Application Procedures
Basic Requirements
The Haney-Leighton Fund seeks proposals from faith-based and social action organizations working to increase social, economic, cultural, and ecological justice in Maine.
Grant Amounts and Duration
Grants are highly competitive due to limited funds. There are three grant options:
- Lightning grants for one-time funding (up to $1,000) are available for emergency situations, unique opportunities, and special needs. Grant requests-to be submitted at any time throughout the year-should be sent electronically to the Haney-Leighton Fund at haneyfund@gmail.com. Include a contact person's name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number, as well as a description of the need for funding outside of the normal grant cycle and how the Haney-Leighton funds will be used alongside other resources.
- Single-year grants (up to $5,000) require the submission of a brief letter of intent (two pages, maximum), due no later than July 15. Grant requests may be to support a new project, an existing program, or the organization's operating expenses. See Application Process below for more information.
- Multiple-year grants (up to $10,000 for each of three years) are limited in number and awarded to an organization with a need for a sustained investment from the Haney-Leighton Fund, whether for a long-term project or the organization's operating costs. A brief letter of intent (two pages, maximum) that makes the case for multi-year support by the Haney-Leighton Fund is due no later than July 15. See Application Process below for more information.
Preferences
While the Fund will consider all applications, preference will be given to:
- Small grassroots organizations or individuals
- Young or emerging organizations
- Groups in small towns or rural areas
- Groups led by or that center the needs of marginalized Mainers, including Mainers of color, Indigenous people (Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Mi'kmaq), recent immigrants, working-class Mainers, LGBTQ+ Mainers, and incarcerated or formerly incarcerated Mainers.
- Youth- or student-led groups
- Congregations and other faith-based community groups.
Characteristics
Proposals should demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:
- A proposal not likely to attract mainstream funding
- A commitment to long-term involvement with a community of need
- Interest in collaborating with or building alliances with a range of groups and constituencies
- Proposals that cross racial, ethnic, class, sexuality, gender, and/or religious lines.
- Proposals that involve ethical principles that can be transferred to other contexts.
Guidelines
First, read the Haney-Leighton Fund Mission Statement and ask, "Does our proposal fit within the description of social action?"
Proposals should reflect effective ways to achieve social or economic justice by:
- Raising consciousness about injustice through education or other means
- Challenging the status quo at any or all levels: local, state, regional, national, or global
- Seeking to change the conditions which cause injustices
- Addressing major oppressions such as racism, sexism, classism, and/or anthropocentrism
- Empowering to those who are marginalized
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Fund, in keeping with Elly and Debbie's shared vision, supports faith-based and other forms of social action to increase social, economic, cultural, and ecological justice.
In its Board, volunteers, and grant recipients, the Haney-Leighton Fund does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or relational status, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other status prohibited by applicable federal and/or state law.
Application Process for Single-Year and Multi-Year Grants
Timeline July 15: Letters of intent due October 1: Full applications due. November 15: Grantees notified of Haney-Leighton Fund Board decision. December 15: Grant checks mailed. January 15: A year later, final reports (and first- and second-year progress reports for multi-year grants) are due.
Step One: Submit letter of intent no later than July 15.
Letters of intent (two pages maximum), which should include a contact person's name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number, are to be sent to: haneyfund@gmail.com
The Board will review the letters of intent, and if a proposal falls within the guidelines and is selected by the Board, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application.
Step Two: Submit a Full Application by October 1
The full application should not exceed three pages and should include the following information:
- Outline of the proposal and how grant funds will be used.
- If funds will be used for a specific project, include the project's goals and timeline.
- If funds will be used for an organization's operating costs, include a description of how increased funding for operating costs will help meet the organization's goals.
- Description of how the proposal meets the Haney-Leighton Fund guidelines.
- Explanation of how goals or expected outcomes will be measured.
- Budget summary and amount requested.
- How will the Haney-Leighton funds be utilized to help reach the intended goals?
- What other sources of funding will be used?
- Why are other funding sources insufficient to meet the need for funding?
- Confirmation of IRS 501(c)(3) designation or fiscal sponsor.
Full applications, which should include a contact person's name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number, are to be sent to: haneyfund@gmail.com
Step Three: Distribution of Funds
The Board will contact applicants by mid-November about the grants awarded. Funds will typically be distributed by late December or early January.
Liaison with the Board
A member of the Board will serve as the liaison for each grantee, to answer questions and serve as a point person with the Haney-Leighton Fund Board. If difficulties or changes arise that affect carrying out the proposal, the grantee should contact their liaison person for advice and counsel.
Reporting Requirements
Lightning grant recipients should submit a brief (one-page) report on how the grant was used within 6 months after the grant is awarded. These reports may be submitted electronically to haneyfund@gmail.com.
Single-year grant recipients should submit a final report by January 15 after the end of the grant period. Multi-year grant recipients are expected to submit a progress report for each year of the grant, and a final report at the end of the grant period. Those reports are due on January 15.
In these short reports (2 pages maximum), to be submitted electronically to haneyfund@gmail.com, please respond to the following questions:
- What were your goals for your grant?
- What did you actually accomplish? How well did you accomplish your goals, and how did you address any challenges?
- How specifically did you use the Haney-Leighton funding?
- What did you learn during the grant period, and how are you applying what you learned?
- Do you have any suggestions for the Haney-Leighton Fund about our grant programs, including the application and evaluation processes? Provide feedback about the clarity and ease of the process, along with the Fund's promptness of response. Please share anything else that might be helpful to the Board.