Foundation Grants

We welcome applications from non-profit organizations with an interest in improving the quality of life in Lyme, New Hampshire. Details about application materials, review criteria, how to submit the application, and notification about the grant application can be found below.

Grant applications are accepted at any time. In most cases, decisions on grant applications will be made by the following month.


Review Criteria

Funding priority goes to requests in which a small amount of grant money will likely produce significant results. Grants will be evaluated on the following criteria. We realize that not all of these criteria are relevant to all grant applications. We also realize that successful applications do not necessarily have to meet all of these criteria. But we encourage applicants to keep these things in mind as they prepare their application.

  • Meets a specific Lyme need.

  • Encourages volunteerism.

  • Benefits a broad constituency in town.

  • Seeds innovative new programs, opportunities and/or services in town.

  • Seeks partnerships with other granting and non-profit organizations especially for requests over $5,000.

  • Has committed leadership and individual involvement.

  • Meets the needs of an underserved group in town.

  • Addresses safety concerns in town.

  • Is the applicant’s first request for funding.

  • Does not qualify for normal town funding (e.g., town budget funds).

  • Identifies relevant stakeholders who might have concerns about the project (e.g., neighbors, town officials, the wider community).

  • Does not require approval at Town Meeting.

  • Is consistent with the spirit of the Lyme Foundation’s mission.

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

The following online form can be used to submit an application. Alternatively, you can prepare a hard-copy application addressing the following topics and submit it via U.S. Postal Service to the address below.

If you have questions or would like assistance in preparing the proposal, feel free to contact John Campbell (John.L.Campbell@Dartmouth.Edu). Either he or another member of the Grants Committee will be happy to help you.

NOTE: Any attachments or additional supporting information you would like us to consider can be sent to The Lyme Foundation via email or by the U.S. Postal Service (see address below).

Submitting the Application

Applications can also be emailed or mailed to
     The Lyme Foundation
     P.O. Box 292
     Lyme, NH  03768

Review Process

Proposals will be reviewed by the Grants Committee shortly after the application has been received.  They will make their recommendation to the full Board, which meets and votes monthly.  Applicants may be contacted and invited to meet with the Grants Committee and/or full Board during the evaluation process to provide additional information if necessary.

The applicant will be notified following the Board’s decision and specific arrangements will be made for the disbursement of funds.

Grant recipients should mention the Lyme Foundation in their publication materials or other public announcements about their project as a source of funding and allow the Foundation to include the grant recipient by name and grant amount in future Lyme Foundation materials.

Final Reporting

Grant recipients must submit a written report at the end of their project (within a year of the grant), or interim reports on the status of their project if it takes more than a year to complete.