Applicant Instructions and Information

For New Applicants:

From the Icicle Fund website select the Requests for Funding link, and then select the Grant Management Login button.
Select Create a New Account. Create a USER ID (usually your e-mail address) and password. We do not have access to passwords, so make sure you keep a record of it.
Register your organization in the Icicle Fund grants management system by filling out all of the requested information. Proceed to next step.
Review your contact information and select “Apply”.
Select the appropriate grant application process and proceed.

For Returning Applicants:

Log in to your “home” page (titled Application Status). Review your organization information and make any necessary changes.
To start a new application, select Start New Application in the upper left portion of the page.
Select the application process most appropriate to your organization and proceed.

Electronic Application Filing Tips:

Save your draft application frequently to avoid losing your work.
A copy of the application may be downloaded your computer. This allows you to answer the questions at your leisure, and then copy/paste your answers into the application when you are ready.
Once your application has been submitted it is no longer available for editing.
The character limits are sufficient for the information we need to evaluate your application. Whether you type directly into the text box, cut and paste or upload, please adhere to these limits.

Uploading files:

Only Word, Excel and .PDF files can be uploaded.
Only ONE file can be uploaded per question.
Multiple documents can be combined into one file and then uploaded.
We suggest you convert files into .PDF format before uploading so that all formatting is retained. If you do not have the Acrobat Adobe program that does this, you can download the free Go PDF program from the Internet. The fax-to-file feature on the grant management site will also convert your documents to .PDF.
FAX-TO-FILE: This feature provides a quick and easy way to combine and upload multiple documents and to convert them to a .PDF file.

a. Select the Fax-to-File feature from the menu
b. Read the instructions
c. Select “Request a Fax #”; a toll-free number will appear on the page
d. Load all of your documents that you want to be consolidated into one file into your fax machine
e. Dial the toll-free number and send
f. Repeat this process for each file group you wish to create
g. Select “Finished Faxing” when you are done and to see your list of files
h. Save each file to your computer and then upload to the appropriate question

6. Excel uploads: Single Excel spreadsheets may be uploaded, but Excel work books should not.

Requirements:

If you are applying for any computer hardware or software, please tell us who is trained to use the equipment or software and/or how you will go about getting the training. Training expenses can be included in your request, but should be clearly documented.
All capital requests must be accompanied by three contractor bids or vendor estimates. Exception: Arts and Museum Funding Initiative requests require two bids or estimates.
Budget and financial information requests are strictly adhered to. Please be sure your information is accurate and up-to-date before submitting.
Follow the format found on the Goals & Objectives template. See Goals, Objectives & Outcomes for an explanation of these terms.
For your Project Budget, please indicate what other foundation or corporate grants you have or will apply for and their current status (application to be submitted, pending, awarded, declined). Also, for Program, Capacity Building and Capital Grants, indicate exactly what Icicle Fund support will pay for. You may provide this information on the budget itself or in the budget narrative.

Other Information:

FAQs:

Why do you need all the information you require? The short answer is that we require the information we feel we need to make a good decision. For the long answer, see Grant Whys & Wherefores.
Do you fund 100% of a project’s cost? As a rule we prefer to see other support for projects and thus generally do not fund 100% of a project’s cost.
Do you provide challenge grants? Yes, and we often make challenge grants a component of the grants we award. (FYI: challenge grants are grants that match funds you raise from other sources. For example, if we awarded you a 1:1 $1,000 challenge grant we would match every dollar you raise up to $1,000. This is an excellent way to raise funds from individuals.)
What are your reporting requirements? A final grant report is always required; sometimes, we also ask for a progress report. Report requirements and due dates are outlined in the grant agreement that accompanies your approval letter.
What happens if we forget to answer one of the questions or one element of a question? If you do not provide an answer for one of the required questions, you will not be able to submit your application. If you have not answered one of the elements of the question or have not provided all the required financial material, your application will be marked incomplete and will not be reviewed.
Will the Icicle Fund be making a site visit to our organization? New applicants should expect a site visit some time during the seven week period following the approval of your Letter of Inquiry. Returning applicants are visited annually. We will call to set up a mutually convenient time for the visit.

Common Problems:

Documents are not uploading or are taking a long time.
After saving your work, log off the system and then log back in. Sometimes there is a delay, or there appears to be a delay, with document uploads. Usually, once you have logged back in, everything will be there.
Formatting in documents is lost after uploading (numerical lists, bullet points, etc.)
Convert documents to PDF format before uploading and formatting will be retained.

Questions? Please call Joan Alway (509)548-0429