 |
|
DAVID R. STERN MEMORIAL FUND LOAN GUIDELINES
About the Foundation
The Agape Foundation Fund for Nonviolent Social Change is a non-profit
public foundation founded in 1969 out of opposition to the war in
Southeast Asia. Pacifists, World War II conscientious objectors
and anti-Vietnam War activists established it in order to build
a movement that seriously challenged the Pentagon and the American
culture of violence. The Foundation’s purpose is to fund nonviolent
social change organizations committed to peace and justice issues.
Unlike social services that aid and assist individuals, social change
efforts confront the root causes of social problems by challenging
the responsible systems and institutions.
David R. Stern Memorial Fund
Gail Weintraub Stern established the David R. Stern Memorial Fund
in 1975, in memory of her husband, David R. Stern, an anti-war activist
who was killed by a hit and run drunk driver. Please read the David
R. Stern Memorial Fund brochure for more information on the Fund
and its prior applications.
The Fund provides short term (three months), low-interest loans
(two percent flat rate, i.e., the interest on $3,000 is $3,000 x
2% = $60) to organizations that fit the funding priorities.
Issue Areas
The Fund provides loans to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or
fiscally sponsored organizations and film and/or video projects
promoting peace and social justice. The Fund does not lend to social
or direct service organizations unless they have a major advocacy
component.
The following are examples of some of the issue areas the Fund supports:
• Peace – anti-military and anti-nuclear.
• Environmental justice and protection.
• Community building – building nonviolent alternatives,
nonviolent conflict resolution, alternatives to gang violence.
• Human Rights – civil rights, lesbian/gay/bi-sexual/transgendered
rights and women’s rights.
• Economic justice.
Funding priorities
The Fund considers loan requests from organizations that meet all
of the following priorities:
• Organizations that promote the use of nonviolence in their
work.
• Organizations that demonstrate a commitment to grassroots
participation.
• Organizations that integrate peace and social justice issues.
• Organizations that are unable to secure funding from traditional
sources.
• Organizations that are located in the Western U.S. or the
Pacific Basin.
• Organizations that require a loan for a short period of time
(three months or less).
Range of loans
Maximum -- $3,000
Application process
To apply for a loan, please submit a brief proposal that includes
the following. The deadline for loan requests is the last business
day of every month. The Fund does not accept proposals by fax or
by email. The staff will consider the proposal incomplete without
all of the information listed below. (You may use extra pages for
the budget.)
• A statement describing how your organization promotes nonviolent
social change and reflects the Fund's other funding priorities.
Include a statement describing your organization’s philosophy
of social change.
• A brief description of your organization’s history (including
year of founding), purpose, decision making process, and number
of and diversity of core group, staff and volunteers. Please provide
a list of board members and occupations.
• A description of your organization’s goals, objectives,
strategies and methodologies.
• The specific amount for which you are applying, an explanation
of need for the loan and its proposed use.
• A description of how your organization raises funds. If applicable,
please include a list of foundations to which you are applying.
• A total organizational budget, including expenses and income.
(Please find enclosed budget categories, for your convenience.)
Agape will not consider your proposal if this is omitted.
• A detailed explanation of the fundraising plan you will employ
to repay the loan.
• Name, address and telephone number of the contact person
for the loan request.
• Name, address and telephone number of the loan guarantor.
This person cannot be the person applying for the loan. The guarantor
must be willing to sign a Loan Guaranty Agreement form and provide
a verifiable bank reference to ensure ability to repay.
Lending process
The Agape staff reviews all loan requests before submission to the
Agape Foundation’s Board of Trustees and the Trustee of the
Fund. The Trustees will review all requests that meet the Fund's
priorities and are complete. Requests that do not meet the Fund’s
priorities will receive rejection notices. Both the Board of Trustees
and the Fund's Trustee must agree jointly to provide the requested
funds. Upon approval, the staff will send the appropriate paperwork
for signatures. The staff will send the check upon receipt of the
signed paperwork.
Please note that this loan is NEVER forgiven. Please make all loan
repayments in the form of a cashier's check, a bank check or a money
order and made payable to Agape Foundation/Stern Fund.
|
|
