Who can submit a letter of inquiry to WestWind?
Any environmental or reproductive health organization can submit a letter of inquiry to WestWind as long as the NGO has its 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter. Please see WestWind's list of recent grants to see the types of organizations that WestWind supports. Please note that the Building Better Communities Program is a discretionary program of the Foundation's Trustees and that Letters of Inquiry for this program are not accepted.

How do I submit a letter of inquiry to WestWind?
The letter of inquiry submission process has been suspended for the 2008 grant cycle. Check back for updates on submitting an LOI for 2009.

When will I hear back from WestWind regarding my letter of inquiry?
Typically, WestWind will respond to LOIs between 4 to 6 weeks after the letter has been received. Please note that the foundation tries diligently to respond quickly, but staff resources are limited. Please be patient and do not contact the foundation regarding a letter of inquiry. The foundation will respond to all submissions.

What type of information does WestWind require in a letter of inquiry?
In addition to relevant contact information, a LOI must include:
· Purpose and history of organization;
· Goals and objectives of program or project;
· Current status of project, including date the project was established and the anticipated duration;
· Description how the organization will use the funds to further its objectives;
· Organization's annual budget;
· Copy of the organization's IRS exemption letter.

Does WestWind accept letters of inquiry through the mail?
No. WestWind will only respond to inquiries that have been submitted online.

Does WestWind accept unsolicited proposals?
No.

My organization would like to submit a proposal to WestWind, but we have never received WestWind funding. How do I apply?
An organization can only submit a proposal if: (1) the organization has previously received foundation funding; or (2) a LOI to WestWind has been approved and the organization has been asked to submit a proposal. If your organization has never received WestWind funding, please click here to read about the appropriate steps.

My organization is a current WestWind grantee. We would like to submit a proposal to WestWind for consideration in the upcoming grant cycle. May we submit a proposal?
Yes.

Will WestWind accept a proposal that is submitted through the mail?
No.

My organization received funding from WestWind last year, do I need to resend the foundation our IRS determination letter?
No.

When will my organization hear back from WestWind about our proposal?
The Board of Trustees of the WestWind Foundation will review RHRP grants in mid-May and Environment Program grants in early November. Applicants will hear back from the foundation by mid-June and mid-December, respectively.

How will I know if my application to WestWind is complete?
All required fields on the online application must be completed before the application can be submitted. If you have successfully submitted your application and you have received a confirmation e-mail from the system, then your application is complete. If WestWind has any questions about your application, foundation staff will contact you.

Does WestWind require an interim report?
Yes. WestWind does require an interim report. The report is due the same date that proposals are due to the foundation. (April 15 for the RHRP and August 15 for the Environment Program.) Foundation staff use the report as a means to evaluate the NGO. This evaluation is reviewed when Trustees are making their decisions regarding the next year's grants. (For example, a report for a grant issued in December 2003 is due in August of 2004. This report is reviewed by the Trustees and is considered when the Board makes their decisions regarding 2004 grants.) Since technically the report covers 9 months of the year, the report is considered an interim report by the foundation.

Does WestWind require a final report, one year after a grant was issued?
No.

I am having trouble logging in on your site. What should I do?
Please make sure that your browser's cookies and Java Script are enabled. If you are still unable to logon, please click the NEED SUPPORT? Link at the bottom of the logon page.

I am having technical difficulties with the online application form. What should I do?
If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please click the NEED SUPPORT? Link at the bottom of the application form. Please do NOT call the foundation for assistance with technical problems.

I was not able to complete an online application. Can I send my materials to WestWind?
No. WestWind will only accept inquiries and proposals that have been submitted electronically.

My organization does not have its IRS letter or financial statements available in an electronic format. What should I do?
For future use, please have your documents scanned in an electronic format. This will save your organization postage and will help WestWind achieve its goal of being paperless. This is WestWind's preferred method of submission. However, WestWind will accept letters and statements through the mail if your organization lacks the resources to transfer these documents into an electronic format.

When is the deadline for WestWind's Environment Program?
Please see the master calendar for both LOI and proposal deadlines.

When is the deadline for WestWind's Reproductive Health and Rights Program?
Please see the master calendar for the 2007 proposal deadline.

My organization received a grant from WestWind last year, when is the report due?
If you received a grant from WestWind's Environment Program, the report is due in August. If you received a grant from WestWind's RHRP, the report is due in April. Please see the master calendar for specific deadlines.

Is there a deadline by which I need to submit a letter of inquiry to WestWind?
For the 2008 grant cycle, the foundation has suspended its letter of inquiry submission process. Check back for 2009 LOI dates.