Q: May I send Tourism Cares a Letter of Inquiry as an e-mail attachment or by fax?
A: Unfortunately not. We require a hard copy of the Letter of Inquiry printed on the organization’s letterhead along with official Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) determination letter (or equivalent for non-U. S. organizations) and Grant Application Form be sent in one packet by regular or air mail. We cannot accept elements that arrive via e-mail, fax, or under separate cover.
Q: Can our organization apply for grant funding from Tourism Cares if our 501(c)(3) non-profit and tax-exempt status is pending with the United States Internal Revenue Service?
A: No, your organization must wait until it receives the initial 501(c)(3) determination letter from the United States Internal Revenue Service to apply for grant funding.
Q: May our U. S. organization send in an Internal Revenue Service Employee Identification Number (EIN) and our organization’s Articles of Incorporation as proof of our non-profit, tax-exempt status?
A: No. We cannot accept either of these documents as proof of your organization’s non-profit, tax-exempt status. Only your organization’s official IRS 501 (c)(3) determination letter is acceptable proof.
Q: Our organization is not classified by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) but as a 501(c)(6). Would we be eligible to apply for grant funding with Tourism Cares ?
A: No.
Q: We are a non-U. S. organization, so the United States Internal Revenue Service is not our official tax collecting agency. Therefore, we cannot provide a 501(c)(3) determination letter from the United States Internal Revenue Service as proof of our non-profit and tax exempt status. What can we provide instead?
A: We accept the equivalent proof of your organization’s non-profit, tax exempt status from your country’s official tax collecting agency. If this document is not in English, we require a notarized English translation.
Q: Is a government entity, such as a municipality (city or town), eligible to apply for grant funding through Tourism Cares?
A: No, a government entity, such as a municipality, would not be eligible to apply as it does not have a non-profit, tax-exempt status. However, if a municipality partners with an organization recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as having 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt status, the non-profit organization may request grant funding for the project or program on behalf of the municipality.
Q: May a commercial, for profit organization that is also combined with historic, cultural, or environmental use apply for grant funding with Tourism Cares (such as a bed-and-breakfast in an historic building)?
A: No.
Q: How do matching funds or challenge funds work?
A: If you believe other organizations are willing to match any potential grant funding you may receive from Tourism Cares , we suggest that you secure such a commitment before approaching us to apply for grant funding. As stated in Tourism Cares' Goals and Preferences, we give preference to applicants who have secured matching funds prior to applying. The likelihood of receiving a grant from Tourism Cares is greater when proof of increased economic impact is apparent.
Q: Is there a specific match, such as one-to-one, that Tourism Cares requires?
A: Tourism Cares does not require matching funds, but it does give preference. The most common matching funds are a one-to-one match, but again that is not a requirement, but rather a preference.
Q: Will Tourism Cares consider in kind donations, such as for materials or labor, as matching funds?
A: No, Tourism Cares only considers cash contrbutions, from an external organization or private individual(s) as matching funds.
Q: Our non-profit organization can provide matching funds for our own project for which we are seeking Tourism Cares worldwide grant funding. Will Tourism Cares consider that match?
A: No, Tourism Cares will only consider matching funds external to the non-profit organization seeking worldwide grant funding.
Q: If our organization were to be granted funding from Tourism Cares for our project or program, how do we figure out the timing on when the grant funding would occur?
A: The likely timing of the grant funding would be approximately six months after the specific letter of inqiuiry deadline you applied for.
Q: Our organization has received grant funding in the past from Tourism Cares (or the Travelers Conservation Foundation-one of Tourism Cares' predecessors) for a project. May our organization apply for additional funding for the same project?
A: Regrettably no. Due to the volume of grant applications Tourism Cares receives, we feel the fairest approach to all applicants is to fund a particular organization’s project only once.
Q: Our organization has received grant funding in the past from Tourism Cares (or the Travelers Conservation Foundation) for one project. May the same organization apply for grant funding for a different project?
A: Yes, an organization that is a past Tourism Cares (or Travelers Conservation Foundation) grant recipient may apply for grant funding for a different project. However, the likelihood of receiving grant funding would be limited.
Q: Does Tourism Cares fund endowments?
A: No.
Q: I am a student interested in receiving grant funding for my studies. Am I eligible to apply for Tourism Cares grant funding?
A: No, Tourism Cares' grant funding goes to non-profit organizations, but you may be eligible to apply for one of the scholarships we offer. Please click here to learn more about the Tourism Cares Scholarship Program.