If you have a question about your grant, please make sure that it cannot be answered by reviewing the local ECF grant-making guidelines as well as the frequently asked questions found below. If you cannot find an answer to your question, contact the appropriate ECF administrator.
If you have a technical question about or problem with the online grant application process, contact CyberGrants, the outside vendor that manages the technical aspects of the application process, by clicking on the "Need Support" link that is available on all CyberGrants pages..
General
- Q: How does an agency apply for a grant?
- Q: Does ECF have submission deadlines?
- Q: May I set up an appointment to discuss my project idea?
- Q: When I submit my electronic grant application, should I send a hard copy as well?
- Q: When will I get a response to my electronic grant application?
- Q: Who reviews the applications?
- Q: Will the ECF board or committee conduct site visits?
- Q: How long will it take for me to find out if my grant is approved?
- Q: What could delay a decision on my request?
- Q: How can I check on the status of my request?
- Q: How are applicants notified when a decision is made?
- Q: If my agency's application is declined, will you explain why it was rejected or critique the proposal?
- Q: Do you consider requests from newly established nonprofits?
- Q: Who is eligible to apply for grants from ECF?
- Q: Do you provide general operating grants?
- Q: Do you fund capital requests?
- Q: Does Boeing award multi-year grants?
- Q: If we have one grant, can we apply for another in the same year?
- Q: Do you accept requests for in-kind donations?
- Q: What are the most common reasons why an application is declined?
- Q: If we are awarded a grant, are there specific guidelines for submitting grant reports?
- Q: May I apply for a grant via e-mail or fax?
- Q: If we have already uploaded or faxed a copy of our government charity license (or U.S. 501(c)(3) letter) with proposals submitted in the past, do we need to submit another copy?
- Q: May I submit an application if I am missing some required information (e.g., project budget) and submit the missing information once received?
- Q: May I reapply if our application was turned down in the past?
- Q: Are there any special considerations for first-time applicants?
- Q: What size grant should we request?
- Q: What should I include in my line-item budget?
- Q: If my organization is small and does not have an audited financial statement, what kind of financial information should we submit?
Q: How does an agency apply for a grant?
A: Prior to applying, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the local grant-making guidelines for the Fund to which you are applying.
All grant requests must be submitted via Boeing's online application system using the Employees Community Fund application.
Q: Does ECF have submission deadlines?
A: Deadlines vary from Fund to Fund. Please check local ECF grant-making guidelines to verify if submission deadlines exist. If local guidelines are not published for the ECF nearest you, please contact the local ECF administrator for information.
Q: May I set up an appointment to discuss my project idea?
A: Ideally, we would like to meet with everyone who wants to discuss a project. However, due to the volume of inquiries Boeing ECF receives, doing so can be difficult. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: When I submit my electronic grant application, should I send a hard copy as well?
A: No. We are unable to accept applications that are mailed, emailed or faxed. All applications must be submitted online and only online.
Q: When will I get a response to my electronic grant application?
A: You will receive a system-generated email response upon submission, verifying that your application has been received. Timelines for proposal reviews and funding decisions vary for different ECF boards and committees. Please review local grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: Who reviews the applications?
A: Applications are reviewed by local ECF boards and committees.
Q: Will the ECF board or committee conduct site visits?
A: A site visit is usually required as part of the review process, depending on the nature of the proposed project. In some cases, both pre- and post-grant site visits are scheduled.
Q: How long will it take for me to find out if my grant is approved?
A: Review timelines will vary by Fund. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: What could delay a decision on my request?
A: Incomplete applications (e.g., missing documents, omitted budgets) are primary delay factors. Requests for ineligible items, unsubstantiated line items or unspecified expenses delay a decision on an application.
Q: How can I check on the status of my request?
A: Please check local ECF grant-making guidelines for specific information regarding the general length of the local review process.
Q: How are applicants notified when a decision is made?
A: You may receive notification via mail, email and/or a phone call from the local ECF administrator, or more likely the board or committee member, when a decision is made about your application.
Q: If my agency's application is declined, will you explain why it was rejected or critique the proposal?
A: ECF will contact you via letter or email outlining the main reason your proposal was turned down. Due to the large volume of inquiries, we are unable to provide great detail for decline rationale or individual critiques of applications we decline. An ECF board or committee member may contact you to discuss why your application was declined, but doing so is strictly up to the ECF board or committee.
Q: Do you consider requests from newly established nonprofits?
A:This may vary from site to site. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: Who is eligible to apply for grants from ECF?
A: A nonprofit must be a U.S.-based IRS 501(c)(3) qualified charitable organization to apply for an Employees Community Fund grant.
U.S. organizations will need a 501(c)(3)-qualified tax ID number to apply.
Q: Do you provide general operating grants?
A: This may vary from site to site. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: Do you fund capital requests?
A: This may vary from site to site. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: Does Boeing award multi-year grants?
A: Multi-year grants are extremely rare as most grants are awarded for a one-year period.
Q: If we have one grant, can we apply for another in the same year?
A: This may vary from site to site. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: Do you accept requests for in-kind donations?
A: ECF does not provide in-kind donations.
Q: What are the most common reasons why an application is declined?
A: There are several reasons why we decline applications; most often it is because the requests:
- Fall outside of the Funds guidelines for the types of projects that we support
- Fall outside of the geographic area the Fund supports
- Do not follow our general grant-making guidelines
- Are more appropriately funded by another organization, either public or private
- Are not sustainable without reliance on ECF funding
- Are not likely to generate significant long-term impact
- Are similar to projects we are already funding
Q: If we are awarded a grant, are there specific guidelines for submitting grant reports?
A: This may vary from site to site. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Q: May I apply for a grant via e-mail or fax?
A: No. All applications must be submitted electronically via Boeing's online request system.
Q: If we have already uploaded or faxed a copy of our government charity license (or U.S. 501(c)(3) letter) with proposals submitted in the past, do we need to submit another copy?
A: No. We retain electronic copies of all the documents uploaded to our grant applications and can refer to the original.
Q: May I submit an application if I am missing some required information (e.g., project budget) and submit the missing information once received?
A: Please only submit your application when you have all of the required information and documentation prepared.
Q: May I reapply if our application was turned down in the past?
A: This may vary from site to site. Please review local ECF grant-making guidelines for more information where available or contact the appropriate local ECF administrator.
Finance and Funding Related
Q: Are there any special considerations for first-time applicants?
A: First-time applicants must provide detailed information about finances, board members and top-five highly paid employees and be vetted through a process to ensure compliance with the U.S. Patriot Act and anti-terrorism laws.
Q: What size grant should we request?
A: This may vary from Fund to Fund. To ensure that your request is practical and within the Fund's means, we recommend you review local ECF grant-making guidelines where available and/or discuss this with the appropriate ECF administrator prior to applying.
Q: What should I include in my line-item budget?
A: Requests to support programs or projects usually include a line-item budget and a detailed description of how the funds are intended to be used, including both revenue and expense detail.
Q: If my organization is small and does not have an audited financial statement, what kind of financial information should we submit?
A: In place of an audit, your organization's most recent annual tax filing, profit and loss statement and annual budget may be submitted.