Your first application: documents to gather

Most applications ask for the same core documents. Collect them once, keep them current, and each new application gets much faster.

• IRS determination letter (proof of tax-exempt status), or your fiscal sponsor's agreement if you use one.
• EIN confirmation and your legal name and address exactly as the IRS has them.
• Board list with names, roles and affiliations, plus your bylaws and conflict-of-interest policy.
• Current-year budget for the organization, and a separate budget for the program you're asking for.
• Financial statements: your latest income and expense report, and your most recent IRS Form 990 (or 990-N/990-EZ) if you file one.
• A one-page organization background: mission, history, who you serve, what you do.
• A program description with goals, activities, schedule and staffing.
• Letters of support from partners, schools, churches or agencies that know your work.
• Results you can document: attendance counts, outcomes, a story with permission to share.

Keep each document up to date: funders notice outdated board lists and old financials. Check your state registration and annual filings too, since many funders verify them.

FundLuma's Organization Vault and readiness assessment follow this same list.