Service for Sight Grant Application Information

The Delta Gamma Foundation fosters lifetime enrichment for members, promotes Service for Sight and partners with Delta Gamma Fraternity to ensure the future of our sisterhood. Our dedicated members and friends make this mission possible through philanthropy, service and generous gifts to the Foundation which fund our three key areas of support: Individual Member Support, Training and Programming, and Service for Sight.

Service for Sight Grant Program Philanthropic Mission

The Delta Gamma Foundation Service for Sight grant program strives to better meet the needs of people navigating vision loss by providing funding for:

• Programs that support education and research involving sight preservation.
• Detection and early intervention for conditions affecting vision.
• Resources, tools, technology and experiences and support to enhance the quality of life for people who are living with blindness or low vision.
• Promoting vision-related public awareness and advocacy.

Service for Sight Grant Application Procedure

To be considered, requesting organizations must complete the Service for Sight Grant application online using SmarterSelect.  Beginning October 1 of each year, the application can be found on this webpage. The annual deadline for appication submission is December 1 at 11:59pm ET.

Grant requests are reviewed by the Service for Sight Grants Committee, which then makes recommendations to the Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees for approval. Grant recipients are asked to provide documentation detailing grant expenditures, outcomes and Delta Gamma award acknowledgment through the completion of a Grant Outcome Report. The Committee and Foundation prioritize programs that directly benefit individuals living with blindness or low vision. The Delta Gamma Foundation prioritizes programs that benefit the greatest number of persons possible, in the most impactful ways.

Due to budget limitations, not all qualified proposals will receive grants, and not all grant awards will be approved for the amounts requested. Past award recipients are not guaranteed ongoing funding. Organizations approved for program funding are notified each spring.

Service for Sight Grant Criteria

Grant applicants must be:

• Based in a country with Delta Gamma collegiate chapters or alumnae groups (U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom) and funds awarded must remain in those countries.
• A 501(c)(3) organization (US), Canadian Registered Charity (CA) or Charitable Incorporated Organization (UK).
• Compatible in mission/program purpose with the Delta Gamma Foundation Service for Sight Grants program mission.
• National in scope and/or available to individuals on a nationwide basis.

Grant applications must include:

• The organization’s mission statement.
• The organization’s most current and previous year’s audited financial statement (990, T3020 or UK equivalent).
• A detailed description of the program for which the grant is requested.
• A detailed budget outlining the exact use of funds should they be granted. Funds are not to be used for administrative salaries, overhead expenses or fundraising purposes.
• The number of individuals expected to benefit from the proposed program.
• A timeline of how all funds would be used within one year of receipt.
• Specifics of how the organization would recognize the Delta Gamma Foundation and its contribution to the proposed program.

The Delta Gamma Foundation does not fund:

• Programs that are local or single state-specific in their scope or reach.
• General operating expenses or staff salaries outside of the delivery of the proposed program/service.
• Requests for funding directed as donations to another organization.
• Programs that are completed before requested grant funding is awarded.
• Political activities of any kind.
• Programs that promote religious activities.
• Programs inconsistent with federal, state or local non-discrimination ordinances.
• More than one grant request from the same organization.
• Financing debt.
• Applications received after published deadlines.

Organizations that received a Service for Sight Grant in the previous year must complete a Grant Outcome Report online, ideally before submitting a request for the current application year but no later than the December 1 application deadline.

Service for Sight Messaging Refresh Resource for Grantees

• This one-page document is intended for Service for Sight grantee organizations and Delta Gamma Schools to help you with phrases and key ideas when talking about Service for Sight.

If you have additional questions, please contact grants@deltagamma.org.

Apply for a Service for Sight Grant