Bender Scientific Fund Grant

The Bender Scientific Fund Grant aims to support and promote discovery in medicine, science, and technology within the Capital Region. The fund prioritizes research in life sciences and educational projects that foster ongoing learning. It encourages nonprofit organizations and schools to apply for grants, typically ranging from $1,000 to $12,500 for one-year projects. However, it does not support institutional overhead or funding for salaries without justification. Special considerations are required for projects involving human subjects or hazardous materials.

The Bender Scientific Fund was established for the exclusive purpose of making grants to support and promote discovery and development in medicine, science and technology in the Capital Region.
Grants may be made to fund:

• Research in medicine and biotechnology and in life sciences.Educational and information-sciences projects related to medicine, biotechnology and life sciences.

To this end, we encourage smaller nonprofit organizations and schools to apply for funding for projects that promote further exploration of medicine, biotechnology and life sciences by young people.
Projects involving human subjects, use of vertebrate animals, hazardous materials or recombinant DNA require special consideration;Funding is not routinely designated for salaries or per diems but will be considered when justified.

Eligibility

To be eligible for competitive grants, applicants must meet the following requirements:Qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as a nonprofit organization OR operate under the fiscal sponsorship of an organization that does;Serve residents and be located within the ten-county greater Capital Region (Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington Counties)Potential applicants must meet the following requirements:The applicant organization must be designated as a nonprofit organization by Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) or a school district.Grants are made to organizations, not to individuals.The applicant organization must be governed by an active board of directors.A formal audit of the organization’s financial information must be conducted annually.Grants are typically awarded for a one-year project and for sums between $1,000 and $12,500.Projects involving human subjects, use of vertebrate animals, hazardous materials or recombinant DNA require special consideration.

Ineligibility

The fund will not support institutional overhead, nor will it fund conferences and meetings. Funding is not routinely designated for salaries or per diems but may be considered when justified.The following are generally not eligible for competitive grants:Programs that the Community Foundation will have to operate;Individuals;
Conferences and/or speakers’ expenses;
Advertisements in programs, journals or other publications;Special events and other fundraising events;