Service for Sight Grants

Purpose: Supports organizations that share Delta Gamma's mission of Service for Sight by funding programs benefitting people living with blindness or low vision

Award Information: In the 2024-25 fiscal year, $925,000 was awarded to 56 national organizations

Geographic Scope:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Must be based in countries with Delta Gamma collegiate chapters or alumnae groups
• Funds awarded must remain in these countries

Philanthropic Mission - Funds Programs That:

• Support education and research involving sight preservation
• Provide prevention and early intervention for conditions affecting visual impairment
• Offer resources, tools, technology and experiences to enhance quality of life for people living with blindness or low vision
• Promote vision-related public awareness

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) or comparable nonprofit organization
• Must have national scope and/or be available to individuals on a nationwide basis
• Must be compatible in mission/program purpose with Delta Gamma Foundation's Service for Sight grant program
• Single organization can submit only one grant request per cycle

Required Application Materials:

• Organization's mission statement
• Most recent financial statement (Form 990 or T3010)
• Detailed description of the program for which grant is requested
• Detailed budget outlining exact use of funds
• Number of individuals expected to benefit from proposed program
• Timeline of how all funds would be used within one year of receipt
• Specifics of how organization would recognize Delta Gamma Foundation and its contribution
• If previously funded: Grant Outcome Report completed before or by deadline

What Delta Gamma Foundation Does NOT Fund:

• Programs that are local or single state-specific in scope or reach
• General operating expenses or staff salaries outside of proposed program/service delivery
• Programs completed before requested grant funding is awarded
• Political activities of any kind
• Programs that promote religious activities
• Programs inconsistent with federal, state or local non-discrimination ordinances
• More than one grant request from the same organization
• Applications received after published deadlines

Grant Preferences:

• Programs that directly benefit individuals living with blindness or low vision are given preference
• Programs that benefit the greatest number of persons possible, in the most impactful ways
• Due to budget limitations, not all qualified proposals receive grants and not all awards are approved for requested amounts

Organization Approval Timeline: Organizations approved for program funding are notified each spring

Post-Award Requirements:

• Grant recipients must provide Grant Outcome Report documenting:
  • Grant expenditures
  • Outcomes
  • Delta Gamma award acknowledgment

Contact Information:

• Email: grants@deltagamma.org
• Delta Gamma Foundation
• 3250 Riverside Drive
• Columbus, OH 43221
• Phone: 614-481-8169

Application Process

Step 1: Complete Online Application

• Use SmarterSelect platform (application available on Foundation website)
• Submit detailed program proposal and budget

Step 2: Grant Outcome Report (if Previously Funded)

• Organizations that received Service for Sight Grant in previous cycle must complete Grant Outcome Report online
• Ideally complete before submitting current request, but no later than application deadline

Step 3: Review and Approval

• Grant requests reviewed by Service for Sight Grants Committee
• Committee makes recommendations to Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees for approval
• Applicants notified of approval status each spring

Required Application Components:

Organization Information:

1. Organization mission statement
2. Most recent financial statement (Form 990 or T3010)
3. 501(c)(3) status or comparable nonprofit designation verification

Program Details:

1. Detailed description of program for which grant is requested
2. Program name and purpose
3. Detailed budget outlining exact use of funds
   • Note: Funds cannot be used for staff salaries, overhead expenses, or fundraising purposes
4. Timeline of how all funds would be used within one year of receipt
5. Number of individuals expected to benefit (directly and/or indirectly)
6. Description of how program aligns with Service for Sight mission

Recognition:

1. Specifics of how organization will recognize Delta Gamma Foundation and its contribution
2. Documentation of acknowledgment on website, outreach communications, or social media

Grant Outcome Report (for repeat applicants):

Required Fields:

• Organization name
• Program name
• Grant amount received
• Grant approval date
• Contact name, email, title, phone
• Purpose of the grant
• Primary goals of the program
• Number of individuals benefited (directly and/or indirectly)
• Description of how intended results/goals were realized
• Specification of how grant funds were utilized/expended
• Impact statement: What was accomplished that could not have been achieved without funding?
• Additional financial or volunteer support from Delta Gamma (if received)
• Links, documents, or screenshots showing Delta Gamma acknowledgment
• Uploaded documents (max 100 MB per file)
• Response to: How else might Delta Gamma support your organization?
• Information on volunteer opportunities (virtual or in-person)
• Additional comments
• Permission waivers and supporting materials for impact stories/testimonials (optional but encouraged with photo uploads)

Submission Notes:

• Applications must be submitted by published deadline
• Late applications will not be accepted
• For questions, contact grants@deltagamma.org