Weekly Funding Opportunity: U.S. Cellular

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Each week, Neighborhood Networks provides potential funding sources to help centers develop and improve programs and services. Featured this week are grants from U.S. Cellular.

Program Areas: U.S. Cellular focuses its charitable contributions on programs that serve disadvantaged youth, families, and seniors, and connect people with opportunities for a better life.

Targeted Area: Northeast (Maine); Mid-Atlantic (Virginia, West Virginia); Southeast (North Carolina, Tennessee); Midwest (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin); Southwest (Oklahoma); and West (Oregon).

Eligibility: Eligible organizations wishing to receive a charitable contribution from U.S. Cellular must be tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) institutions. Eligible organizations must also be nonsectarian, nonpolitical, and nondiscriminatory. U.S. Cellular will accept proposals that meet the program's requirements as well as its primary coverage areas.

U.S. Cellular does not make charitable contributions to:

	Individuals.
	Agencies that discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, or national origin.
	Political causes, candidates, legislative lobbying, or advocacy groups.
	Endowments or memorials.
	Construction or renovation projects.
	Religious organizations seeking to further a denominational or sectarian purpose.
	Social, labor, alumni, or fraternal organizations serving a limited constituency.
	Primary, secondary, or charter schools.
	Special occasion, good-will, and single-interest magazines.
	Local athletic or sports programs, walk-a-thons, and little leagues.
	Travel funds for tours, expeditions, or trips.

Award Amount: Award amounts range from $5,000 to $35,000.

Application Process: Organizations must provide applications in their entirety using the following guidelines. Proposals that are incomplete will not be considered for a contribution.

I. Application (PDF)
Download Application. Complete (either handwrite or type) the application and mail along with the proposal and specified support documentation.

II. Proposal
In addition to submitting a hard copy of the proposal, information detailing the seven areas listed below must be submitted in a Microsoft Word file on an IBM-compatible disk. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) supporting documents may be submitted in hard copy format only.

Section 1 - Identification. Provide the organization's name, address, telephone and fax numbers, Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), and the name of the representative to whom all correspondence should be addressed. This information can be found on the tax-exempt letter from the IRS.

Section 2 - Program/Project Description. Describe the background objectives of the program/project, including the purpose and history of the organization, geographical area, population served including ethnic and income breakdown, and total number of program/project participants.

Section 3 - Purpose and Amount. Describe and outline the purpose and amount of the grant request, including a line-item budget for the proposed project, project timetable, expected outcome and evaluation methodology, list of all other sources of financial support, and an explanation of how the project relates to U.S. Cellular's funding interests. U.S. Cellular will consider funding toward tangible items along with an itemization of how the grant monies will be used.

Section 4 - Success Story. Share a success story of an individual, family, or group of participants who have benefited from the program.

Section 5 - Budget. Provide the organization's operating budget for the current year that details the organization's planned expenses and income resources. Also include a list of current funders of $1,000 or more.

Section 6 - Leaders. Provide a list of the board of directors.

Section 7 - Public Relations. Describe how the organization currently publicizes the project, as well as how the organization plans on publicizing U.S. Cellular's contribution.

III. Support Documentation Tax-Exemption Letter.
Provide a copy of the IRS letter that recognizes the organization's 501(c)(3) status. This FEIN must match the number on the application.

Collateral. Provide a copy of the most recent annual report, brochures, press releases, or visuals relating to the organization and/or proposed project.

Send completed applications to:

U.S. Cellular Public Affairs and Communications Department
8410 West Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL 60631

Deadlines: Deadline dates for 2008 are May 15, August 15, and November 1. All materials must be received by these dates. Organizations will receive a letter in the mail regarding the status of their application approximately three weeks after the committee meets. To determine the status of a grant application, contact the U.S. Cellular Charitable Grant Hotline at (866) 956-8100 and select option 3.

Contact Information: For more information on U.S. Cellular's charitable giving, contact them via email or call the U.S. Cellular Charitable Grant Hotline at 866-956-8100.