Grants & Funding
The Foundation supports innovative projects and activities to improve public safety that the City cannot fund. The Foundation manages funding requests for additional items (outside of annual budgets) that will enhance the health, safety and welfare of its officers and/or with community focus. The Foundation receives gifts and donations of goods, services and equipment to benefit the Department. Its project agenda is developed in collaboration with and in response to needs articulated by the Department. The Foundation focuses its giving in the following areas:
- Police Safety: Products, items, or training that will enhance health, safety, and welfare of officers
- Community Focus: Events, programs and
items that contribute to a neighborhood or city reduction in crime
and secondarily, contribute for positive public relations for the
Police Department.
Substantive program areas include:
- Promoting community support and understanding;
- Neighborhood and city crime reduction
The Foundation also accepts donations of animals, equipment and supplies for several police units that suffer from budgetary limitations. These units include the K9 unit and the Equestrian units. The Reward Fund is the Foundation’s only operating program.
Grants and Contributions
The Foundation receives and administers grants and contributions of money, services, or property to fund, assist, or undertake programs and activities to strengthen the Department. Contributions of gifts can be restricted by the donor to a specific program or given to the general fund as an unrestricted gift.
Unrestricted gifts include all financial resources that are not designated by the donor for a specific use and can be disbursed at the discretion of the Board of Directors. These revenues are generated by fundraising events, requests to individuals, corporations and other foundations. Revenues in this fund defray operating expenses and are the source of discretionary grants.
Restricted gifts are contributions which are restricted by donors to specific purposes. These donations are generated by proposals and often include detailed budgets. Sometimes donors impose reporting requirements as a condition of grant awards and it is the responsibility of the Department to meet these requirements as well as to comply with approved project budgets. Interest and dividends earned on invested funds are available for unrestricted use as determined by the Board of Directors.
Donations of equipment, goods or services are accepted subject to review by the Department and its determination that the donation is needed and donor conditions, if any, are acceptable. Anyone interested in donating equipment, goods or services should send a letter to the Foundation of their intentions including a description of the donation and an estimation of the fair market value.
New Requests for Support
If you seek funds for a new Saint Paul Police Department program, you should be aware that there are internal directives and process for sending requests to the Foundation for all funding. All grant requests must be forwarded to the Foundation from the office of the Chief. Grant requests must be submitted using the Saint Paul Police Foundation Grant Application. The Chief’s designee serves as official liaison, reviews and sends requests for funds, provides project oversight, and assists in grant administration. All proposals must indicate why private funding is necessary and appropriate, and how it fits with the Department’s priorities. The Finance Committee will consider all requests within the parameters of the priorities established by the Foundation. Requests are considered by the Finance Committee, and if approved, submitted to the Board of Directors for ratification. No single member of the Board has the authority to approve or reject or commit or deny funding. Please allow sufficient time for the project to be considered by the Foundation.
New project requests of:
- $1,000 or more must be approved by the Chief of Police with a written notice before being considered by the Finance Committee. Requests must be received at least 4 weeks prior to a Finance Committee Meeting. All requests of grants over $1,000 must be approved by the Board of Directors.
- Projects under $1,000 must have the written approval of the Chief of Police and may be considered for funding by the Finance Committee Chair and the Executive Committee.
Designated Funds:
- Designated Funds for less than $1,000 may be accepted by the Finance Committee and dispersed with approval of the Finance Committee and the Executive Committee.
- Designated Funds for over $1,000 must be accepted by the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors and may only be dispersed with the approval of the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors.
Funding Restrictions
The Foundation will not consider projects or expenses that are appropriately a City responsibility, or circumvent City or Department policy, or for which alternative resources are available.
The Foundation does not support expenditures for (1) advance or security personnel; (2) staff or employees except consultants in connection with short-term projects; and (3) refreshments or entertainment not related to a Foundation project.
Ineligible expenses: The Foundation will not pay unauthorized expenses, unauthorized budget modification, budget overruns, or purchase without prior written approval.
Financial Accounting and Project Monitoring
Strict adherence to approved project budgets in expected. Modifications require prior written approval by the Foundation. Coordinators are required to submit expense reports to the Foundation accounting for funds spent. Coordinators are expected to complete a Saint Paul Police Foundation Quarterly Grant Report.
Donors to specific projects frequently place reporting requirements as a condition of awards, including detailed financial reports, periodic progress reports, impact statements, outcome evaluations, and final reports. Coordinators must be familiar with these requirements and are responsible for the preparation with deadlines as a condition for Foundation funding.
Public Information Policies
The Foundation complies with all Federal and state tax filing requirements and registers as a charity with the State of Minnesota. Copies of the filing are provided to the Attorney General. The Foundation will disclose these documents, financial statements, and information about revenues and programs to donors, the media and the public upon request with reasonable notice. Donor anonymity, if sought, is honored.