Information for Grant Applicants

The Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation is pleased to share its philosophy and proposal requirements with eligible organizations and institutions that seek funding to address community needs. Please review the materials available on this Web site before preparing your grant proposal.

Download our recent grants list.
Download the proposal outline.

The Foundation accepts grant proposals four times during the year. Postmark deadlines are: March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1. When those dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday, deadlines are moved to the following Monday. Applicants will be notified of funding within one month of each deadline.

Geographic focus:

The major geographic focus for grant-making is Marshalltown, Iowa and surrounding Marshall County. A small portion of available funds have also in the past been granted annually in San Antonio, Texas.* Proposals from outside these specified areas will not be considered for funding.

*As of July 1, 2011 the Foundation is temporarily not accepting new grant proposals from San Antonio.

The Foundation has identified the following areas to focus grant monies:

• Developing and enhancing leadership for arts and culture sustainability
• Forging community collaborations to develop youth assets
• Integrating diverse cultural and ethnic aspects of the Marshalltown community
• Enhancing Marshalltown's attractiveness as a place to live, work and visit

Support for additional areas of need that do not readily fall into any of these specific focus areas may also be considered.

The Foundation considers support for:

• Program needs, including provision of direct services
• Startup or expansion of organizations and programs
• Construction and renovation projects
• Endowment of specific programs
• Equipment and materials
• Faith-based institutions, but only for non-religious purposes

The Foundation does not consider support for:

• Ongoing operating needs unless they are an essential part of a specific new or expanded program proposed for funding
• Annual campaigns
• Requests for less than $1,000
• Individuals
• Faith-based programming or purposes
• Organizations without IRS determined status as 501(c)(3), except for units of government (i.e. schools, city and county governments)
• Organizations that discriminate directly or indirectly against individuals or groups based on religious beliefs, race, gender, ethnic or national origin, or sexual orientation.

The Foundation awards two types of grants:

• Outright grants
• Challenge grants, requiring that matching funds be raised

Apply for a Grant

Step 1: Read this Web site and become familiar with the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation mission statement and objectives.

Step 2: Download the proposal outline and follow the directions to prepare your grant.

Step 3: Contact Executive Director Sue Martin at (641) 752-8340 to discuss your proposal before submittal.

Step 4: Submit your proposal by mail to:
Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation
16 E. Main, Suite 260
Marshalltown, Iowa 50158