Endowment for Healthphoto of group of peoplegeographic barriers to access
Exit ThemeGrant CenterResource CenterContact Us
Types of Grants |  Proposal Toolkit |  Grant Toolkit |  Awards |  Q & A |  Glossary |  Resources
Questions and Answers
The questions presented on this page relate to the Endowment’s grant program. You can find questions pertaining to organizational and operational issues in the About Us section.
Question:
Does the Endowment fund projects that include capital expenses?
Answer:
The Endowment does not fund capital campaigns, but will consider funding expenses for new facilities or other capital expenses if they are part of the activities necessary to complete the goal and outcomes of the project. Of course, any funded project must comply with grant characteristics and criteria. For example, the Endowment will fund the remodeling or expansion of a health center if the construction is a necessary activity for the project. The project itself cannot be the health center; the health center must be a means to achieving the project goal.

Question:
If our Theme Implementation Grant proposal has a research, data collection and analysis, planning, convening, and/or technical assistance component, should we include this component of the project in our Theme Implementation Grant proposal?
Answer:
Although a Theme Implementation Grant proposal can include minor research, planning, technical assistance or convening activities, if a significant set of project activities address one or more of these areas, it is probably best to apply for a Planning, Convening, and/or Technical Assistance Grant first to accomplish that part of your project. You might want to submit another proposal at a later date for a Theme Implementation Grant when you are ready to implement the project.

We invite you to call the Endowment for further discussion on this question and ask to speak with the Program Director who focuses on the theme you have chosen.

Question:
Does the Endowment fund projects that have already begun?
Answer:
The Endowment does not fund project activities that have already occurred. However, if a project is currently under way, the Endowment will consider funding an activity of that project that has not already occurred.

Question:
Can members of the Endowment Advisory Council apply for grants?
Answer:
Organizations with which Advisory Council members are affiliated can apply for Endowment grants as long as those organizations meet the eligibility criteria. Their proposals are reviewed using the same process and criteria used with other proposals.

Question:
What happens to our funding if the direction of our work changes after we receive the award?
Answer:
The Endowment cannot guarantee funding if the direction of your work changes, but if you explain the new direction, it might still be fundable. Keep talking to us; we’re your partner.

Question:
If my project logically qualifies for more than one grant type, which grant type should I use?
Answer:
This type of situation needs to be handled on a case-by-case basis. This would be an appropriate time to call the Endowment to discuss your idea.

Question:
May we submit our proposal before the deadline?
Answer:
Yes, we’d love that! Of course, this will not affect the award date of your grant, if you should receive one.

Question:
Should we expect to hear from the Endowment after we submit our proposal? Does the Endowment conduct site visits as part of the review process? In short, is no news, good news?
Answer:
After you submit your proposal, the Endowment will send you an email confirming receipt of the proposal and notifying you of any missing items.

After that, the Endowment will only contact you to ask questions regarding weaknesses or lack of clarity in your proposal. Site visits are rarely a part of the review process. Therefore, it is possible to receive an award and not to have heard from us since the confirmation email.

Question:
May we speak to someone at the Endowment about our proposal after submitting it?
Answer:
Endowment review team members (which include Endowment Program Directors, the VP of Program, and independent reviewers) will discuss a proposal with an applicant during the review process only when the conversation is initiated by an Endowment review team member. This begins immediately after receiving the proposal.

This policy is important in order to maintain a fair and equitable review for each proposal. However, you are always welcome to ask questions before submitting your proposal.

Question:
Does the Endowment fund projects that address public policy issues?
Answer:
Yes it does, through its Public Policy Grant. The Endowment recognizes that creating lasting, systemic change in health and health systems often requires addressing critical gaps between current public policies and the health-related goals they are expected to achieve. Most often, the Endowment funds public policy projects that address its current themes. As with other projects funded by the Endowment, policy-related projects are required to primarily impact the health of New Hampshire residents. Only organizations that receive invitations from the Endowment may apply for Public Policy Grants.

Question:
How does the Endowment for Health decide how much money to distribute each year?
Answer:
IRS regulations require an annual distribution of a percentage of the average monthly value of our assets during the preceding fiscal year. This calculation is made by an accounting firm and submitted to the IRS and the Charitable Division of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office on Form 990-PF by February 15 of each year.

Question:
We realize that a proposal for an Applied Research Grant or a Data Grant can only be submitted by an organization that has received an invitation from the Endowment. Is there anything we can do to persuade the Endowment to send us an invitation?
Answer:
Yes, there is something you can do. If you have a project in mind that you think is a good idea, you can describe the project in a letter of inquiry, as described in the Letter of Inquiry Guidelines, and submit it to the Endowment by the due date. The Endowment will review the letter of inquiry and notify you as to whether you will be receiving an invitation.

Question:
Do we need to submit a sustainability plan as part of the proposal?
Answer:
No, your proposal does not need to include a detailed sustainability plan. However, the Proposal Narrative portion of your proposal should include your current thinking as to how you plan to sustain both the health outcomes and resources needed to continue the work of the project after the Endowment grant ends. Your Project Workplan should include an outcome and the supporting activities needed to ensure sustainability. This might include activities related to the development of a detailed sustainability plan, however, the outcome itself may serve as the plan if adequate details are presented.

Question:
Do we need to submit a detailed evaluation plan as part of the proposal?
Answer:
No, your proposal does not need to include a detailed evaluation plan. However, the Outcomes Evaluation Plan tables of your Project Workplan should include some initial ideas about the indicators you might use to evaluate whether or not project outcomes have been achieved and the possible data collection instruments.

If the project is funded by the Endowment, you will be asked to finalize the Outcome Evaluation Plan tables in your Project Workplan within the first six months of project implementation.

Question:
Do we need to submit a Letter of Inquiry in order to apply for a Theme Implementation Grant?
Answer:
Yes, a Letter of Inquiry is mandatory when applying for a Theme Implementation Grant.

Question:
What is an Emergency Grant?
Answer:
First of all, these grants are non-competitive. When the Endowment becomes aware of a critical situation in a New Hampshire, health-related, safety-net organization (typically, in a community mental health center, community health center, or dental clinic), it might open discussions about the need for an Emergency Grant.

Question:
Can an organization apply for multiple grants during one grant cycle?
Answer:
An organization can apply for multiple grants during the same cycle. The Endowment would prefer not to award a large portion of yearly funds to a single organization and will be sensitive to the fact that the same organization is being considered multiple times. However, the decision-making process is based primarily on ideas, not on the organization applying, and if that is where the best ideas are, the Endowment could possibly award multiple grants to a single agency. A suggestion for collaborative grant proposals is to use a different lead agency for each proposal.

Question:
What kind of progress reports do we have to submit if we receive funding?
Answer:
Progress reports are due from grantees every six months, unless otherwise specified in the Terms of Award. The Endowment wants to know what's happening - what's working well and what is not working as you planned. Show us the details that describe how the project is moving along from both the financial and activity perspectives, when compared to the expectations spelled out in the Terms of Award.

Question:
How were the current Endowment themes identified?
Answer:
When the Endowment for Health was being created, the residents of New Hampshire identified 15 critical New Hampshire health issues at a series of public hearings held throughout the state. The Endowment selected the current themes from that list of 15 issues:
  • Access to Health Care
  • Adolescent Health
  • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
  • Chronic Disease and Disability
  • Domestic Violence
  • Environmental Health
  • Health Insurance
  • Health of the Elderly
  • Homelessness and Health Care
  • Mental Health
  • Minority Health
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Oral Health
  • Public Health
  • Health Care Workforce


Question:
Will the Endowment fund ideas that address controversial topics?
Answer:
Controversial ideas that are health-related will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Do not discard a good idea because you know the problem it solves is a controversial one. Talk to us about it.

Question:
Does the Endowment fund areas that are considered to be government’s responsibility?
Answer:
As stated in the “Eligibility” section of the Proposal Guidelines, the Endowment usually does not fund projects that replace public or government obligations. We consider a governmental obligation to be an item that is currently or was recently on the State or Federal budget. Occasionally, we decline a proposal because the proposed project is widely considered to be a governmental responsibility, even though it is not funded by State or Federal dollars.

Question:
Does the Endowment fund indirect costs, and if so, what percentage?
Answer:
The Endowment recognizes the challenges for a non-profit organization to cover its overhead costs especially when grant funded; therefore we constantly strive to develop a clear definition and a fair methodology that meets the needs of our Grantees. Applicants can use a percentage rate method, up to 10%, or the itemization method to capture indirect expenses. See Budget Guidelines for more information.

Question:
Does the Endowment fund operational costs?
Answer:
The Endowment does not fund existing operational costs as part of project funding, but does fund new costs that are introduced by a proposed project.

The Endowment is piloting a non-competitive grant to provide core operating support to statewide organizations that focus on health-related, nonprofit capacity building, knowledge development, or advocacy.

Question:
Does the Endowment accept applications from municipal or governmental agencies?
Answer:
Yes, all public or private organizations and collaborations, including towns or State agencies, may apply.

Question:
Can an individual apply for a grant?
Answer:
An individual person cannot apply for a grant. If an individual has a good idea, she or he should find an organization (such as United Way) to work with and apply for the grant through that organization.

Question:
Can members of the Endowment Board of Directors apply for grants?
Answer:
A proposal from an agency or organization that employs a member of the Endowment Board of Directors in a managerial capacity will not be accepted during, and for one year following, the term of office of the Board member. However, in the case of institutional or governmental applicants, applicants for grants from departments, divisions, or programs other than the department, division, or program in which the Board member is employed in a managerial capacity, may be accepted, provided that the Board member has no involvement in the proposal and receives no direct or indirect personal financial benefit from any grant awarded.

Question:
Does a small organization really have a chance to receive an award?
Answer:
Yes. An organization must have a sound idea, explained convincingly in its proposal, in order to receive an award. While we assess whether the applicant organization is capable of implementing the proposed project, the size of the organization is not considered during the evaluation process.

Question:
When a group of organizations that does not constitute a legal collaboration applies for a grant, which organization is the applicant organization? and whose data should be used for the “Organization Financial Summary”?
Answer:
If your group is an incorporated collaboration, the collaboration is the applicant. If your group consists of two or more organizations that have come together to collaborate on this project, the group chooses one of its members to be the applicant organization (see "fiscal sponsor"); the chosen organization will be accountable to the Endowment for the programmatic and financial outcomes of the grant. Note that all information in the “Organization Profile” and “Organization Financial Summary” sections of the Grant Proposal form (including the EIN#) describes the applicant organization.

Question:
If an organization applies for the “wrong” grant, will the Endowment re-direct the applicant organization to apply for the correct grant?
Answer:
If you are in doubt about which grant to apply for, you can ask the Endowment about it prior to submitting your proposal. The Endowment will help you decide if your idea fits the guidelines and criteria of the grant you are questioning.

After it has been submitted, the Endowment might contact the applicant to discuss redirecting the grant proposal to a different grant.

Question:
Does the Endowment ever award Theme Implementation Grants of less than $50,000?
Answer:
The Endowment typically does not award Theme Implementation Grants that are considerably less than $50,000. However, if the budget is close to $50,000, say $47,500, do not inflate the budget just to meet the $50,000 requirement.

Question:
Why is there a minimum of $50,000 per year for a Theme Implementation Grant?
Answer:
The Endowment believes that in order to achieve systemic change, an organization must develop a comprehensive project of significant scope and depth over an extended period of time, which is why Theme Implementation Grants are multi-year awards. Rarely can a project of this magnitude be implemented for less than $50,000 per year.

Question:
Does the Endowment award one-year Theme Implementation Grants?
Answer:
The Endowment believes it usually takes three to five years to create sustainable, systemic change. However, occasionally a project requires only one year to achieve systemic change and therefore receives funding.

Question:
Can an organization include multiple projects on one proposal?
Answer:
No, describe each project on a separate proposal, even if the projects are related.

Question:
When applying for a multi-year Theme Implementation Grant, can the amounts vary from year to year?
Answer:
Yes, and in the proposal, the budget amount for each year should reflect the outcomes to be achieved that year.

Question:
How do applicants specify activity and budget details for years 2, 3, 4, etc. in a multi-year grant proposal?
Answer:
Provide as much detail as possible for all years according to the Project Workplan Guidelines for activity details; and according to the Budget Guidelines for budget details. Keep in mind that the Endowment understands the challenge of trying to predict the future. For unknown information, indicate when it will be available. The Endowment will expect you to supply it at that time.

Question:
How detailed should budgets be?
Answer:
Provide a reasonable level of detail relative to the dollar amount of each budget item requested. For example, if your project budget has an item for a new computer workstation, you can combine the expense for the CPU, monitor, mouse, and keyboard as one expense.

Question:
Is the budget included in the page count of the Proposal Narrative?
Answer:
No, the pages in the project budget are not included in the page count of the Proposal Narrative.

Question:
To whom should letters of commitment and letters of support be addressed?
Answer:
Letters of commitment and letters of support should be addressed to the Endowment for Health and should be submitted as attachments with the proposal.

Question:
What should I do if I cannot answer a question required on the proposal?
Answer:
Explain why you are unable to answer the question; do not leave the question blank.

Question:
What should I do if I still have questions after reading the Proposal Guidelines?
Answer:
Check out the information on the Grant Center section of our web site, or call the Endowment office at (603) 228-2448. We are always happy to talk with you before you submit your proposal.

Question:
Who reviews the grant proposals?
Answer:
At least two objective, qualified individuals review each proposal to ensure that the project has the characteristics listed for the grant type and meets the criteria for the grant type.

All grant recommendations receive final approval by the Endowment Board of Directors.

Question:
How does the Endowment for Health inform the New Hampshire community about the Endowment, its available grants, and who is being awarded grants?
Answer:
The Endowment mails announcements, posts announcements and general information on its web site and in regional newspapers, and schedules annual informational meetings throughout the state.

The Endowment also welcomes invitations from community organizations to speak about the Endowment for Health and its programs.

Question:
Is a fiscal sponsor the same as a fiscal agent?
Answer:
Legally, the term "fiscal agent" does not exist. When people use the term "fiscal agent", they probably mean "fiscal sponsor."

In the context of applying for an Endowment grant, a "fiscal sponsor" is a corporation with a 501(c)(3) tax status that agrees to receive and disburse the funds for your project. The fiscal sponsor is legally and financially responsible for the project and is considered the applicant organization by the Endowment.

Question:
When might an organization use a fiscal sponsor? What types of organization finds fiscal sponsors most useful?
Answer:
A new organization or group (of organizations or individuals) that is not formally incorporated with 501(c)(3) status and groups who only intend to operate for a limited period of time can benefit from fiscal sponsorship, because they do not have to first establish a nonprofit corporation.

If a group is a coalition of several groups, even a group of 501(c)(3)organizations working together on a common issue, a fiscal sponsor may be seen as neutral territory for accepting funds.

If a group is committed to its mission, but has no interest or experience in managing all the administrative functions of a business, a fiscal sponsor could be a good option.


Our Themes
Children's Mental Health
Economic Barriers to Access
Social and Cultural Barriers to Access
Geographic Barriers to Access

Home | Site Center | Email Webmaster at Endowment for Health

This site provides health-related information to New Hampshire residents and is not intended to be a source of health care advice.
©2001-2008 Endowment For Health, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Website Design & Development by InfoWave Technologies