Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation
Grant Application Guidelines
The Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation supports Arts Education and Environmental Education programs serving geographic areas important to Ms. Taft and to her family:
Greater Cincinnati, OH
Los Angeles County, CA
Boston, MA (inside the Route 495 beltway)
Mid-Coast Maine (defined as the towns of Bath, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick, Camden, Cushing, Damariscotta, Lincolnville, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Searsport, Thomaston, Topsham, and Union)
All applicants must demonstrate their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) and classification as “not a private foundation” under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
The Foundation has a preference for small to mid-sized organizations and typically does not fund large institutions.
The Foundation does not support projects already in progress. In most cases projects should begin within 90 days of the award notification.
The Foundation does not support:
endowments
major capital projects
individuals, including scholarships for specified individuals
advocacy and community organizing
grantees who have not fulfilled the requirements of previous awards
organizations who have submitted a proposal within the past three years
projects that have already been completed
Application Timeline and Process
February 1: Ignite Philanthropy opens the annual application cycle, inviting qualified organizations to contact the Foundation’s Program Officer to schedule a screening interview.**
February 28: Program Officer concludes screening interviews
March 1: Ignite Philanthropy opens the online application portal and invites up to 25 approved organizations to apply
April 8: Application due by by 9:00 PM EST
June 15: Ignite Philanthropy sends award notifications
July 30: Ignite Philanthropy issues grant payments
October 1: Previous Year's Grant Reports Due
**Please contact Jamie Markle - jmarkle@ignitephilanthropy.com to discuss your idea and request access to the Application Portal.
Applicants must wait three years before submitting another proposal, regardless of decision.
Final Reports
Grantees will submit progress and financial reports, sharing impact of the project and expenditure of award funds by October 1 of the year following the grant award. Ignite Philanthropy will email a reminder and report template 60 days prior to the due date.
Board Members
Thomas W. (Woody) Taft, President, Cincinnati, OH; Nephew of Nellie Taft; Son of Dudley S. Taft, Sr.
Dudley S. Taft, Sr., Treasurer, Cincinnati, OH; Brother of Nellie Taft
Lucy Rosborough, Clerk, Boston, MA; Friend of Nellie Taft
Ken Mahler, Trustee, Cincinnati, OH; Nephew of Nellie Taft; Son of Nellie’s Sister, Murph Mahler
Perin Mahler, Trustee, Laguna Beach, CA; Nephew of Nellie Taft; Son of Nellie’s Sister, Murph Mahler
Dudley S. Taft, Jr., Trustee, Cincinnati, OH; Nephew of Nellie Taft; Son of Dudley S. Taft, Sr.