Key dates
- Launch day/time: Between Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT
- Close day/time: Tuesday-Thursday at 8 pm. ET/5 p.m. PT
- Avoid holidays and long weekends so that your applicants can obtain adequate support if they have questions.
- End-of-year giving: If possible, launch cycles in October to account for closing-out-the-year obligations, holidays, and any urgency from your team to process grant funding before the close of the calendar year. If you have an advisory board or decision-making body, it can be challenging to navigate people's time, which can cause delays.
Please note that the JustFund team is out of the office the last two weeks of December and observes flexible Fridays.
Recommended cycle length
- The grant cycle should run for a minimum of 2 weeks, with an average of 3-4 weeks.
- 75-80% applicants will apply within the last 2 days of a grant cycle (typical behavior).
Recommended RFP language
- About: Explain your fund, your priorities, and your goals. Be sure to include any strategy documents that are public or templates your applicants may need to complete the RFP.
- Eligibility: Be very clear about your priorities and who is eligible for funding. For example, will you fund 501(c)(3) and fiscally sponsored projects only? Are there geographic region limitations? Make sure these requirements are stated so that your applicants align with your requirements.
- Contact Information: We recommend setting up a webpage where you can include any updates to the cycle, as well as listing a contact at the fund should an applicant have additional questions.
- Supplemental Questions: Unless necessary, JustFund suggests not asking additional questions to limit the burden of the applicants.
- Attachments: Unless necessary, JustFund suggests not asking for additional documentation. Note: If disbursing your own grants, determine if your finance team needs certain documentation for due diligence and processing (e.g. 501(c)(3) determination letters, fiscal sponsor agreements, 990).