. When we review your request we will determine if we need more, or different, information than you have provided.
Question: Can we upload documents or attachments to include with our application?
Answer: Absolutely. Before you click the “Submit” button at the end of the grant application you will have an opportunity to upload your project budget. We can accept documents in any of the following formats: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) Microsoft Word (.doc), Excel (.xls), PowerPoint (.ppt), Rich Test files (rtf) or graphic files (.tif, gif or jpeg)
The only document you will be asked for during our application process is your project budget. If we need any other supporting documents to consider your application, either our grants manager or program officer will request them from you.
Question: Help! I don't know where to start on writing results.
Question: If I’m not comfortable using an online application, may I send a hard copy?
Answer: Yes. Our staff will assist by sending you an application that fits your project type; and we are happy to receive grant proposals via the U.S. Mail. Please call our office at 260-347-1278 for assistance.
Answer: Probably not! You might have accidentally opened a new grant application. Try clicking here to access your online account.
Within your online account you will find:
Any applications that you are working on and but have not yet submitted.
Your application history.
The opportunity to view and submit required reports for previously-awarded grants.
Question: I forgot to include attachments before I submitted my application. Can I still send them?
Answer: Please email your attachments to our grants manager. Please put your organization’s name and the words “Application Attachments” in the subject line.
Question: Some of the information I’d like to include is not in an electronic format. What can I do?
Answer: Through our application we ask for most of the information needed to consider your grant request. You will have an opportunity to share other information during the site visit with our program officer. Please call our grants manager at 260-347-1278 if you believe that additional information is needed. If it is needed, she’ll help you consider the best way to forward the information.
Question: How can I find out the status of my grant application?
Answer: We should acknowledge receipt of your grant request before one week has passed. If you don’t hear from us, please call our grants manager at 260-347-1278 or send us an email.
After we acknowledge receipt of your grant application and have all of the necessary information to consider your grant request, one of our program officers will be in touch with you set a time to discuss your proposal in more detail. At any time during the consideration process, please feel free to call or email your program officer or our grants manager. They will be happy to help with any questions you may have.
Question: Do you make multi-year grants?
Answer: We do consider multi-year grant investments because we feel that such arrangements use the time and resources of the Foundation and its grantees very wisely. Typically multi-year grants are made to organizations which have established a grant history with the Foundation.
Question: We are not a nonprofit organization.Can we still apply?
Answer: Organizations that to apply to the Dekko Foundation must either be a nonprofit organization or must have secured a fiscal sponsor relationship with a nonprofit organization. The fiscal sponsor must be a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization and must have a formalized working relationship with the applying organization. Please note that, in these cases, grants are paid to the fiscal sponsor, and the fiscal sponsor is responsible for the proper expenditure of funds and all reporting requirements.
Question: Is the information we’ve submitted private?
Answer: Absolutely. We never share information about organizations or their grant applications with anyone outside of the Dekko Foundation staff, Grants Review Committee and board of directors.
Question: I still have a few questions. May I contact someone directly?
Answer: For any remaining questions please feel free to contact our grants manager at 260-347-1278 or by emailing us.
