Frequently Asked Questions
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- What types of organizations does the Alden Trust support?
The Trust supports independent colleges and universities with enrollments of 1,000 to 3,000 fulltime traditional undergraduates in the six New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It supports YMCAs in Massachusetts and educationally related organizations in the Worcester area. In addition, it supports independent secondary schools in the immediate Worcester area.
- Does the Alden Trust ever make grants outside its traditional focus areas?
Occasionally at year end the trustees make a number of unsolicited grants to Worcester organizations whose work is important to the community yet whose focus does not fall within the Trust’s specific areas of interest. In such cases the selected organization does not make application to the Trust. Receipt of such a grant is confirmation that the organization is not eligible to submit a proposal for the Alden Trust’s regular grant making process.
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How does the Alden Trust define a full time student?
A full time student as defined by the Alden Trust is a student who is degree seeking, takes the preponderance of his or her courses at the school's primary campus, and is enrolled for the number of hours or courses the school considers to be full-time attendance.
- Does the Alden Trust support individuals?
The Trust supports only tax-exempt, non-profit organizations. The Trust cannot support individuals.
- What kinds of projects does the Alden Trust support?
With respect to institutions of higher education, the Trust typically supports capital projects for academic purposes and less frequently supports restricted endowment initiatives for need-based scholarship aid, faculty development, or technology enhancement. The Trust currently favors capital projects related to teaching and learning technology in general and to the sciences in particular.
Support given to YMCAs is usually for capital projects.
Grants provided for educationally related organizations in the Worcester area focus on occasional capital project support.
- What higher education projects are not considered for funding?
The Trust does not usually fund such areas as: administrative, religious, or athletic facilities; student unions; or student life programs.
- Does the Alden Trust make multi-year grants?
Not ordinarily.
- Does the Alden Trust make challenge grants?
The Trust does make challenge grants (typically one Alden dollar to three matching dollars).
Ordinarily, the match must be met within 18 months.
- Does the Alden Trust make partial payments on challenge grants?
The Trust only pays when the challenge is met in full. The Trust makes no interim or partial payments.
- If an applicant is awarded a challenge grant, will the amount granted be different than if the application requested an outright grant?
Not ordinarily.
- How does a prospective applicant contact the Alden Trust?
By mail:
George I. Alden Trust
Attn: Warner S. Fletcher, Chair
370 Main Street, 11th Floor
Worcester, Massachusetts 01608
By telephone:
(508) 459-8005
Telephone calls are best made on Monday through Thursday mornings.
By fax:
(508) 459-8305
By e-mail:
trustees@aldentrust.org
- What does the Alden Trust look for in a proposal?
The Trust looks for: a grant purpose consistent with the interests of the Trust; responsible leadership and management of the institution; an effective and timely implementation plan for the proposed project; a history of balanced institutional operating budgets; positive trends in institutional performance; benefits to greater rather than limited numbers of students, clients, or users; and how the project, if funded, would make a difference at the institution. See "Application Guidelines."
- What if the applicant has multiple proposal ideas to submit for funding?
It is important for a prospective applicant in this circumstance to discuss the options with an Alden Trustee in advance of submitting an application.
- Does the Alden Trust make site visits to applicant or recipient institutions?
Trustees occasionally visit applicant and recipient institutions.
- Does it help for representatives of the applicant institution to visit the trust?
Visits to the Trust are not required. Such visits, however, are frequently useful to applicants in refining their proposals and to the Trustees in gaining a clearer understanding of the institution seeking support. This is especially the case with institutions or institutional leaders who are previously unknown to the Trust.
- How is a grant proposal submitted to the Alden Trust?
Proposals are best submitted following a discussion with a Trustee concerning eligibility and mutual interests. Only one copy of the application and any supporting documents should be sent. See "Application Guidelines."
- Does the Alden Trust accept any of the common proposal forms?
No.
- Does the Alden Trust accept proposals by e-mail?
No.
- What size grants does the Alden Trust award?
It is helpful to prospective applicants to review the recent grant history of the Trust to determine an appropriate range of request for a particular application. Normally, colleges and universities that are first time applicants should not expect grants in excess of $100,000.
- What are the deadlines for submitting proposals?
Proposals must be received by the fifteenth day of February, May, August and November. It is advisable to submit applications in advance of the deadline, in case the Trustees desire additional information. See "Application Guidelines."
- When will an applicant learn of the Alden Trust's decision?
Applicants are typically informed by the end of the month of the applicable distribution meeting (for example, by March 31 for the February 15 application deadline).
- What are the Trust’s reporting requirements of successful applicants?
The Trust typically requires a report on the funded project within a year of the grant. There is no grant completion report form. The Trustees are interested in the implementation timetable, the impact of the completed project and the final budget.
- How soon after receiving a grant or the announcement of a challenge grant may an institution apply again?
A successful applicant may normally apply again after three years.
- If an application is denied funding, when may the applicant submit another proposal?
An unsuccessful applicant may normally submit another proposal after one year.
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George I. Alden Trust
370 Main Street, 11th Floor
Worcester, Massachusetts 01608
Phone: (508) 459-8005
Fax : (508) 459-8305
trustees@aldentrust.org
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