Our Grants Committee reviews applications received by the mid-June filing deadline to ensure they meet our criteria. Throughout the summer months, we conduct follow-up interviews with the executive director and staff. Committee members request additional information and schedule site visits so that we can see the organization at work and meet the people involved, including, when appropriate, clients served.

After we have received a proposal, through member follow-up, we try to stay in touch with the grant applicants, asking questions and getting more information on their activities. It’s an interactive, ongoing process; and each committee member shares her impressions with her colleagues so we can make the most informed decisions possible. At the end of September, we select the three proposals that we believe will best further the Giving Together mission. We invite these finalists to present their proposals to our entire membership at our annual meeting in October. Following these presentations, our members select the grant recipient, and the successful organization is notified.