Frequently Asked Questions

May I start the online application and return to it later?

You may start your online application, save it, and return later in order to continue working on it. If you are applying for the first time, you will be asked to create an account using your e-mail address and a password. You must create an account in order to save your application. This process will take you out of the online application. Shortly thereafter, you should receive an e-mail confirming your password and providing a link to your saved application.

I was working on an online grant application and accidentally closed the application window or experienced a technical difficulty with my computer. Have I permanently lost the information I had entered?

Yes. If you do not click the “Save & Finish Later” button at the bottom of the page (and create an account with your e-mail and password, if not already created) before closing the application window, information previously entered cannot be retrieved. If you have an existing account, you must click the “Update” button at the bottom of the page in order to save information you have entered. For this reason, the Mathile Family Foundation recommends that you create an account immediately when applying for the first time, frequently click the “Update” button in order to save information you have entered, and keep a separate copy (e.g., a Word document) of all application information for your records and in case of technical problems.

I am not able to upload my supporting documentation. Will my application be rejected automatically?

No. Please contact Emily Hughes at info@mathilefamilyfoundation.org and she will discuss alternatives with you.

May I make changes to my online application after it has been submitted?

No. Once you have submitted an application, you can view it by logging back into your account, but you cannot make any changes to it. If major problems, changes, or concerns arise, please contact Emily Hughes at info@mathilefamilyfoundation.org.

Do I need to create a new account every time I submit an online grant application to the Mathile Family Foundation?

No. You need to create an account only once. You will receive an e-mail confirming your e-mail address and password, along with a link to the My Account/Log In screen. You may log in using the same account each time you wish to submit an online application, view past applications, or edit current applications that have not yet been submitted.

Where do I find my organization’s Form 1023 and how quickly can I get a copy?

The Form 1023 should be part of your tax exemption permanent records. A charitable organization must make its approved application available for public inspection for recognition of exemption with all supporting documents and its last three annual information returns.
 
An organization that filed its Form 1023 before July 15, 1987, and did not have a copy of the form on July 1987, is exempt from the IRS requirement of supplying or showing its Form 1023 to anyone requesting this document. Prior to July 15, 1987, there was no requirement to show a copy of the Form 1023 to anyone, and many groups did not retain their copy.
 
If you need to request a copy of your Form 1023 from the IRS you may contact an IRS Customer Account Services representative toll-free at 1-877-829-5500 to get a replacement copy or mail/fax your request using Form 4506-A to:

• IRS
• Attn: Correspondence Unit
• PO Box 2508, Room 4024
• Cincinnati, OH 45201
• Fax number: 513-263-3434

Expect these requests to take some time. For more information, see the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

How do I determine what type of nonprofit my organization is (509, 501, etc.)?

There are many locations you can access your public charity status. The best place to find your public charity status is to review your most recent IRS determination letter. This letter indicates the subsection of the Internal Revenue Code you are deemed tax exempt under. You can also obtain your public charity status from the following locations:

• – Your most recent Form 990 or consult with your tax preparer
• – IRS Business Master File
• – IRS EO Select Check website (Publication 78 data) www.irs.gov
• – Calling the IRS

 
As your operations and mission changes over the years, so might your public charity status. The IRS regulations require that you notify the IRS of any changes to your original Form 1023, Application for Exempt Status.

In order to calculate the percentage of average total gifts, grants, and contributions received by our organization, how are gifts from “general public” defined?

General public is generally defined as non-related contributions. Typically this includes: individuals, corporations, trusts, estates and other tax exempt entities, including private foundations. It generally includes amounts from government units.

What is the public support test and how do I know if my organization is at risk of not meeting the public support test requirements?

There are two public support tests for public charities: One for organizations described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code, and one for organizations described in section 509(a)(2). Both tests measure public support over a five-year period.
 
The 509(a)(1) test requires that the organization receive at least one-third of its support from contributions from the general public.
 
The 509(a)(2) test requires that the organization receive more than one-third of its support from contributions from the general public and/or from gross receipts from activities related to its tax-exempt purposes. Under the 509(a)(2) test, an organization can receive no more than one third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business taxable income.
The public support test is calculated annually on the Form 990. Please consult with your tax preparer for more details about your organization’s Form 990. You can find more details on the public support tests under sections 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) and 509(a)(2) in the instructions to Form 990, Schedule A, or on the IRS website.

What is an investment policy and how is my organization’s investment policy relevant to the Foundation’s grant application process?

An investment policy statement is an official agreement between your organization and an investment manager agreeing to how money will be managed. Having an investment policy statement typically means that an organization is effectively managing and monitoring its investments.
 
Should your organization request grant funds that will be invested until needed for operations, the Foundation needs to insure that the funds are held in a manner in which the funds are not at risk. If the requested grant funds are not invested for longer term use, having an investment policy statement or not will not be considered in the grant funding determination.

What do I do if I don’t know the answers to these questions?

Please consult with your tax preparer/advisor as they should be able to guide you or answer any questions you may have. If you still have questions, please contact Emily Hughes at info@mathilefamilyfoundation.org.