Denton Benefit League Grant Program

Denton Benefit League Grant Program

Funder: Denton Benefit League
Location: Serving Denton County, North of Lake Lewisville, TX
Contact: Grants@dentonbenefitleague.org

Program Overview

The Denton Benefit League (DBL) is a philanthropic organization that has distributed grants since 1974, with total distributions exceeding $5.8 million. The grant program supports qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving the Denton County area.

Application Timeline

• Application Opens: Monday, August 4, 2025 at 1:00 AM
• Application Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM
• Mandatory Interviews: Late October 2025 (for qualifying organizations)
• Grant Decisions Announced: Following November DBL general meeting

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant organizations must meet the following qualifications:

• 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status: Must have valid IRS tax-exempt status for at least 3 years under the name appearing on the grant application
• Local Governance: Must be locally governed with a governing or advisory board that has local representation
• Service Area: Must provide services/resources within the DBL service area (Denton County, North of Lake Lewisville)
• Financial Documentation: Must provide either:
- Annual audited financial statements with auditor's opinion letter, OR - Letter from audit committee or board addressing audit/review process and financial health statement
• Religious Affiliation Restriction: Organizations that require religious affiliation, specific belief, or participation to receive services are NOT eligible. Services must be available to the community regardless of religious participation.

Name/Status Changes

If an organization has changed its name and an updated IRS Letter of Determination has not been obtained, applicants must submit:
• State of Texas Certificate of Amendment
• IRS-990 name change filing

Focus Areas

Based on historical awards, DBL funds a wide range of nonprofit priorities including but not limited to:
• Youth services and education
• Mental health and counseling services
• Community food assistance and nutrition
• Arts and cultural programming
• Senior services and care
• Homeless services and housing support
• Medical and health services
• Children's advocacy and family services
• Technology and equipment for service delivery
• Therapeutic and equestrian programs

Application Requirements

• Two Competitive Bids Required: Most purchases require two competitive bids. Organizations with negotiated vendor contracts guaranteeing lowest pricing may submit an Exemption Request within the application for committee review and approval.
• All Materials Required: Grant application form plus all attachments must be submitted by the deadline
• Confirmation: Email confirmation of submission will be sent to applicant

Selection Process

• Organizations meeting qualifications in Section III and requirements in Section VI of the Grant Policy will be invited to mandatory Grants Committee interview
• Interviews held in late October
• Qualifying organizations receive link to sign up for interview times
• Grant awards announced following November general meeting

Additional Resources

• Grant Policy Document: Comprehensive policy available on website covering qualifications, requirements, accepted grant types, and application process
• Grant Evaluation Criteria: Available for review online
• Grant Training Presentation: Online presentation explaining the application process (coming soon)
• Historical Recipients (1974-Present): Public list of all organizations awarded grants

Contact Information

Email: Grants@dentonbenefitleague.org Mailing Address: PO Box 725, Denton, TX 76202 Website: dentonbenefitleague.org