BLACK EQUITY MOVEMENT (BEM)

GENERAL OPERATIONS GRANT APPLICATION-

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS(FAQ)

FOR 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATIONS

The Collins Foundation Black Equity Movement (BEM) General Operations Grant is for emerging and mid-size Black-serving and/or Black-led organizations or projects operating in Oregon. Eligible organizations have operated for less than seven years and/or have a budget under $500,000. This grant opportunity is for up to 40 percent of an organization’s operating budget or a maximum of $50,000.

This FAQ is specifically for 501(c)(3) organizations applying for the BEM Committee General Operations Grant.

In this document, the grant will be referred to as the “BEM grant.”

FAQs: Before You Apply

1. Does my organization need to be registered with the Oregon Secretary of State and the Oregon Department of Justice before I can apply for a BEM grant?

Yes.

2. Is my organization required to be a 501(c)(3) to apply for a BEM grant?

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) public charity or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a 501(c)(3) public charity. Read Collins Foundation Fiscal Sponsorship Instructions for BEM General Operations Grant to learn more about applying for a BEM grant with the support of a fiscal sponsor.

3. Does my organization’s chief executive or board chair need to read and authorize this grant proposal before we can apply for a BEM grant? 

Yes.

4. May my organization apply for a BEM grant with a fiscal sponsor?

Yes.

5. What kinds of organizations can apply for a BEM grant? 

BEM grants are for emerging and mid-size Black-serving and/or Black-led organizations or fiscally sponsored projects* operating in Oregon. Eligible organizations and projects have operated for seven years or less or have a budget under $500,000.

*For this application, Organizations, programs, or projects that are not registered 501(c)(3) can apply with a fiscal sponsor and will be considered a project of the fiscal sponsor. Please read the Collins Foundation Fiscal Sponsorship Instructions for BEM General Operations Grant.

6. How can I apply for a BEM grant? 

If your organization is a 501(c)(3), complete the BEM General Operations Grant Application. The completed application is due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

If you are not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, you may be able to apply for a 2024 BEM General Operations Grant in partnership with a fiscal sponsor. Please read the Collins Foundation Fiscal Sponsorship Instructions for BEM General Operations Grant.

7. What can the BEM grant be used for? 

BEM grants are unrestricted funds that can be used for general investments to support a grantee's mission or for a specific project or program. Grantees can use funds as they see fit to achieve their goals. Examples include salaries or overhead, investments in technology, or program supplies.

8. What can't BEM grant funds be used for?

BEM grant funds cannot be used for political campaigns, lobbying, or the crafting of legislation.

9. Can my organization apply for more than one BEM grant at a time? 

Organizations are only allowed to apply for one BEM grant, which can be up to 40 percent of their operating budget or a maximum of $50,000.

10. What is the maximum amount of funding available? 

The maximum amount of funding available is up to 40 percent of an organization’s operating budget or a maximum of $50,000.

The BEM Committee will host a live webinar on Thursday, August 1, to help guide you through the grant application process. A recording of the webinar will be available here after August 5.

FAQs: The Application Process

11. What information should I have prepared before starting the grant application process? 

• A description of the project, program, service, or initiative you are seeking funding for and how it supports your mission.
• Current year operating budget.
• Most recent profit and loss statement.
• Most recent balance sheet.
• List of board members, including the city and state where each of them lives. A minimum of four independent board members is required. An independent board member is a person who serves on a board of directors and is not part of the organization’s staff.

• For fiscally sponsored projects, please refer to the BEM General Operations Grant FAQ for Fiscally Sponsored Projects.

The grant submission window is Friday, July 26, through Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Once you submit your application, you cannot make updates. If you need to make changes to your application before the deadline, please email BEM@collinsfoundation.org.

12. How can my organization or project demonstrate its inclusive policies and/or practices in the application process? 

Your organization or project can describe the work, processes, practices, and values that show Black people with different lived experiences belong and are welcome at your organization.

13. What kind of budget information does my organization or project need to provide for the grant application?

• Your current and last year’s operating budget, most recent profit and loss statement, and balance sheet.

14. My organization is applying with a fiscal sponsor. What additional information will my organization need to provide?

Read The Collins Foundation Fiscal Sponsorship Instructions for BEM General Operations Grant and the BEM General Operations Grant FAQ for Fiscally Sponsored Projects to learn more about the guidelines for applying for a BEM grant with the support of a fiscal sponsor.

15. What document types are acceptable for application attachments? 

PDFs are preferred, but documents can be submitted as spreadsheets, Word, or Google documents.

16. When will I find out if my organization has been awarded a BEM grant? 

We will contact you by mid-November regarding the decision on your application.

17. What are the reporting requirements for the BEM grant?

There are no reporting requirements for the BEM grant.

18. Who can I contact if I have questions about the grant and/or the application?

Please contact the BEM Committee at bem@collinsfoundation.org or 503-227-7171 if you have any questions, require technical assistance, or want to learn more about the BEM grant.

19. What is the deadline for the BEM grant application?

Grant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.