Application to the Unrestricted General Grants Program is a two-step process. Full proposals are accepted only after invitation based upon review and approval of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI).

Advisory committees comprised of Trustees, staff and environmental specialists appointed by the Trust review Letters of Inquiry and make recommendations for organizations to submit full proposals. The advisory committees review full proposals and make recommendations for funding to the Board of Trustees and the Secretary of Environmental Affairs. The committees take into consideration the following selection criteria:

	Is the Letter of Inquiry or Full Proposal complete - did the applicant answer all necessary questions and include necessary documentation?
	Does the proposed project fir well within the particular program guidelines and mission of the Trust?
	Does the project involve any of the preferred approaches outlined in the RFR?;
	Are the goals and objectives of the project clear?
	Is the applicant collaborating and/ or partnering with relevant entities (i.e. other non-profits, agencies, municipalities)?
	Is the budget reasonable?;
	What is the population being served by the project? Is it an environmental justice community and/or and underserved community?
	If a past grant recipient, did the applicant have a good working relationship with the Trust? (i.e. fulfill their contractual obligations in a timely manner)?
	Applicants who have not received a Trust grant in the past may provide three or more business references from their past work to assist the Trust in review of the application. Business references may utilize the state's business reference form found at: http://www.mass.gov/Aosd/docs/otherforms/busreffm.doc
	What impact will the project have on the Trust's funding priorities?
	Does the project include an outreach and/or education component?
	Does the project have a media component?
	Does the project involve evaluation measures?
	Will the project leverage additional funds?

Deadlines

Letters of Inquiry are due October 1 (2005, 2006, 2007)
Full Proposals are due March 1 (2006, 2007, 2008)
Board Decisions are made in May (2006, 2007, 2008)

All deadlines are by U.S. Postal service postmark or by hand delivery to the Trust’s 100 Cambridge Street Office by 5:00 p.m.

All grant announcements are subject to final contract negotiation and execution.

Step 1: Submit a Letter of Inquiry

Submit one (1) original and eight (10) copies of a signed Letter of Inquiry and a Trust Cover Summary form from.

The Trust Cover Summary provides a "snapshot" of your organization and your proposed project. Please note that the four sentence project synopsis is used verbatim to provide the Advisory Committee the Board of Trustees and the Secretary of Environmental Affairs with an initial summary of your request. Please make sure that the information provided in that paragraph adequately reflects the nature of the project and the specific uses of the Trust's funds.

Letters of Inquiry should be in twelve point font, should not exceed one (1) double-sided page, and should be Microsoft Word format or plain text documents. Please do not include any supporting documents at this time, as they will not be reviewed. Applicants that would like to be notified of receipt of Letters of Inquiry must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. Letters of Inquiry should include the following information:

	Name of the program area for which letter is being submitted (Water's role in Ecosystem Health, or Human Health and the Environment);
	Brief description of the applicant organization and/or mission statement;
	Brief description of the proposed project and its anticipated benefit to Massachusetts' waters and related resources;
	Total project budget, making clear the following: total amount requested from the Trust; for multi-year requests, amount requested per fiscal year; purpose for which the funds will be used; other funding to be used toward the project;
	Time schedule for the proposed project;
	Description of project partners and their anticipated role in the project.

Step 2: Full Proposal (Only for proposals invited by the Trust)

Full proposals should only be submitted in response to an invitation from the Trust.

The proposal narrative must not exceed 10 pages in twelve point font. Applicants must submit (1) original and (10) copies of the proposal and attachments. Both the original and (10) copies should include all attachments and supporting documentation. Applicants that would like to be informed of receipt of proposals should include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.

Proposal Narrative

The proposal narrative below is an adapted version of the AGM Common Proposal Form. Italicized portions are those specific to the Trust's program that were added to the Common Proposal Form.

1. Brief summary of organization's history, goals and key achievements.
2. Overview of organization's structure and programs, including board, staff and volunteer involvement.
3. Describe your organization's constituents for the organization overall, or, for a specific project. For example, total number and breakdown by age, gender, race/ethnicity, income levels, disabilities, geography, language spoken, or other criteria relevant to your organization or project.
4. Describe the community or regional need(s) and/or challenges that this effort will address. What is the level and nature of involvement of the community-at-large?
5. Description of the specific request that includes amount requested, goals and objectives.
   Provide a summary of the proposed project, providing a thorough explanation of the proposed methodology and approach being taken and how it fits the Water's Role in Ecosystem Health Program and Human Health and the Environment Program. Make clear potential management implications of the program, if applicable. Attach a map of the proposed geographic area, if applicable.
6. Description of the project budget. Provide a written explanation of how grant funds would be allocated. Please include information about other funding sources if the project is not being fully funded by the Trust.
7. Specific activities and timetable for meeting your stated objectives.
   
8. Future plan for sustaining this effort and strategy for building your funding base.
   Who are your staff and volunteers and what are their qualifications?
9. If applicable, identify organizations with which you collaborate to address the issue(s) in this proposal.
10. Define your criteria for success in the project. State how you will measure your success in the short-term and in the long-term. What tool(s) will be used to evaluate your program or organization? What is your strategy for implementing the evaluation process?

Please include the following attachments to the proposal (not included in the ten page limit), as applicable:

	Trust Cover Summary
	IRS letter confirming tax exempt status
	Map of the proposed geographic area, if applicable
	Resumes of project staff
	Letters of support (Letters of support must be included with the proposal package rather than sent individually to the Trust)
	For projects focused on a threatened or endangered species, include a copy of the approved management plan for all species endangered, threatened, or of critical concern, as listed in section 10.60 of Chapter 321 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulation
	Current board list with relevant background, affiliations, town residence and number of times a year it meets
	Financial information
	Total board approved organizational budget for the fiscal year(s)
	Project budget for fiscal year(s)
	Most recent independent audit or account review (only with original)
	Year-to-date financial statement for the current fiscal year
	List of companies and foundations being approached to fund this proposal, with dollar amounts indicating which sources are committed, pending or anticipated