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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is the purpose of the Catalogue?
A: The purpose of the Catalogue is to connect community-based nonprofits with individuals who want to contribute to, and make a difference in, their communities. Individual nonprofits--68 each year with budgets of $3 million or less--are featured in the print Catalogue (the website is ongong for all) in order to educate and inspire donors, and to demonstrate that philanthropy is essential to our quality of life.

Q: Who are the sponsors and why are they supporting the project?
A: Current sponsors of the Catalogue include, among others, the Harman Family Foundation, Meyer Foundation, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, J. Willard and Alice S. Mariott Foundation, Booz Allen Hamilton, CGI, and RAFFA PC, and a group of family foundations and individuals. They support the Catalogue as a service to the community and because they believe in helping smaller nonprofits diversify their sources of revenue.

Q: When is the deadline to submit proposals and when will we hear the results of our application?
A: Online applications are generally due in mid to late February, and supplements one week later, unless unusual circumstances pertain. Check the Catalogue's home page page for specific dates. Supplements must be postmarked no later than the due date. Please do NOT hand deliver supplements or spend money on "fast" mail. Applicants are usually notified of the results by June 1.

Q: How are the featured organizations selected?
A: Seasoned grantmakers and other professionals in the field review all proposals. The current committee includes 90 individuals who read across a wide range of fields. They rank and comment on proposals, and the combination of their ranking and their detailed responses fuels the final decisions. A certified public accountant reviews all financial materials. Diversity across types of programs, fields of interest (Nature, Culture, Human Services, International, and their respective subfields), location, and constituency are also central to our wish to create a broadly attractive and engaging publication and website.

Q: To what address and in what form should we submit our application?
A: Proposals are submitted online at our website. Supplements should be mailed to:

Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
PO Box 955
Poolesville, MD 20837-0955

Q: Our budget is more than $3 million. Can we still apply?
A: Usually not. The fiscal limitation exists because one of our purposes is to showcase smaller charities that often don't have the staff or budget effectively to reach the public on their own. If your organization is borderline, or if, for some reason, you are unsure about your eligibility, call us at 202-549-6369 to discuss your situation. AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE IS MADE FOR ORGANIZATIONS PREVIOUSLY FEATURED IN THE CATALOGUE THAT ARE NOW APPLYING TO BE RE-FEATURED OR TO REMAIN ON THE WEBSITE. IF ACCEPTED, IT WILL BE NOTED THAT THEY NOW HAVE A BUDGET ABOVE $3 MILLION.

Q: We are an independent "project" of a larger organization with a budget over $3 million (ie, an after-school arts program at a large human services organization). May we apply?
A: Usually not. Our goal is to feature smaller organizations that lack the resources and visibility of larger ones. The exception to this rule is the independent nonprofit whose fiscal agent carries the 501(c)(3) designation because it performs financial and administrative functions for a variety of unrelated nonprofits. These otherwise independent nonprofits may be eligible and should explain their situation.

Q: We are a national organization with a DC address. May we apply?
A: We focus on organizations that serve the local population (or, as noted below, are international in focus). If you are national but have a real local presence and significant local programs, then you may apply.

Q: May our organization apply if we are located in Greater Washington but provide services internationally?
A: Yes. International organizations in Greater Washington who by definition serve populations around the world ARE eligible.

Q: May our organization apply if our offices are located outside of the geographical area you describe but we provide services within it?
A: Unfortunately not.

Q: We are an independent fundraising arm of a larger organization. We have our own 501(c)(3). Are we eligible?
A:Generally, no. The Catalogue focuses on smaller organizations that lack resources for significant fundraising staff. The only exceptions to this would be organizations that have a direct relationship to the grants that they make so that they are not only raising funds but also executing programs.

Q: If we are selected for inclusion in the Catalogue, will we be able to review and approve the final text and photographs for our presentation?
A: You will be invited to review the text we create for you. We are always eager to correct errors and update crucial information. Decisions about photography and artwork in the print Catalogue are ours, but we often invite active participation. Nonprofits always have a hand in selecting an image for their place on our website.

Q: Are there other benefits we should consider in weighing our decision about whether to apply?
A: If you are featured in the Catalogue, you will likely have access to a far broader audience and higher level of fundraising than most nonprofits can afford on their own. If you then receive inquiries or donations, you may gain prime prospects for future support; your success in cultivating those prospects will of course be up to you. It is also worth noting that "donor appeal" is a very subjective matter, and the Catalogue cannot predict who will be succesful with donors and who will not. Catalogue charities do have the opportunity to announce that they have been selected from a competitive field, and to use our growing collection of online tools to publicize the honor. Some nonprofits report to us that access to these tools, and the stamp of approval that the Catalogue provides, have been just as important to them as appearing in the print Catalogue. Increasingly, family foundations turn to the Catalogue to select charities among whom they wish to circulate requests for proposals, and other foundations report to us that they use the Catalogue to screen applicants. So there are many interesting uses beyond direct fundraising. In addition, we periodically sponsor or co-sponsor other projects to which Catalogue charities have access.