When you are ready to recommend a grant, simply complete a Grant Recommendation Form and mail or fax it to us.

We can also accept and process your written grant recommendations via mail, fax or e-mail. We ask that you include the following language from the Grant Recommendation Form in any other written grant recommendation to us:

I attest that the recommendation above does not represent payment of a pledge or other personal financial obligations on behalf of the fund representative(s), family members or businesses they control and that no tangible benefit, goods or services, such as membership, dinners, tickets, etc…were or will be received by any individual or entities connected with the Fund.

After we receive your signed request or your  e-mail recommending a grant from your Advised Fund:

1. Your recommendation is reviewed.
   • If the grantee organization has previously received a grant from the Foundation the grant is entered and added to the approval list for the GECF Board.
   • If the grantee organization has not previously received a grant from the Foundation, GECF staff verifies its IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and reviews the purpose of the organization. If staff determines the organization is eligible to receive grants from the Foundation, the grant is added to the Board approval list. If staff finds the organization is ineligible for funding, you will be notified.
2. Once the grant is approved, a check is processed and is mailed to the grantee organization with a letter indicating the grant has been awarded at your recommendation. If you prefer to remain anonymous you can indicate that on your grant recommendation form and you will not be identified in the correspondence with the organization.
3. All fund activity is recorded and reported back to you on quarterly fund statements, which are mailed approximately 3-4 weeks after the close of each quarter.

All donor advised grants must be approved by the Foundation’s Board. Generally, grant checks are mailed out within one – two weeks of receipt of your recommendation. In rare instances our due diligence processes may require extra time and might delay grant processing.