Do We Qualify?

Eligibility of Organization

***REVISED APRIL 2010***

The Foundation has specific guidelines for determining eligibility to apply for a grant (see below).  Before you submit a Letter of Inquiry, please consider the guidelines carefully in evaluating your organization´s eligibility to apply.

Eligible organizations

Grants are made only to organizations recognized as public charities under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). The Foundation does not ordinarily consider grants to annual fund drives, to units of government, or to organizations or institutions that are primarily tax-supported, including state universities. The Foundation no longer accepts grant applications from arts or social service organizations or programs, except those based in Hudson, Ohio. 

Program and project focus

With a primary mission to advance our nation’s system of free enterprise, the Foundation seeks to support:

• Educational programs and projects at the adult, collegiate, and youth levels that are designed to build competencies in entrepreneurship, free enterprise, and innovation;
• Nonprofit organizations and programs that directly assist entrepreneurs in business planning, start-up and acceleration, and access to capital; and
• Selected initiatives aimed at rejuvenating economic competitiveness within Northeast Ohio.

Secondarily, the Foundation also awards non-entrepreneurship-related grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations that are located in or serve residents of Hudson, Ohio.

Geographic preference

The Foundation’s geographic preferences complement our program and project focus by targeting (1) entrepreneurship-related programs in Summit County, Ohio, and surrounding counties, known collectively as the Northeast Ohio region, and (2) Hudson, Ohio-based nonprofit organizations.

Any questions about eligibilityshould be referred to Leslie Nelson, Senior Program Officer, at (330) 655-7929 or lnelson@bdmorganfdn.org.