Transom Grants FAQs

Who is eligible to apply?

Grants are made to eligible organizations in one or more of the five Louisiana parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Plaquemines.  Beneficiaries of grants should reside in one or more of the five parishes.  Following are the types of organizations eligible to apply for a BCM grant:

• A tax-exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (which includes religious, charitable, educational, scientific and certain other organizations) that is not a private foundation described in Section 509 (a); or 
• A private operating foundation described in Section 4940(d) of the Internal Revenue Code; or 
• An organization described in Section 170(c)(1) (governmental entities) or Section 511(a)(2)(B) (state colleges and universities) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Grants are not made to private foundations described in Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, private or publicly held corporations, limited liability corporations, partnerships, or sub-chapter "S" corporations.  

When does BCM accept grant applications?

Baptist Community Ministries accepts grant applications twice a year during the following periods:

• March 1 through March 15; and
• September 1 through September 15.
• To be accepted, grant applications must be received on or before the deadline date of March 15 or September 15.
• Applications sent through the postal system must be postmarked before midnight of the deadline date.
• Hand delivered applications (by courier or individual) must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date. 
• For deadlines falling on a weekend or recognized holiday, applications may be hand delivered on the first business day following the deadline date during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). 
• In fairness to other applicants, staff, and reviewers, these deadlines are strictly observed and no exceptions are made for late submissions.  Once accepted, applications may not be amended. 

Are there any funding restrictions?

Funding requests must be made in one of the four BCM zones of interest - health, education, public safety and governmental oversight.

• Minimum grant size - $50,000 per year.
• Grant term - one to three years.

Funding requests not supported:

• Capital projects
• Ongoing general operating expenses
• Projects of national or statewide scope
• Single-disease charities
• Direct support to individuals or fraternal bodies 

Is there a specific format for the submission of proposals?

For detailed information on how to submit a transom grant application and the formal grant selection process, please review our Grant Application Guidelines.  Only organizations that complete an application in strict accordance with these guidelines will be considered for funding.

May I contact BCM staff concerning an application?

Applicants are encouraged to communicate with BCM Program Directors.  However, BCM staff and reviewers are prohibited from contacting an applicant starting two weeks before or during the window of open submission of March 1-15 and September 1-15 and through the point of final approval/disapproval of the application (generally 60 days).  Ex-parte contact or 'lobbying' of BCM Trustees or Advisors during an active transom application review cycle may inadvertently create a conflict of interest for the Trustee or Advisor and may result in an abstention from voting on the application under review.