Foundation Guidelines


Mission

The Foundation's mission is to improve the lives of others, particularly the least fortunate.

History and Philosophy

The Vincent Mulford Foundation was established in 1951 for general charitable purposes by the late Vincent Strong Mulford (1872-1960), a publisher and investor.

The Founder expressed a special interest in grants for the relief of personal suffering or distress of needy persons.

The trustees believe that the only way to relieve human suffering in the long run is to provide those who suffer with the tools to overcome what afflicts them.

The trustees also believe that involvement by family members in not-for-profit enterprises, working in the Foundations fields of interest, is an added reason for supporting those organizations.

The Foundation has several long-standing commitments and supports some new programs under the aegis of family members, most particularly in the New York and Greater Boston areas.

Areas of Interest

A substantial portion of available funding is already committed in program areas long supported by family members, including emergency services, support of micro-enterprise and provision of educational and social tools to disadvantaged individuals as they work their way towards self-sufficiency.

The trustees are not currently accepting proposals in these program areas from organizations that are new to the Foundation.

Special Emphasis: Housing Assistance

For new grantmaking, the trustees have defined a narrower focus for major funding. The Foundation's current focus is in the critical area of assisting homeless people obtain and keep housing.

This special emphasis represents the view of current Foundation trustees that permanent housing is one of the most crucial elements in renewing people's lives.

The trustees welcome proposals, within the guidelines set forth below, for programs seeking to provide housing, both permanent and transitional, for the previously homeless.

The trustees are aware that funding for construction and renovation is only part of the process of creating housing and, in fact, the Foundation's relatively modest resources can only play a limited role in that area.

Thus as a lesser priority they will consider programs that help people find and move into permanent or transitional housing and to support efforts of those at risk of losing their housing to retain it.

As a result of several years of grantmaking in our area of special focus, the trustees have developed the following priorities for screening proposals. We have rarely had the funding for Category C proposals.

Category A-1

  • Creation of permanent housing for the previously homeless. Examples could be for acquisition of property, planning, engineering and architectural services, and construction costs.

  • Creation of transitional housing, usually including supportive services, for the previously homeless. Examples would be for acquisition of property, planning, engineering and architectural services and construction costs.

Category A-2

  • Renovation of permanent or transitional housing. Examples as above.

Category B-1

  • Emergency funding for persons in imminent danger of eviction.

  • Funding to assist homeless persons find and move into permanent or transitional housing. Funding could include moving expenses, deposits for rent and utilities and expenditures for basic furniture and household necessities.

Category B-2

  • Rent subsidies or other longer-term assistance to enable homeless persons to move into and/or remain in permanent housing.

Category C

  • Funding for programs to assist homeless and formerly homeless people to acquire the skills necessary to permit them to rent or own housing.

Guidelines and Application Procedures

  1. As site visits are essential for any grantee being considered for funding, applications from organizations new to the Foundation are restricted to New York City and to the City of Boston and the communities west of it (Metrowest) in Massachusetts.

  2. All grantees must be tax exempt under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

  3. No loans, grants to individuals, grants for advocacy or grants to government entities will be considered.

  4. Applicants are encouraged to use common proposal formats. At a minimum an application should contain:
    • a brief history and description of the organization applying, including a list of directors and officers;

    • a description of the project, program or purpose for which the grant is requested;

    • the desired grant period;

    • the applicants plan for evaluating the program or project at the end of the grant period or periodically;

    • resumes of those in charge of the program or project and the organization;

    • a budget for the program or project, as well as the agency's current operating budget;

    • the amount and source of other funding or anticipated funding for the program or project;

    • financial statements (audited if practicable) for the applicants last two fiscal years; and

    • a copy of the IRS Determination Letter under Section 501(c)(3).

Two copies of each proposal should be mailed to:

The Vincent Mulford Foundation
P.O. Box 635 (7 Park Avenue)
Tuxedo Park, NY 10987.

Please do not send proposals by email or fax.

Proposal deadlines are March 1 for decision by early June and September 1 for decision by early December.

If unclear as to whether an application would fall within the guidelines, an applicant may write a short letter setting forth the salient information on the proposal. A timely response will be forthcoming.

As this is an unstaffed foundation, phone calls are discouraged.

The Vincent Mulford Foundation
P.O. Box 635 (7 Park Avenue),
Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
info@mulfordfdn.org

 

© 2002 The Vincent Mulford Foundation, Inc.,  All rights reserved.