Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
About Grants

Q: What sort of grants does the ELA Foundation fund?

A: The ELA Foundation funds programs of organizations that are led by or which support the work of people with disabilities. We are involved in the areas of arts and advocacy.

We especially encourage distinctive projects where the organization is making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
We are interested in programs that are supported by the local community including foundations, corporations and individual funders and which meet the needs of people with disabilities in that community.

It is our vision to join with our grantees to "Change the Face of Disability on the Planet" through the implementation of "cutting edge" programs and projects.

Q: What doesn't ELA fund?

A: We do not fund the following programs:

• building funds
• camps, outdoor adventures and recreational programs
• children and youth programs
• capital campaigns
• employment programs
• endowment campaigns
• fundraising activities
• general support
• housing
• political campaigns
• religious organizations
• service animal training
• staff and volunteer training

Q: Who does ELA consider to be an adult?

A: Anyone over 22 years of age.

Q: What is the deadline for grant applications?

A: The deadline for grant applications is May 1st at 5PM Pacific Time and November 1st at 5PM Pacific Time every year. Applications that are received after the deadline are considered in the next grant period.

Q: What types of organizations does the ELA Foundation fund?

A: The ELA Foundation funds organizations that serve adults with disabilities and are tax exempt under US IRS Code 501(c)(3).

Q: Does ELA fund general support?

A: No. ELA only funds program support.

Q: We received a program grant from the ELA Foundation during the last funding cycle. Can we apply again this funding cycle?

A: You are not eligible to re-apply for a grant for 18 months, and until the current project is finished and we have received your final report.

Q: I work for an organization in the US that serves people with disabilities in other countries. Would ELA consider a program grant to our organization?

A: ELA will consider grants to US charities working outside the boundaries of the United States.

Q: I am an artist with a disability. How can I get a grant from the ELA Foundation?

A: The ELA Foundation does not fund individuals directly. As an artist with a disability, we suggest that you collaborate with an organization that provides artistic opportunities to people with disabilities in your area. The organization would be eligible to apply for a grant for a program and hire you as the artist.

Q: My organization is in Kansas. Do you grant funds to all parts of the country?

A: Yes, we award grants to organizations all over the United States. A complete list of our grantees can be found in the grantees section of the website.

Q: Where can I find a copy of your grant guidelines?

A: The ELA grant guidelines are on the ELA Foundation website at www.ela.org in the Grants section.

Q: I have a disability and need a van for transportation. Would the ELA Foundation give me funds to buy a van?

A: The ELA Foundation does not give funds for equipment including vans. You may want to contact your local community foundation to locate other resources for individuals in your area.

Q: Do you accept applications in every language?

A: No. We only accept applications in English.

Q: If the deadline falls on a weekend, can I get you my application the following Monday?

A: No. We will only accept applications that we receive by the deadline. If the deadline falls on a weekend, please plan accordingly and get your packet to us before that date.

Q: I see from your guidelines that you require verification of our ADA access. How do I accomplish this?

A: We require that you answer the ADA verification questions in the grants section of the website since we only support organizations that are fully accessible to people with disabilities in their community. If you want to proceed with an ADA plan for your organization, more information on how to create an ADA plan is also located at the end of the frequently asked questions section.

Q: What is the address of the ELA Foundation?

A: The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation, Inc. is located at 2460 North Lake Avenue PMB #128 Altadena, CA 91001.

Q: Why do you ask for board members with disabilities in your grant checklist?

A: We want people with disabilities to be active in all areas of the organizations that we fund. Special consideration is given to organizations that have members with disabilities on their board.

Q: If we serve adults and children with disabilities together in our program, would we be eligible for an ELA grant?

A: No. We only grant funds to programs that are for adults with disabilities.

Q: I know that my program does not meet your guidelines, but it is so terrific, I know you will make an exception in our case. Will you fund this program?

A: No. We do not fund programs or organizations that do not meet our guidelines.

Q: I have some staff members with disabilities. Would they be eligible for an educational grant from the ELA Foundation?

A: No. We don’t provide funds for staff training or educational grants. We want the ELA grants to be used for direct services to adults with disabilities who are served by your organization.

Q: What do you mean by a funding plan and what other funding sources do we need to demonstrate in our grant?

A: A funding plan outlines how your organization will raise the balance of the funds for the program in this application. Other funding sources is the list of other foundations, corporations and individuals that you have applied to and/or received funds from for this program. Since the ELA Foundation does not fund programs where we are the only funding source, we want to see that your organization has local community funding for this program.

Q: What is the difference between the funding sources and the donor list?

A: The donor list is the list of foundations, corporations and individuals that give support to the organization as a whole. The funding plan and funding sources are the donors who are being approached and providing support for the program you are applying for in this grant application.

Q: I have three programs that would fall within your guidelines. Which one should I choose to apply for?

A: Your program staff would be the best people to make the decision about what program would be the best one to apply for since they are the most familiar with your organization.

Q: What is your definition of advocacy?

A: We consider that advocacy is system change at its root. This is not about benefits counseling or personal advocacy. It is about advocacy for the greater good of all people with disabilities as demonstrated in the disability rights movement.

Q: We are working on a project with our local art gallery. What information do you require to show this collaboration?

A: If you are collaborating with organizations in your area on this program, it would be good to include them in your summary and include any letter of partnership with them in your attachments.

Q: Our professional grant writer sent out 25 applications within the last few months and they have all been rejected for funding. Do you have any tips on what we should do to alleviate this problem?

A: There are several things you can do. First of all, you want to be sure that, before a grant writer sends out an application, the development director or executive director sees it to make sure it follows the guidelines for the foundation that is being solicited for funds. "Boilerplate" applications do not work for most foundations that require their own checklists and guidelines. Second, you might want to call some of the foundations that have rejected your application and ask for feedback. This will help in writing future applications to them as well as other foundations.

Q: Grant writing has just been added to my job description and I don't know where to start. Do you have any idea of where I can get some grant writing information?

A: Every region has a non-profit resource center that gives classes in grant writing and other helpful information. They are also located on the web. The Foundation Center in your local library (and on the web) will also be able to give you some help. And there are helpful hints for grant writers below. Good luck with your new job!

Grantmaking Tips:

1. Read the entire grants section on the website thoroughly, including frequently asked questions and the grantees portion.
2. Follow the directions and checklist completely.
3. Write the summary, especially the program outline, clearly and succinctly.

Keep in mind that the most successful grant writers are the ones who communicate with their program staff so that they understand the needs of the organization, who research foundations thoroughly to know the best match for their organizations and programs, and who write grants succinctly and clearly.

Q: My organization is interested in doing a thorough ADA plan. Do you have any ideas or websites we can go to create a plan?

A: You are to be commended for taking this important step in accessibility for people with disabilities who are served by your organization. Please see information below on how to do a complete ADA plan.

How to Do an ADA Plan:

Many organizations have asked for more information on how to do an ADA plan. Please see an outline and websites below that will help your organization achieve this goal:

An ADA Plan

The key to developing a quality ADA plan is to have conducted a comprehensive survey to use as the basis for the planning process. Non-profit facilities and organizations may then set short, intermediate, and long-term goals based on the barriers identified by the survey.

Where Do You Find A Survey Instrument?

Surveys can be found at the Disability Business Technical Assistance Center in any region of the United States. They can be reached at 1-800-949-4232 or www.adata.org. For more information, you can call the ADA info hotline of the Department of Justice at 1-800-514-0301.

If you need information concerning a survey for an arts organization or a comprehensive guide for ADA compliance for arts organizations, access the National Arts and Disabilities website at www.nadc.ucla.edu. Local resources might include an Independent Living Center (see national listing posted at www.ilru.org) or 504/ADA state or local coordinator.

What To Do After You Have Identified the Barriers?

The information collected in the survey should be summarized in a way that is useful for planning, budgeting, and implementing barrier removal projects.
Determine the impact of each barrier regarding access issues (both programmatic and physical) on your organization and the methods needed to correct the identified barriers.

Establish cost estimates of areas to be remedied. Use these estimates to help you plan your budget. Create a schedule and prioritize the remodeling projects identified by your survey (timeline).

The ADA Recommends the Following Priorities for Planning:

• Physical access into the facility (ramps, entrance doors, parking) that includes signage. Access to areas, features and amenities of the building interior, as well as access to restrooms, drinking fountains and telephones.
• Programmatic access including sign interpreting, audio description, captioning, Braille and other related services.
• Organizational access, including policies that include people with disabilities on the staff and board of your organization.
• Communication access including placing symbols on brochures and creating materials in alternative formats (i.e., Braille, large print, tape or disk).

TIP: Tackle the "readily achievable" barrier removal tasks first and then begin the process of planning for those requiring more extensive design, construction or implementation.

Examples of "readily achievable" Barrier Removal Are as Follows:

• Drinking Fountains: When drinking fountains are inaccessible, a readily achievable solution is to install a cup dispenser at a height which allows access to the stream of water.
• Elevator Controls: When they lack tactile identification for people with visual impairments, provide an interim solution of plastic self-adhesive labels encoded with Braille (Braille label makers).
• Paper Towel Dispensers: Where paper towel dispensers are mounted out of reach, put a counter top dispenser or a pile of paper towels on the counter top.
• Ticket Office/Gift Shop: Where the counter height is too high, provide a clipboard to use for signing a credit card.
• Interior Space: Where the facility does not have pathways that are clear for access, rearrange tables, chairs, vending machines, display racks and/or other furniture to make an accessible route.
  

TIP: If you involve people with disabilities in your planning process, you can avoid many pitfalls. A good resource is your local Independent Living Center, which can help you to discover easy programmatic, communication and organizational solutions to access.

Organize the Results of the Survey In a Chart:

As an example, this chart may have five columns. The first column lists the barriers that were identified during the survey process; the second column identifies the method for eliminating the barrier; the third identifies the person or department responsible for the barrier removal; fourth is the price estimate; fifth is the projected timeline showing the start and completion dates. See list below.

Integrate the ADA Plan:

Integrate this new ADA plan into your organization's short and long term planning activities. This plan should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis (quarterly, bi-annually or annually).

Consider a Universal Design Approach for New Design Initiatives:

Universal Design means designing products, communications and the physical environment so that it is usable by everyone, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. When your organization is planning new building initiatives, incorporate universal design concepts. It will save the organization a lot of time and money.

The above ADA information was adapted from "A Step by Step Guide to Accessible Arts in California" with permission from the National Arts and Disability Center at UCLA.