The Ludcke Foundation normally makes grants twice a year, in the Spring and in the Fall. The foundation considers organizations using a two-step review process. The 2-page Letter of Inquiry is an open process, however, we encourage applicants to reach out to GMA staff for guidance prior to submitting. Organizations whose LOI has been approved by the trustees will then be invited to apply using the foundation’s proposal format described below. Interviews or site visits will be scheduled at the trustees’ discretion.
Step 1: Letter of Inquiry
Instructions
The LOI process is open and does not require an invitation to apply. The strongest applications typically reach out to GMA staff before submitting an LOI. You may find their contact information at the bottom of this page.
If you are interested in submitting an LOI, please apply by logging into our online portal, using the access code ludckeloi. You must register your organization to log in. You may refer to the Letter of Inquiry form to review the questions you will be asked on the application.
Deadlines
Your Letter of Inquiry must be submitted between November 1 and December 15 for consideration before the Spring application deadline, or between May 1 and June 15 for consideration before the Fall application deadline. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, LOIs will be due on the first business day following the deadline date.
If we have not acknowledged your submission a week after the current deadline, please contact the foundation to check on its status.
If the trustees approve your LOI, you will be invited to apply the guidelines below.
Step 2: Application/Proposal
Instructions
Please complete your application and upload all required attachments by logging into our online portal, and using the Access Code you received upon invitation to apply. The following materials must be included in your application.
- Diversity Data Form
- Program budget that includes income and expenses
- Organization budget, using Philanthropy MA’s Budget Template or a similar budget format
- List of current and potential foundation and corporate supporters
- List of Board Members and their affiliations
- Brief bios of key staff
- Most recent audited financial statement.
Please note that a cover letter is optional, but highly recommended.
* Philanthropy MA Common Proposal Form Cover Sheet
The proposal narrative should be entered as part of the application in our online portal, rather than a separate upload. Please be aware you will not be allowed to go over the character limit.
Please use questions #7 and #9 to list 3-5 specific, measurable goals for the proposed program, and to detail how they will be measured. The trustees want to know what hard data will be collected during the program.
They are particularly interested in learning how this funding request fits into your organization’s long-term plans, and what anticipated outcomes will determine program success.
Deadlines
All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on March 15 for consideration at the May meeting, or September 15 for consideration at the November meeting. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications will be due on the first business day following the deadline date.
If we have not acknowledged your submission two weeks after the current deadline, please contact the foundation to check on its status.
Denials
Please note that organizations whose LOI or application has been denied funding must wait two full years from the notification of denial before they may be invited to reapply. As the two-year point approaches, these organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation to discuss submitting a Letter of Intent.
Repeat Applicants
Returning applicants whose current grants were allocated at the Spring trustees’ meeting should submit applications by the March 15 deadline for consideration at the next Spring meeting, while those funded in the Fall should submit applications by the September 15 deadline.
To apply for continued funding for the same project, grantees must submit a grant report included in the application section titled “Returning Grantee Report.” Returning applicants must also submit Philanthropy MA’s Expense Report found here. Please be sure to reference the specific, measurable goals listed in your previous proposal, and to provide data on program accomplishments in relation to these goals.
To apply for a grant for a new or different project, past grantees must communicate with the foundation for guidance on submitting a new LOI.
NOTE: Please be aware that The Ludcke Foundation trustees limit the number of organizations receiving grants for more than three consecutive years. In most cases, organizations that have received grants from the foundation are invited to reapply for second- and third-year funding for the same program/purpose. Those organizations that have been supported by the foundation for three or more years may be asked to observe a hiatus of at least two years before they may reapply through the LOI process. The foundation’s allocation letters indicate whether the trustees invite a proposal for the following year.
If you have any questions about your organization’s eligibility to reapply, please contact the foundation for guidance before submitting any materials.
Contact
For general information and further information about the foundation’s LOI process, please contact:
Prentice Zinn, Program Officer
pzinn@gmafoundations.com, 617-391-3091
Katy Fyrberg, Program Associate kfyrberg@gmafoundations.com, 617-391-3092
GMA Foundations
2 Liberty Square, Suite 500
Boston, Massachusetts 02109