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Foundation & Partner Policies

Communication

At RTNF we try to focus our resources on (1) our partners and (2) our applicants who are showing strong potential for alignment. Because of limited staff capacity, we usually don't accept unscheduled calls. We also try to reserve phone calls and meetings for applicants who continue to show potential for fit with our mission and criteria (usually after the Primary Application stage of review). We source leads through peer funders and attempt to leverage existing information to do our due diligence whenever possible.

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Gifts 

We do not accept gifts (e.g., free tickets, merchandise, meals, etc.) from any of our grantees, applicants, anyone affiliated with the foundation, or who wishes to become affiliated with the foundation. While we appreciate the generosity displayed by those we work with, we cannot accept such gestures.

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Events

We prefer not to attend parties, galas, award ceremonies, or fundraising events (virtual or in-person) unless there is a reasonable, compelling, and proportional charitable purpose for doing so. This is in part because we have very limited staffing capacity, but also because we'd like to limit our site visits to times where we can learn more about the normal and daily work of organizations.

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Mailed Applications and Materials

We do not review applications or other paper materials mailed to our office and require that all applications be submitted through the portal to be considered. This saves paper, postage, and time for both us and prospective applicants. Current partners should also submit all materials for reporting in the portal and any additional documents, such as annual reports, via email to your RTNF staff point of contact.

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Site Visits and Travel

While we believe that site visits produce a tremendous amount of insight about organizations and their programs, RTNF keeps site visits and travel to a minimum. This is for two primary reasons: 

  1. We wish to keep our carbon footprint small, and

  2. With only one program officer handling our many grant requests, we have a very limited capacity for lengthy trips.

For the foregoing reasons, we only request site visits when (1) an organization has demonstrated a high-level of potential throughout other parts of the review process, and (2) we feel that a visit is absolutely necessary to make a grant decision. 

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Publicity for Grants

Generally, we steer clear of the limelight, except in cases where publicity may serve a compelling charitable purpose (e.g., when publicity may allow a partner to leverage RTNF funds to garner more support). Thus, when it comes to information that is published about RTNF, especially when it comes to recognition for grants made, we request that organizations will seek approval for the recognition types listed below:

  1. Announcements

  2. Press releases and conferences

  3. Naming programs or spaces

  4. Publicizing the grant amount awarded

Partners should submit a 1-page request explaining the desire for publicity, as well as the content and context of the proposed publicity tool.

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Maximum Indirect Cost Rate

Indirect costs are costs that are not directly accountable to a cost object (such as a particular project, facility, function or product). Indirect costs may be either fixed or variable. Indirect costs include administration, personnel and security costs.

 

Indirect cost rates for grants and contracts are subject to the following limitations:

  • For government agencies, other private foundations, and for-profit organizations: 0%.

  • For U.S. universities and community colleges: Up to 10%.

  • For U.S. nonprofit organizations, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), and international organizations: Usually, up to 15%.

 

Indirect Costs Reimbursements = Rate % * Total Project Costs (incl. personnel, sub‐contracts, supplies, equipment, etc.) 

 

Rates and limitations apply to both the primary applicant organization and any sub‐grantees and sub‐ contractors.  Each respective organization may receive indirect costs up to the rate applicable to their organization type. For example, if a U.S. university is the primary grantee and includes an international organization as a sub‐grantee, the U.S. university can receive up to a 10% rate.

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