The Dyson Foundation has worked to make our grant application process as streamlined and informative as possible to assist you in your search for funding. We recommend you follow these steps:

1. Learn about our funding: By reviewing our various program areas.



2. Determine if you meet our eligibility criteria: By using our online eligibility questionnaire.



3. Submit a letter of inquiry:

If you are applying for new or renewal project support grant, general operating support grant, mini-grant, or Strategic Restructuring Initiative grant, you should first submit a letter of inquiry. This is a concise way to tell us about your project so that we can determine whether to invite you to send us a full proposal.

To submit a letter of inquiry, log in to our Grants Portal.

 

4. You will receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of your letter of inquiry.

If you would like to talk with a Foundation program officer before submitting your letter of inquiry or Management Assistance Program grant application, please feel free to call. However, our experience is that we can have more informed and helpful conversations after an initial letter of inquiry has been reviewed.

If, on the basis of a letter of inquiry or Management Assistance Program application a proposed project or request appears to address key Dyson Foundation interests, you will be invited to submit additional information or a fully developed proposal. (Note that we do also accept the Dutchess County Common Grant Application.)  Foundation staff will generally work closely with applicants on developing an acceptable proposal and related materials.

Each proposal will be evaluated on its own merits according to the following criteria:

• Closeness of fit with the Foundation's program priorities and values;
• Significance of the need to be addressed;
• Potential to achieve significant and enduring results;
• Capacity of the applicant to accomplish its goals and objectives; and
• Appropriateness of the budget.

During the review, representatives of the Foundation will research the proposal through telephone inquiries, site visits, and meetings with agency staff, board, volunteers, and clients as necessary. On occasion, outside experts may be asked to help review a particular proposal. Foundation staff prepare written proposal summaries and recommendations to the Board of Directors.

The time required to review a proposal varies according to the complexity of the proposal itself, the problem being addressed, and the number of proposals being reviewed. Generally, it can take at least six months from the time a letter of inquiry is received to the actual award of a grant, although the Foundation strives to be as expeditious as possible in its review of inquiries and proposals. The directors of the Dyson Foundation meet quarterly, at which time they consider the funding recommendations of the staff. There are no pre-set deadlines for submission of materials.