GRANTMAKING POLICIES
Southern Tier West Development Foundation is dedicated to supporting local community and economic development. Southern Tier West Development Foundation discretionary grantmaking is focused in support of the following areas:

1. Initiatives that build leadership in local communities and region;
2. Initiatives that provide a mechanism whereby people can participate directly in the development of their community and region;
3. Initiatives that encourage a sense of "self-help" within communities;
4. Initiatives that provide an incentive for communities to develop their own opportunities.

Southern Tier West Development Foundation is interested in working with those communities that recognize the importance of local planning and development but lack ample or sufficient capacity to act on it. An essential factor in Southern Tier West Development Foundation's investment decisions is identifying specific financial needs that Southern Tier West Development Foundation support can address. An applicant's ability to demonstrate local community support for the proposed activity is also an important factor.

Southern Tier West Development Foundation grantmaking is limited to Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, New York.

Southern Tier West Development Foundation grants are typically in the $500 to $2,500 range.

Southern Tier West Development Foundation will grant up to 50% of the total project cost.

All grant requests must be matched dollar for dollar in cash from the grant seeker.

Southern Tier West Development Foundation views its financial support as an incentive for communities to initiate new or expand upon existing local development activities.

Southern Tier West Development Foundation makes every effort to remain flexible so it can respond to requests on a project-by-project basis. Southern Tier West Development Foundation also seeks new, innovative, and unusual solutions to local development challenges and is well suited to help respond to immediate needs.

It is not the practice of Southern Tier West Development Foundation to fund personnel expenses or salaries.

It is Southern Tier West Development Foundation policy that Board members who are connected to an applicant's project can participate in the discussion of the project, but may not vote on the application.