Grants
Our goal at SHQ is to provide you and your chapters with all the support you need (including all the support you don’t know you need). As you can imagine, it’s a lot of work for our volunteer team to help our volunteer teams.
Grants and Corporate Donation Requests
Do you have a Grant or Corporate Donation you are interested in for your Chapter? Email or Call the Grants Team first.
Reviewing Grants in the Chapter Portal
Instructions on how to review grants in the Chapter Portal. This new process will help you find your grants and their status.
Grants Process
SHP and all of its chapters operate under one EIN (federal tax identification number).
CSC is here to support your chapters to the best of our ability, all the while not compromising the need to maintain accurate and transparent information that is needed at the organization level.
Since we all share the same EIN it is CRUCIAL that we work together so SHP is an organization that current and potential donors and funders hold us in high regard.
To ensure accurate financial reporting, we need your help to differentiate donations/corporate sponsorships from grants and create a clear process for tracking funds requested by both chapters and the Grants Team.
Step 1 : Determine what type of funding you’re managing.
Different Types of Funding
To ensure proper financial tracking, it’s important to differentiate between donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships. While they all provide funding to support our mission, they come with different requirements and expectations.
Donation
A donation is a gift of money, goods, or services that is freely given with no expectation of deliverables or reporting. These funds are often given by individuals, businesses, or community organizations.
📌 Key Points:
- No formal application or reporting requirements.
- The only paperwork required may be a W-9 or IRS Determination Letter (both available on the SHP dashboard) for tax purposes.
- Funds can be used at the chapter’s discretion to further our mission.
Corporate Sponsorship
A corporate sponsorship is financial support from a business in exchange for promotional benefits. These are common for events, fundraisers, and community projects.
📌 Key Points:
- Typically requires an application or sponsorship form, which may ask for:
- Event date & details
- Sponsorship levels & benefits (e.g., logo placement, social media mentions)
- Recognition opportunities for the company
- Funds are often tied to a specific event or initiative rather than general use.
- Some sponsorships may require post-event reporting (e.g., photos, attendance numbers, impact summary).
Grant
A grant is funding provided by a foundation, corporation, or government agency that requires specific documentation, reporting, or deliverables.
📌 Key Points:
- Usually requires a written application outlining the project, goals, and intended impact.
- May require a budget, follow-up reports, receipts, or proof of how funds were used.
- Some funders require a signed agreement before releasing funds.
- The funder may dictate how the money can be used (e.g., restricted for bed builds only).
Step 2 : If it’s a Grant, decide how you want to proceed with the application
Master Craftsman Support – Grants Team handles everything
Journeyman Support – You want to work hand-in-hand with the Grants Team throughout the application process.
Apprentice Support – You want to take the lead, reaching out to the Grants Team if you need support documents along the way.
Step 3 : Applies mostly to Apprentice Support, but useful for all collaborations
BEFORE Submitting a Grant Application
Please check with the Grants Team first before applying for funding. There may be existing relationships between the Grants Team, funders, and other chapters that could impact your application. There may also be a limit on the number of applications a funder will accept from the same EIN, so this affects more than just your chapter.
If your chapter applies for a grant, ALWAYS use an SHP email address when communicating with funders.
The Grants Team members are very approachable to review your application and help provide language and necessary documents that are used across the organization for all chapters. Contact your Grant Team member or email the grants@shpbeds.org inbox for collaboration.
AFTER Submitting a Grant Application
Once you’ve submitted an application, email as much of the following information as possible to grants@shpbeds.org so it can be properly categorized:
- Funder Name
- Funder Contact (Name, Phone, Email – if known)
- Opportunity Name
- Submission Date
- Amount Requested
- Link to Application
- Login & Password (if applicable)
- Copy of Submitted Paperwork
Step 4 : Your application gets Awarded!
If Your Chapter Receives Grant Funds
If funds are sent directly to your chapter, email any paperwork received with the check to grants@shpbeds.org and donations@shpbeds.org before depositing the check.
📌 Important: Depositing grant funds means you are accepting the terms of the agreement with the funder. Keeping the Grants Team and Donations Manager informed ensures compliance and proper tracking.
Why This Collaboration Matters
Working together helps us:
✅ Ensure the Finance Team records funds in the correct revenue category.
✅ Help the Donations Manager properly track and categorize payments.
✅ Prevent duplicate grant applications across chapters.
✅ Support post-award reporting and renewal opportunities.
✅ Centralize documents and login details for continuity, even if leadership changes.
We encourage all Chapters to share complete grant details with the Grants Team so we can track applications in Instrumentl (our Grants Management software). This helps match received payments to specific grant opportunities—making the process smoother for everyone.
Thank you for your teamwork in securing funding to help kids get the beds they deserve! 🛏️💙