**New deadline is April 20th, 5pm**
 
At its regular meeting March 24, the club board approved changes to what had been a rather informal policy of making grants for projects from its various funds held at the Community Foundation.
The club has accumulated a fund that should be used to support projects and non-profit organizations in our community.  This fund is currently titled the "Wine Tasting Account" but will now be titled the "Charitable Giving Account."  This policy should serve as a basic procedure with which we can distribute these funds.
 
 
We will be accepting applications all year, to be decided by vote of the board at the October and April board meetings.  Applications are due October 1 and April 1, respectively. They will be emailed to all board members for review in advance of the board meetings.
Application should be no more than one page, and describe the organization, how much money will be requested, and for what purpose.  Funds may be used for operating purposes.  The organization should identify as a 501 C-3 or have a fiscal agent.  Application should address what type of recognition the club will receive.  There will be a $2,000 cap, but no minimum per request.   The club board reserves the right to partially fund a request and to make an exception to the cap.  It also reserves the right to require a match.
Priority will be given to Downtown Waterloo Rotary special projects, for example operation warm, shoebox, fireworks, Uganda, and college scholarships; next to institutions which have a Rotarian in our club, and finally,  everything else.  There will be a maximum of one approved grant per requestor per year.  Any funds remaining after a fiscal year will roll over to the following year.
 
Hops and Grapes, and how it will Fund the Charitable Giving Account
When a Hops and Grapes (or similar) event is held there should be a committee created to organize the event.
Prior to organizing the event, the committee should decide each year where the proceeds of the event will be given.  The options they will have, in whole or in part, will be up to the committee to decide with guidance from the Board of Directors.  The final decision will be approved by a vote of the Board of Directors.
The purpose of a Hops & Grapes (or similar) event should be to 1) highlight the Downtown Waterloo Rotary Club and its special projects (Shoebox Project, Operation Warm, etc) 2) attract potential members and 3) bring Club membership together to celebrate and fund Club special projects.   Proceeds generated from the event could be donated directly to Downtown Waterloo Rotary special projects (1.e. operation warm, shoebox, fireworks, Uganda, Scholarships, etc.), non-profit institutions which have a Rotarian in our club, or to the "Charitable Giving Account."  There is no requirement that any portion of proceeds go towards the "Charitable Giving Account."  Proceeds may also be used for club operating expenses, so long as this need is determined prior to organization of each event.
 
To submit a grant application, download this application guide.