Application Guidelines Right of First Opportunity Areas of Interest Grant Submission Process Grant Application Reporting Materials FAQs

Q. May successful grant applicants re-apply for funds to continue a program after the initial funding cycle ends?

A. The Foundation should not be perceived as a long-lasting source of funding for ongoing projects. The Foundation discourages applications for projects that require funding for more than one project cycle, e.g., twelve months, eighteen months, etc. For organizations that may wish to put forward an atypical case for additional funding, a re-application form is available.

Q. May a non-profit organization, situated outside Salem County, apply for a grant?

A. Yes. Grants may be made to qualified organizations whose programs address the health and wellness needs of residents of Salem County. The applicant organization need not be located within Salem County. However, the benefits of any project must be limited to residents of Salem County.

Q. Can the Memorial Hospital of Salem County participate in my project?

A. As a hospital provider with a demonstrated interest in improving the health of Salem County residents, MHSC can make available its considerable expertise and resources to applicants. MHSC, however, cannot benefit from a project funded by a Foundation grant. The Community Health Care Assets Protection Act - P.L.2000, c.143 (A1439 2R) states that: The governing body of the charitable trust or organization (the SH&WF) shall establish or demonstrate that it has in place, as the case may be, a mechanism to avoid conflicts of interest and to prohibit grants that benefit the board of directors and management of the acquiring entity or its affiliates or subsidiaries (CHS/Community Health Systems and The Memorial Hospital of Salem County). During your project development phase, applicants are encouraged to work together with MHSC, Elmer Hospital and all other appropriate health care providers that serve residents of Salem County.

Q. May I meet with the Foundation staff to discuss a project idea or ask questions about the application process?

A. Yes. While the trustees and staff of the Foundation will never circumvent the application and grant review process, meetings to answer technical or procedural questions are accommodated. The purpose of such a meeting is to offer help in the preparation of the application not to discuss or speculate about the outcome of the grant review process.

Q. May faith-based organizations apply for grants?

A. Yes. However, the applicant, or its separate charitable organization, must qualify as a 501(c)(3) public charity and meet the other requirements described in the application materials. The grant may not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious worship, instruction or proselytization. Grant funds must be used only to support the non-religious services described in the organization's application. Grantees must assure the recipients of the services that they are not required to profess a certain faith or attend or take part in any religious activities. The organization should take steps to separate their inherently religious activities from the grant-funded services that they offer.

Q. May individuals apply for scholarships or financial aid?

A. No. The Foundation makes grants only to the types of publicly supported organizations specifically described in its Guidelines for Grant Applicants. Any scholarships funded by Foundation grants would be awarded to individuals by post-secondary institutions that may have received a Foundation grant to create opportunities for career training in healthcare professions. The Foundation does not make grants, directly or indirectly, to specific individuals. Vocational schools, colleges or similar institutions are solely responsible for the screening and selection of each scholarship recipient.

Q. Why doesn't the Foundation make grants to individuals or for-profit organizations?

A. Any foundation that makes grants to individuals and organizations that do not qualify for public charity status must follow a set of very specific rules outlining their expenditure responsibility. The rules require the foundation to file a number of reports certifying that the funds were spent solely for the charitable purposes explained in the grant.

The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation does not allocate resources to audit and certify each expenditure or observe the day-to-day activity of every project it funds. By accepting a Foundation grant award, each nonprofit organization accepts full responsibility for performance of its obligations under their grant and for the timely submission of true and correct reports.

It is for such practical considerations that the Foundation funds only nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These are organizations whose purposes are charitable, educational, scientific, religious, literary, or cultural. Their income cannot benefit private individuals, and their influence on legislation or political campaigns is restricted. Public schools, libraries, and other government organizations also qualify as public charities, although they usually have not applied for 501(c)(3) status.

Individuals with worthy ideas to improve the health and well-being of Salem County residents are strongly encouraged to find an appropriate nonprofit organization in the community to take up their project and abide by the Foundation's grant application process and requirements for good stewardship.

Q. What if I have a great project idea, but not the resources to make it happen?

A. Take your idea to an appropriate organization as described in the Foundation's Guidelines for Grant Applicants. There are excellent non-profit organizations involved in virtually every sector of health care delivery in Salem County. The qualified organization can evaluate the idea, develop the concept, agree to undertake the project and apply for Foundation support. Management of the project will be the responsibility of the applicant organization.

Q. Is there a limit to the number of applications that a qualified organization can submit?

A. No. Each proposal is considered on the merits of the project or intervention as described in the Application Materials.

Q. May Foundation grants be used to pay healthcare providers fees for individual medical or dental bills, purchase of prescriptions, heating bills, food or similar emergency expenses?

A. No. While the Foundation supports programs that improve access to healthcare, it has neither the funds nor the infrastructure to become an emergency, interim or permanent proxy for the fee-for-service payments available from Medicaid, New Jersey Family Care, New Jersey Kids Care or other public health insurance and welfare programs. The Foundation is not a substitute for New Jersey hospital charity care or for the charity care provided by independent physicians and other healthcare providers.

Examples of Foundation-funded programs that have improved access to healthcare may be found in the Award Recipients section. An Assessment of Health Needs in Salem County New Jersey, which includes examples of programs that might be undertaken by qualified organizations, is available upon request.

Q. Does the Foundation have a specific format required for the project budget?

A. Yes. The budget should offer a reasonable amount of detail. Budget rows should list items of Revenue and Expense related to the project. Columns to the right of each line item should indicate the source of funds.

Cost Category	Revenue and Expense items by name
Total Funds Needed	Total Amount needed for each item
Grant Funds Requested from Foundation	Amount of Foundation Grant applied to each item
Funds from Other Sources	Amount from other Sources (foundations, government, etc.)
Funds Contributed by Applicant	Amount Applicant will contribute
Basis for Cost Estimate	Brief note to explain calculation of costs — where necessary

Indirect cost allowance may be included as an Expense line item but such cost should be assigned to the Applicant Contribution column. If available, documentation of the indirect cost rate should be provided.