September 1, 2011
Grotto Foundation Grantmaking Fiscal Year 2012 (May1, 2011-April 30, 2012)
For the past four years, the Grotto Foundation has experienced one of the most challenging periods in its history due to the economic destabilization. Of course, we were not alone. It has been a period when not only foundations and corporations sought to continue some form of responsive philanthropy, but also a time where many grantees found it necessary to merge, collaborate or to cease operation and, as such, many have felt the loss.
The Grotto Foundation board and staff continue to struggle with the daunting task of balancing effective, responsible and targeted grantmaking while working to preserve the foundations assets so that it may continue to support the community in the future as it has in the past. Accordingly, the board and management continue to monitor the economy and the economic status of its own assets. Reflecting the economic environment, Grotto’s grantmaking has been adjusted periodically to best serve our constituents while trying to protect the corpus to serve future grantees. And, of course, in such a time, agencies have seen their annual grants shrink, while their needs have precipitously increased.
With similar challenges confronting the Foundation in Fiscal Year 2012, the Board and Staff will continue its funding policies, as previously revised in 2009.
To be specific, in FY 2012, Grotto will continue its grantmaking to support two major areas of interest, however, for existing grantees or by invitation only:
• Native Language Revitalization Initiative: A fifteen year (plus), multi-million dollar commitment to support Dakota and Ojibwe language initiatives which promote intergenerational learning, resource and materials development and programs and policies which nurture Native language revitalization and usage in tribal communities, schools and special programs.
• Early Childhood Education and Development: A multi-year program established to support schools, agencies and institutions dedicated to improving the quality of parenting and the education, development and well-being of infants and children (from birth to six years of age).
In all cases, the Foundation will no longer accept proposals or requests for funding. The Grotto staff is encouraged to research and identify promising programs capable of producing results as defined by the Grotto Board. The staff may contact agencies, determined to meet Grotto’s program criteria, and the organizations are then invited to submit proposals. Grant considerations, reviews, determinations and awards are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Additionally, Grotto may make special grants, outside the two major areas of interest, pursuant to a review and majority vote by the Directors of the Grotto Foundation.
Lastly, we are happy to report that the American Indian Family Empowerment Program, formerly a program of the Grotto Foundation is now the Tiwahe Foundation and an independent organization. The Grotto Foundation and the Tiwahe Foundation continue to collaborate. The Tiwahe Foundation is housed at the Grotto Foundation and a link to Tiwahe can be found on Grotto’s web site.
Grotto remains dedicated to “Community, Family, and Understanding” and through our efforts, we strive to make a difference.
Ellis F. Bullock