GRANTS
GRANT PROCESS
How Does DIFFA Grant Funds?
DIFFA raises funds for grant making to organizations engaged in HIV and AIDS related activities. DIFFA is headquartered in New York City with chapters in various cities around the country which raise funds and award grants in those regions.
DIFFA's Grantmaking Tradition
DIFFA's grant making tradition has been to support start up or emerging programs and ideas that reflect a unique or innovative approach to a problem. DIFFA also seeks proposals that include appropriate and strategic collaboration among agencies. We continue to seek requests where public support and other philanthropy (including an organization's own fund raising capacity) is not otherwise available and where DIFFA funds can be appropriately positioned to expand and diversify the funding efforts of an organization.
Eligible Programs
Community-based organizations with a 501(c) 3 providing direct service, preventive education, and outreach to people who are HIV positive, living with AIDS or at-risk of infection are eligible.
Grant Cycles
The Foundation provides two grants cycles each year. Grants are approved by the Foundation's trustees at the April and October board meetings. In some cases, a special cycle will be approved to meet specific community or emergency needs. Grants fall under two categories: Chapter Grants and Foundation Grants. In both instances, DIFFA DOES NOT accept unsolicited grant proposals.
Chapter Grants
All chapters do not employ the same application and review process, but most use the same elements. After chapters determine their area of interest for the upcoming grant cycle, an RFP (Request For Proposal) is issued, in some cases preceded by a letter of intent which the chapter will review to determine if they wish to receive a proposal from the organization. Review of proposals may be followed by site visits and interviews with the organizations' staff and/or requests for additional information. The local grants committee first presents its recommendations to the local board for approval and any changes. The final chapter recommendation is then forwarded to the Foundation office for review and preparation for the Foundation Board of Trustees' approval. Upon approval, grantees are issued a commitment letter and a contract that states the intended use of the grant, any restrictions, payment schedule and instructions for a completion memorandum upon completion and evaluation of the program funded. Service organizations within a DIFFA chapter region must apply through the DIFFA chapter. Interested applicants should provide basic information including organization name, address, telephone, fax, contact and a one-sentence program description. This information should be sent to the Foundation office. The information will then be forwarded to the local chapter grants' representative.
Foundation Grants (Non-Chapter)
The process for Foundation Grants is similar to that above but may be made to any organization in the country whose programs further the mission of the Foundation, including Chapter and non-Chapter communities. The Foundation also administers grant making for the city of New York. Applicable service organizations should provide basic information including organization name, address, telephone, fax, contact and a one sentence program description. This information should be sent to the Foundation office.
