Grant decisions are made through the combined effort of the Budget and Grants Committee of the Board of Trustees and the full Board.  Staff provide recommendations to the Budget and Grants Committee based upon some or all of the following procedures:   analysis of the written proposal, consultation with experienced program leaders and researchers in the field, site visits and meetings with project staff and Board, and experience with your organization or contributing personnel on prior grants.

Applicants will hear of decisions regarding their submissions via a letter.  Award/decline letters will communicate the decisions of the Budget and Grants Committee or full Board and will also include information on various contingencies or pre-funding requirements.  Please keep in mind that grant awards may contain significantly different terms of award than originally proposed by your group. Also, a contract (Grant Agreement) must be signed between your group and The Rapides Foundation which spells out requirements and expectations for superior performance.

Decline letters will generally not indicate specific reasons for Committee or Board action.  Groups who are unsuccessful are encouraged to contact the Program Department. In many cases, staff are able to highlight certain areas of the proposal that may require additional refinement for program excellence.

Back to Applying for Funds
Types Of Available Grants
Who Is Eligible To Apply?
How do I Apply for a Mini Opportunity Grant?
How do I Apply for a Program Opportunity Grant?