OVERVIEW OF THE GRANT MAKING PROCESS

• All members can nominate 2 organizations for funding. To nominate an organization, review the Nonprofit Nomination information then complete the Nomination Form
  
  
• All members review organizations in three-part process, including final grant decision
  
  
• All members have equal voting power and all members vote on final set of recommendations
  
  
• Grant budget will be $2,000 for the 2012 Spring Grant
  

SPRING 2012 GRANTS PROCESS
The following is an outline of the process for the Gordian Fund's Spring 2012 Grant Cycle. All elements of the process will be overseen by the Gordian Fund's Grants Committee. In order to participate in the grants cycle, Gordian Fund members must abide by the rules set forth in the Gordian Fund's Conflict of Interest Policy.

Stage One :: Nominations

• All members are encouraged to complete up to two (2) nomination forms for the nonprofit(s) of their choice. These nomination forms will include general, public information about each organization, and must be completely filled out to be considered.
  
  
• Nomination forms will be available on Monday, February 13th. The open nomination period will be from Monday, February 13th through Friday, February 24th.

Stage Two :: Nomination Review and First Round of Voting

• Nomination packets will be available online and distributed via email to each member. This packet will be comprised of the information provided about every organization nominated so that each member can evaluate the nominees for the first round vote.
  
  
• Each member will receive a predetermined number of votes ("x") to grant to organizations during the first round of voting. The predetermined number will be approximately 50% of the total number of nominations ("n"), but will be more than 10 and less than 25. (x=½n, where 10<x<25)
  
  
• The first round of voting will take place Monday, February 27th through Wednesday, March 7th. Voting will be conducted online.
  
  
• Only one vote may be allocated per person per organization, and the top "x" organizations will move on for further consideration.

Stage Three :: Candidate Presentation Preparation

• Organizations which have made it to this round will have the opportunity to be presented at the Gordian Fund's Semi-Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 24th. Nominators of these organizations will give a brief presentation (3-5 minutes) providing a more detailed look at each organization. The total presentation time shall not exceed one hour.
  
  
• A Grants Committee member will work directly with each organization's nominator in the weeks following the close of the first round of voting and leading up to the Semi-Annual Meeting to ensure that the presentations are consistent, clear, and substantive. The Grants Committee will also provide a power-point to guide each organization's presentation content.

Stage Four :: Semi-Annual Meeting

• At the Gordian Fund's Semi-Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 24th, nominators of the organizations selected thus far will make brief presentations on their nominees. Note:
  1. Only members of the Gordian Fund may nominate an organization to be a potential grant recipient
  2. Every effort should be made to attend the semi-annual meetings
  3. In the event that a member cannot attend a semi-annual meeting but that his or her nominee(s) has/have been chosen for presentation at the semi-annual meeting, he or she should work with another member who is willing to do the presentation on his or her behalf
  4. Any such proxy arrangements should be made known to the Grants Chair and Committee
  
  
  
• Following the presentations, each member will select their top three organizations in the second round of voting. The three organizations with the most points will go on to the Final Vote.
  
  
• The nominators of each of the three finalist organizations selected via the second round of voting will have an opportunity to say a few closing remarks in regards to their nominees, which will constitute a "case for support." These presentations will be limited to two minutes and will be followed by the Final Vote.
  
  
• In the Final Vote, each member chooses one finalist. The finalist with the most votes after this step will become the Gordian Fund's Spring 2012 Grant Recipient.