1.  What is a grant? 
       An award of funds to accomplish a project defined by a grantmaker.

  2.  What is a challenge grant? 
       A grant to encourage other grantmakers to support the project.

  3.  What is a matching grant? 
       A grant made specially to match the funds provided by another donor.

  4.  What is a grantmaker? 
       Any entity that gives grants or receives grants and then regrants the funds.

  5.  What is a not-for-profit or nonprofit organization? 
       An organization incorporated under the laws of the state in which it
       operates and which has been granted tax exempt status by the IRS usually
       under section 501(c)(3).  

  6.  What is a Request for Proposal (RFP)? 
       A document issued by a public or a private funding agency to invite
       qualified organizations to submit a proposal for a specific funding
       opportunity.

  7.  What is a proposal? 
       A document that is prepared, in accordance with the guidelines provided
       by the funder, to solicit grant funding from the funder for a specific project
       that meets the funder’s program goal.  

  8.  What is collaboration? 
       Two or more individuals or organizations jointly working out an approach
       to a problem that is of mutual concern and developing solutions that make
       the best use of the strengths of each partner.

  9.  What is a goal? 
       A goal is a long term purpose of a program and is not directly measurable.

10.  What is an objective? 
       Clearly defined and measurable results (outcomes) that a program intends 
       to achieve.

11.  What is a letter of inquiry?
       A one or two page letter to a funder asking if it is interested in funding the
       proposed project which also asks the funder to provide a copy of the  
       guidelines for preparation of a full proposal to submit to the funder.

12.  What are guidelines?  
       Detailed specifications published by funders to give direction to the
       preparation of a proposal to be submitted to the funder.

13.  What is a fiscal agent? 
       The recipient of a grant award who has the financial responsibility for the  
       execution of the funded project in accordance with the grant agreement.

14.  What is a fiscal year? 
       A twelve-month period of operation of an organization under its annual
       budget.  Normally, the fiscal year is from January 1 through December
       31 or from July 1 through June 30.

15.  What is direct cost? 
       All expenses that directly support a program. These expenses may
       include personnel, travel, supplies, equipment, copy expenses, telephone,
       etc.

16.  What is indirect cost? 
       Limited expenses that indirectly (overhead) support a program. These
       expenses may include rent, lighting, heating, maintenance, etc.

17.  What is a budget? 
       A fiscal plan for an annual operation of an organization or the execution of
       a specific program that lists itemized anticipated income and expenses.    

18.  What is an abstract or executive summary? 
       A brief one or two page summary of the entire proposal that includes need,
       goal, objectives, problem, approach, timeline, costs, outcomes, evaluation,
       and dissemination.

19.  What is an annual report? 
       A report issued by an organization that provides a description of its
       activities during the year and a financial report of its income, expenses and
       current operating expenses.

20.  What is an audit? 
       A detailed financial analysis of an organization’s annual operation
       performed by an independent accountant to assure the public that the
       organization has handled its funds appropriately and in accordance with
       proper accounting procedures.