Guidelines for Grant Requests

History:
George W. Neilson, an entrepreneur who invested in a fledgling company that developed "Lavoris" mouthwash, worked and lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He, his wife and daughter spent most of their summers on property in northern Minnesota at Spearhead Lake, south of Bemidji. Mr. Neilson wanted to leave a legacy that would carry out his philosophy and those of his daughter, Katharine Neilson Cram. In 1962, George Neilson established an irrevocable trust with an endowment of 1500 shares of 3M worth approximately $100,000. This trust was named the George W. Neilson Foundation. Katharine Neilson Cram was executive director of the foundation until her death in 2000. From 1962 to the present, the George W. Neilson Foundation’s assets have multiplied, allowing the foundation to support numerous grants. In March of 2002, new trustees were appointed that were all Bemidji residents, permitting the foundation to focus entirely on the Bemidji area, a wish expressed by Katharine Neilson Cram in memory of her beloved northern Minnesota.

Support:
The George W. Neilson Foundation will continue to support community development projects by making grants to programs and projects that will improve the lives of the area’s children, adults and senior citizens. Projects which:

• Improve the quality of community life.

• Contribute to community cohesion.

• Provide for community revitalization.

• Help to create a positive community image.

• Respond to specific community needs.

• Assist in economic development.

These are the grant requests that the Board of Trustees welcome for review. In providing these grants to various not-for-profit organizations, the George W. Neilson Foundation stresses the importance of matching funds, “sweat equity”, and funding from other individuals and organization in order to promote ownership of the project and to help insure viability. The Foundation will consider “bricks and mortar” grants along with grants for new programming. The Foundation will require evidence that the requesting organization has sufficient resources available or assured to sustain its program after the start-up period has been completed.

Examples of ACCEPTABLE costs in programs and projects that are otherwise approved include:

• Capital building and equipment costs, etc.

• Expansion or improvement of facilities.

• Educational exhibits, program materials, etc.

• Start-up costs on a one-time basis (evidence of continued funding required.)

• Applied research (must show promise of practical solutions to clearly identified community problems.)

Examples of costs normally considered NOT ACCEPTABLE include:

• Propaganda, attempts to influence legislation or the outcome of any public election or political activity.

• Individual travel or study.

• Promotion of any sectarian religious activity.

• General purpose grants.

• Sustaining grants whose purpose is to meet continuing operating costs such as salaries, rent, supplies or maintenance, etc.

• Works of art whose primary function is of a decorative nature.

• Publications or advertising.

• Feasibility studies, employment of consultants, or support of advisory committees.

• Camping programs or field trips.

• Basic research (defined as pursing the advancement of knowledge.)

• Projects which are commonly supported by tax dollars.

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