Faqs

Applicants must be invited to submit a formal application. To inquire about a grant proposal, contact WCF staff by phone or via email to explain your organization’s funding needs or submit a short letter about your intent including budget information. At that time, staff will let you know if it is worth the time and effort to prepare and submit a full proposal. (Applicants for Breakthrough Initiative Grants also must contact WCF first, then must submit an online letter of intent before being invited to apply.)

You can preview our grant application here to see what information is required on our grant application.

WCF does not set limits on the amount requested. Funding requests should reflect the amount that is needed. However, applicants are encouraged to review the Fund’s recent grants for guidance on funding ranges and projects.

While WCF is willing to take funding risks to support innovative programs that may have trouble attracting other funding, applicants are encouraged to broaden their funding base when possible. The Fund prefers not to be the sole funder of any project and encourages organizations to secure other funding sources to help ensure a project’s sustainability.

If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the proposal will be accepted on the very next business day. Please see the grantmaking timetable.

In case of an extreme emergency, organizations may submit a funding request of up to $10,000 outside of the submission timetable. However, agencies still need to follow the standard submission process, by first approaching staff with funding needs. In these special circumstances, applicants can expect a quick turnaround on the funding decision and grant award.

WCF staff looks forward to meeting with all grant applicants after a proposal has been submitted. However, WCF staff is pleased to consult with applicants to help strengthen proposals and provide guidance in preparing an application. Please feel free to call or email with questions and concerns.

One, unless part of a collaborative application with another organization(s). If you apply and do not receive a grant, you must wait a year from your application submission to reapply.

Yes, WCF accepts multi-year requests for funding as well as renewal requests for current grants. However, agencies must still follow the inquiry process and contact WCF staff.

WCF focuses its grant-making almost solely in Lincoln, Nebraska. On rare occasions, WCF will make grants to agencies not located in Lincoln when the project specifically focuses on serving Lincoln or will have a unique impact on Lincoln and/or its residents.

No. WCF makes grants to organizations and projects that fall within its funding interests (Arts & Culture, Civic & Community, Education or Human Services) but does not designate a specific percentage or set a grant target for each area of interest.

View a list of the funding considerations made by the WCF directors.

Woods Charitable Fund believes diverse viewpoints and perspectives enhance and strengthen communities. Grant applicants are expected to supply a list of their organization’s leadership structure in regards to diversity for the current and past 5 years including gender, racial and ethnic demographics and others and to address how this leadership reflects and benefits the community and the people they serve.

Grant notifications are made by mail, email or phone call within a week of the Board of Directors meeting. (See grantmaking timetable.) If a request is funded without contingencies, grant awards will be distributed within a week of award notifications. Payment times vary if contingencies are placed on an award, as in the case of a challenge grant, or in cases of delinquent reports on past funding. In the case of a contingency or multi-year award, WCF staff will discuss payment timetables during notification.

Yes. At the end of the grant period, the grantee must submit a final report, and grantees may be asked to submit an interim update. Reporting terms, including pertinent submission dates, are included in the grant agreement form. Please be sure to read this form carefully and save a copy for future reference. In most instances, a grantee must fulfill all reporting requirements before applying for subsequent grants.

You can preview our final grant report form here.

The Fund will notify grantees two weeks before a grant report is due and when a grant report is delinquent. If the grantee fails to submit the requested report, the grant will be closed as incomplete, jeopardizing future funding requests.

If you wish to make a gift to Woods Charitable Fund, please contact:

Tom Woods
President
Woods Charitable Fund
by email: info@woodscharitable.org
or phone: (402) 436-5971