CSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

GRANT APPLICATION

Instructions - Please submit a completed copy of this Grant Application and all requested supporting documentation to: CSE Community Foundation at 4321 Nelson Road, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70605. The Application must be received by the Foundation by email or mail before the cut-off date, which is at least two months prior to awarding the funds.

General Guidelines Regarding CSE Community Foundation’s Grant Program

CSE Community Foundation provides financial support through its grant application process to 501(c)(3) organizations providing services in the areas of focus outlined in our charitable purpose statement: financial education and literacy, promotion of education and awarding of scholarships, and community support and outreach.

Wherever possible, contributions should be programmatic in nature and focus, and add value to the scope of services offered by the organization. The benefits of the organization’s program should be detailed and quantifiable.

Organizations may apply for full or partial funding of a particular program or multiple programs. Grants are not made for general operating efforts or to create endowments. 

Only one grant will be awarded to an organization per calendar year. If renewed funding is desired, the organization must submit a new application. 

Terms and Requirements of Grant Funding

In the event the Foundation approves a grant to the Applicant (sometimes herein referred to as “Grantee”), the parties agree that the terms of this Application shall be in full force and effect pertaining to the granted funds. This Application is being made to constitute a legally binding and enforceable agreement on the part of the Grantee to use any funds transferred to it from the Foundation strictly in accordance with the understandings set forth and to perform other promises contained herein.In the event the Foundation approves a grant to the Grantee, the latter agrees to use said granted funds strictly for the purposes set forth in this Application.

Restrictions on Use of Funds

Grantee agrees not to use any of the funds:

a. To carry on propaganda or otherwise to attempt to influence legislation (within the meaning of Sec. 4945(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code);

b. To influence the outcome of any specific public election, or to carry on, directly or indirectly, any vote or registration drive (within the meaning of Sec. 4945(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code);

c. For any grant which does not comply with the requirements of Sec. 4945(d)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code; or

d. For any purpose other than the ones specified in Sec. 170(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Status Report

The Grantee agrees that within six (6) months of receiving funds from the Foundation, and again upon final expenditure of all grant funds awarded by the Foundation, or upon the request of the Foundation, the Grantee will submit a written Status Report to the Foundation detailing the following:

i. The use of the donated funds and the progress made toward achieving the program goals and/or objectives for which the grant was made;

ii. The community impact of the funds granted, including a description of measurement tools used to determine the success of the program;

iii. Whether or not the funds were applied to programs not originally detailed in the Application;

iv. A breakdown of how the funds were expended (including direct program costs, salaries, travel and supplies); and

v. A success story from an individual or group served by a program funded by the grant.

Record Keeping

The Grantee agrees to maintain its books and records in a manner that satisfies Internal Revenue Code Treasury Regulation Sec. 53-4945-5(c)(3) and in such a way that funds from the Foundation will be shown separately on the Grantee’s books. Expenditures made by the Grantee in furtherance of the purpose specified in this Grant Application must be charged against the grant. The Grantee will maintain records of such expenditures adequate to identify the use of the funds for the specified purposes. The Grantee will maintain its records of expenditures from the grant, as well as copies of the status reports submitted by it to the Foundation with respect to such grant for at least four (4) years after completion of the use of the grant funds. It will make its books and records available to the Foundation at reasonable times during such period.

In the event it is discovered that there was any misrepresentation contained in the Application or any documents submitted by the Grantee to the Foundation, or if there is a failure by the Grantee to comply with any obligation of the Grantee or to perform the provisions of this Application, the Foundation will be relieved of any obligation to make any payments to the Grantee, and the Grantee agrees that it will promptly repay the Foundation the full amount of any grant funds made by the Foundation to the Grantee, plus interest at the highest legal rate from the date of payment. Further, the Grantee agrees to pay and reimburse the Foundation for reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred by it to enforce this Agreement. The Grantee will promptly repay to the Foundation any portion of the amount granted which is not used by the Grantee for the purposes specified in this Application within the calendar year in which the donation was made. The execution of this Application shall not be deemed to constitute a promise, commitment or duty on the part of the Foundation to make a grant to the Applicant. The terms of the Application become effective only in the event the Foundation awards a grant to the Applicant. The Applicant/Grantee agrees that this Application, including its description of the use of proceeds and other terms, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, and that there are no other or further agreements outstanding not specifically mentioned here.