Below you will find our most recent grant guidelines for 2008, which outlines the requirements necessary to complete a grant application. All grant proposals must be postmarked no later than September 26th, 2008 in order to be considered for funding. Grant recipients will be announced on Friday, December 19, 2008 and will be posted on our website.

2008 Grant Application Proposal

You can download the Grant Application here

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. is not able to accept grant applications directly from individuals or families. While the Foundation is committed to supporting families, support must be made through IRS approved 501 (c)(3) organizations and qualified schools who in turn provide services, family support grants and resources to families.

Guidelines:

Grant Making Philosophy/Program Emphasis:
The priorities of the foundation are to (1) assist financially disadvantaged families who need assistance in caring for their children with autism spectrum disorder (through nonprofit autism organizations), (2) fund education and advocacy for individuals with autism and (3) support research dedicated to finding the cause and treatment of autism.

Family Assistance:
Community Organizations actively assisting children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder and their families through direct family support; safety equipment; respite services, recreational programs, social skills training, and other opportunities that will enhance the quality of life for those affected.

Education and Advocacy:
Education and Advocacy programs for all individuals on the Autism Spectrum; Community awareness initiatives; Educational opportunities that provide practical experience for family members and professionals working in the field of autism (The Foundation does not fund expenses related to large scale conferences); and scholarships for students pursuing a degree in the field of special education and more specifically, developmental disabilities. (Please note that we cannot fund individual students but encourage Universities to apply through a related program.)

Research:
Includes applied research, environmental research, prevalence studies and other research dedicated to finding a cure for autism.

Amount Requested:
The average grant size will be in the $10,000-$20,000 range. Please do not request more than $20,000. Requests for endowments or multi-year grants will not be accepted, and grant recipients must re-apply each year.

Indirect Costs of up to 10% of the total project budget will be considered for funding. Anything over 10% will not be considered.

Geographic Focus:

• Massachusetts
• Other New England States including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Connecticut
• New York
• New Jersey
• Southern California including San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Orange County
• National Educational Advocacy Programs
• National Research Organizations
• Select Canadian Cities including Toronto, Calgary Vancouver

What the Grant Committee looks for:

There are a number of factors considered by the Grant Committee when reviewing applications. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• Organization and Thoroughness of the proposal itself.
• Impact of the services on the population (issue or need addressed).
• Financial Need: How critical is the Flutie Foundation grant to the proposed project?
• Sustainability and Continuity of the Organization and/or Program.
• Uniqueness of the Request.
• Project Budget: Is it detailed and clearly outlined.
• Duplication: Can the program be duplicated or shared with others.