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Management Assistance Program Guidelines and How to Apply

The Meyer Management Assistance Program makes grants of up to $25,000 to strengthen the management and leadership of Meyer grantees. MAP funds are available to help organizations strengthen executive and board leadership, undertake planning and assessment, improve financial management, and build financial sustainability.

Only current Meyer grantees are eligible for management assistance. Eligibility extends for two years from the date of an organization's last Meyer grant award. MAP grantees will be responsible for paying a percentage of the total cost of the management assistance project based on the following sliding scale.

Funding for MAP grants is limited, and not every request can be funded. Meyer will consider MAP projects that demonstrate

• Board and staff consensus that management assistance is needed
• Clear definition of the specific ways in which the organization will be stronger and more sustainable as a result of the intervention
• Evidence that the grant will contribute to long-term organizational effectiveness and realization of the organization's mission, rather than a short-term band-aid solution
• Ability and readiness of the organization to implement the recommendations that result from management assistance

It is probably not appropriate to apply for a management assistance grant if

• Your need is not within one of the four priority issue areas of executive and board leadership, planning and assessment, financial management, or financial sustainability
• Board and staff do not agree that outside management assistance is needed
• Your real need is the addition of a permanent staff position to resolve a management problem or need
• Your organization is in crisis and needs emergency operating funds
• You are seeking support for a fundraising campaign
• You need an audit and have not budgeted for it. An audit is an ongoing operational expense; therefore it is not fundable under MAP.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates interested in requesting a grant from the Meyer Foundation are required to first submit a letter of inquiry. Even if your organization has received funding from Meyer in the past, we request that you review our guidelines and complete a letter of inquiry for each request. MAP requests are due on the same dates as Meyer's general grantmaking letters of inquiry.

1. Submit an LOI of no more than three pages that describes your mission and includes
   1. A brief assessment of where the organization is in its development and the top management challenges it faces. As you write this section of the LOI, consider issues relating to leadership, evaluation and planning, financial management, resource development, facilities, strategic alliances, and use of technology.
   2. The organizational issue you would address with a MAP grant and how this issue affects the organization's ability to achieve its mission. Be sure to include a brief description of the issue identification process, including the board's involvement. While your organization may need assistance with several issues, please focus your MAP request on a single issue and a closely related and realistic set of outcomes.
   3. A description of the proposed project. Discuss how the proposed management assistance project would make your organization stronger and more sustainable. The letter should be signed by the executive director and the board chair. Please refer to the MAP LOI cover sheet for further instructions and a list of required attachments.


2. The MAP program officer will review your submission within one month of receiving the request. If the project fits within our funding priorities, Foundation staff will schedule a site visit or meeting with your organization's executive director and key board and staff to discuss the proposed project.


3. After the meeting, the MAP program officer will advise you on whether to submit a proposal. A full MAP proposal will include information on the consultant you've selected and a project work plan and budget.


4. If the Foundation approves the grant, the program officer will notify the executive director.

For more information, please contact Nick Turner at 202-483-8294 or nturner@meyerfdn.org.

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