FAQ's

Living Stones Foundation Charitable Trust (LSFCT)

What is the average size of your grants, and what average period of time do they cover?
Dollars awarded and time periods vary widely and depend on the scope and significance of the project. However, first-time grants can range from $5,000 to $20,000.

Do you offer ongoing support?
No. We prefer to partner on specific projects that are measurable by a project start and end date. On-going support for any organization should not be assumed.

Do you offer multi-year funding?
Occasionally we do multi-year funding on projects with organizations that have proven their commitment to our mutual goals.

Do you accept applications from other countries?
Yes, provided the organization is a registered charity in its country.

In which countries outside the U.S. do you work?
We have done projects in India, China, Indonesia, Israel, Spain, England, Sweden, Fiji, and countries in Latin America and the Middle East.

How do you decide which projects to fund?
The Foundation meets periodically to review project proposals. We fund those projects that most closely match our guidelines and objectives until all funds for the year have been committed.

When do you accept applications?
Initial Inquiries are accepted at any time. Full Proposals are accepted by invitation only and are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Please refer to the instructions in the How to Apply section.

Is there a deadline for submitting Full Proposals?
Full Proposals must be received by Living Stones Foundation within 45 days of request by the Foundation. To be considered at a particular quarterly review date, completed proposals must be received by the deadline prior to each Foundation meeting. Incomplete proposals will be deferred to the following quarter's review date.

Can we meet with Foundation personnel to submit our proposal?
Due to the high number of proposals received, we prefer to wait to meet with non-profit agency leadership until the third stage of the application process is reached. At this time a site visit can be arranged.

How long does it take to review a proposal?
All Initial Inquiries are reviewed within six weeks of receipt of a completed document. The only exception is if the Grant Application Process has closed, then all incoming Initial Inquiries are held until the beginning of the next calendar year, at which time the six-week process begins. The time period required to review Full Proposals depends on the date they are received relative to our quarterly deadlines and review dates.

When will we find out if our proposal has been approved?
A letter describing the decision reached by the Foundation during the review of your proposal will be mailed shortly following the relevant Foundation meeting date. Funding is not to be assumed and cannot be guaranteed until you have received this confirmation in writing.

Why are some proposals declined?
Proposals can be declined at two possible junctures in the application process. Foundation staff can decline applications at any time prior to the Foundation meeting. Reasons for this are generally that the scope and focus of the project does not conform to the Foundation's priorities, or that the Foundation's budget has already been met in the program area of the project. Secondly, applications can be declined at the Foundation Executive level. The rationale for declinations at this level is often that the caliber of the project is not competitive with similar projects under consideration.

What are your expectations after a grant is approved?
We require a signed agreement and brief written reports every three, six, or twelve months depending on the nature of the project. Progress Reports should identify how the goals and objectives of the project are being achieved. A Final Report should indicate a summary of the project's accomplishments according to the goals and objectives presented in the proposal.

Does the Foundation make grants to churches or denominations?
Not as a rule.