Indigo Hope Foundation - Charitable Grants Process

Thank you for your interest in the Indigo Hope Foundation and our grant opportunities. The following guidelines are designed to give you a clear understanding of our process and provide essential information you might need before applying.

• Submit Grants: We will accept Grant Applications in March and September of each year. We would recommend you start with the Letter of Inquiry, as an introduction to Indigo Hope (there is an online version of this form as well, on the Forms page). If we feel your organization fits our mission, we may request you to fill out the Grant Application - Long Form, especially for larger grant requests, but would suggest starting with the smaller Letter of Inquiry form.
• Committee Review: Our Grant Review Committee will review all grants the month following the submit period (April and October).
• Award Grants: The projects will be awarded the grants in May and November of each year. You will receive a letter/email whether you were awarded a grant or not.

** Please Note: Since we started our process late this year (our first grant period), and we are working out the kinks to our process, our first grant process will start with Submissions in May 2024, with Review and Awards happening in July 2024.

Indigo Hope will issue grants as small as $250 and as large as $100,000 or more. The Grant Review Committee evaluates each grant application and their focus on our mission, and what we believe the impact could be on our community.

• Grants range from $250 to $100,000+.
• We cannot ensure funding on a recurring basis nor guarantee full funding of requests. Partial funding may be awarded. Multi-year requests are not being accepted currently.
• Applications are open to organizations holding a 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination. We do not accept requests from individuals, businesses, or other foundations.
• Exclusions: Requests for capital campaigns, debt reduction, fundraising events, scholarships, or sponsorships are not supported.
• Required Documents:

1. Letter of Determination (501(c)(3))
2. Current registration with the South Carolina Secretary of State.
3. Financial Statements: Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet from previous year(s).
4. Operating Budget (for operational grant requests)

• The Grant Review Committee will oversee the grant application review process, culminating in approval by voting members from Indigo Hope.
• A final grant report will be required at the grant cycle's end, potentially shared with Indigo Hope's leadership and members.

• In 2024, we aim to award at least one charitable grant in each of our focus areas: Homelessness, Addiction, At-risk Youth, Veterans, and First Responders. The Grant Review Committee will evaluate each grant application and award at least one grant in each area of support, with remaining funds allocated based on member votes, irrespective of focus.
• Grant amounts will range from $250 to $100,000+.
• The Grants Review Committee will thoroughly assess each request for community need, impact potential, and the organization's fiscal responsibility, feasibility, and sustainability. Projects that look to resolve an issue or have a unique approach to resolving an issue will be of special interest to our committee. 
• For the larger requests, site visits between Indigo Hope members and applicant organizations are expected, typically in the months of April and October, during our review period.
• Final grant selections will be voted on by Indigo Hope committee members and all organizations that submitted a grant will be notified, even if they did not win a grant award. 

• Applicants must qualify as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) or be classified as a government unit.
• Priority is given to organizations providing services in South Carolina, with a particular focus on initiatives that support our key areas of focus and are located in Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg, or the wider area of the Upstate of South Carolina. 
• Only one application per organization per grant period is allowed. 
• Specific timelines for grant completion and re-application processes are outlined, emphasizing the importance of timely and effective use of funds.

• Indigo Hope seeks to fund projects that significantly impact our focus areas, align with organizational missions, address critical community needs, encourage collaboration, and demonstrate measurable results. 
• While an organization is not required to be a faith-based organization to receive a grant, as a Christian organization, Indigo Hope will give priority consideration to faith-based organizations and projects.
• Measurable Results – Grants that can show measurable results and the impact that they have will be given priority. Indigo Hope is looking to make an impact and wants to partner with organizations that are doing just that.

Indigo Hope does not fund endowments, conferences, staff travel, re-granting to other organizations, or projects completely outside our areas of focus and support.  If you are uncertain if your organization will fall outside our typical funding areas, please feel free to contact us and ask the questions you have.

Grantees may be required to submit periodic reports detailing the progress and impact of the funded project.  This information will be relayed during the award process and will typically apply to the larger grants.

For questions or assistance, please contact our grant application management team at grants@indigohope.com