• Step 1: Initial Inquiry. Applicants should submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) in order to determine the eligibility of the request. Typically two pages, the letter should provide the following:
  
  • Description of the organization including a statement of mission
  • Purpose of the funding request
  • Total cost of the project, the amount requested, and fundraising status
  • Please attach:
    
    • List of donors contributing to the project in question
    • Copy of the applicant's IRS determination letter
  
  Letters of Inquiry are received on a rolling basis (i.e., there are no deadlines associated with Letters of Inquiry).
  
  
• Step 2. From Letter of Inquiry to Proposal. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees reviews an average of 10 funding proposals at each quarterly meeting but the Foundation receives approximately 30 LOI’s each quarter. In order to manage the flow of LOI’s, the Foundation maintains a file of active inquiries. All active LOIs on file are reviewed quarterly in the two weeks immediately following board meetings to determine the docket for the following quarter. The Foundation will convey the status of each inquiry in writing on a quarterly basis (e.g., your LOI has been selected for review in the upcoming docket; your LOI was not selected for review this quarter but will be considered again in three months; your LOI has been declined). LOIs not selected for review after four quarters will receive an automatic decline.
  
  
  
• Step 3. Proposal Submission. Once the Foundation has invited a proposal, applicants should use the Foundation’s grant application form. Please review the application instructions prior to completing the application. In most cases, Foundation staff will request a site visit as part of the grant review process.

NOTE: You will need Adobe Reader 7 or higher to view this PDF.  Once you download the PDF please save a blank copy of the form to your computer; otherwise you will not be able to save your work.


• Step 4. Notification of action taken by the Board of Trustees. Applicants will be notified of the Board's decision immediately following the meeting in which a proposal is considered.
  
  
• Step 5. You will receive specific reporting requirements with your award letter. To report on the progress of your project, please use the Grant Status Report form and/or the Final Grant Report form.

All letters of inquiry and proposals should be mailed to the attention of:

David D. Weitnauer, President
R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1212
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 574-2970
Fax: (404) 574-2971