Grant Criteria

Our Grants Committee and Board of Directors make all grantmaking decisions. The Taum Sauk Fund focuses on two primary areas of interest:

• economic development
• travel & tourism development

Within these broad areas of concern, the Taum Sauk Fund looks specifically for programs:

• That have a positive impact on the community.
• That deal with basic community needs.
• In which a Taum Sauk Fund grant will make a discernable difference.

Evaluation Guidelines

The Taum Sauk Fund’s Grants Committee and Board of Directors use the following guidelines when awarding or declining grant requests. These are guidelines only and exceptions may be made upon recommendation of the Grants Committee and approval of the Board of Directors. These guidelines, therefore, are intended to assist an applying organization as it considers submitting a grant proposal.

1. It is suggested that questions be asked of the Taum Sauk Fund prior to submitting an application. Please call the Taum Sauk Fund at (573) 689-2922 if you have questions.
2. The applying organization must be non-profit and must have received its tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. Applications are accepted from government units.
3. Generally, only one grant is made to any organization in a given 12-month time frame.
4. The Taum Sauk Fund encourages applicants to secure matching gifts when appropriate.
5. It is the Taum Sauk Fund’s general practice to limit grants to a one-year period. (See item 9 for information about collaborative projects.)
6. Grant funds must be used for the purpose stated in the grant application. Those funds not used for the specified purpose must be returned to the Taum Sauk Fund.
7. The Taum Sauk Fund expects to decline grant requests for:
   • general operating support of existing organization programs.
   • endowment funds.
   • research, travel or publications by individuals.
   • scholarships.
   • grant-making foundations.
   • lobbying efforts or political action groups.
8. All grants will be considered from the perspective of community betterment in the general fields of concern covered in the “Criteria for Grants” information above.
9. In some instances, the Taum Sauk Fund will be involved in collaborations for new projects or programs. In those situations, the following additional guidelines are used when reviewing the grant requests:

• A representative named by the Taum Sauk Fund may serve on the board or committee governing the new project or program for the duration of the Taum Sauk Fund’s funding support.
• The organization must include its multi-year funding and strategic plans with its grant application.
• While the Taum Sauk Fund will indicate its length of support for the collaborative, the organization must submit a grant follow-up report each year for that year’s funding. If the new program or project is not fulfilling its mission and meeting its fiscal and program goals, funding could be modified.