Last days to finalize 1% grant applications

Friday, February 19, 2010

By Matthew Irwin

Jackson Hole, Wyo. – If past grant cycles for 1% Percent for the Tetons are any indication of what’s to come, founder Jonathan Schechter expects this year’s applications arrive steadily Monday afternoon.

“They really come pouring in Monday night,” Schechter said.

As of Friday afternoon, a maximum of four applications have reached the sustainability nonprofit’s office, but Schechter expects up to 100 on Monday, with the majority in the final hours.

However, because 1PT ushered in a new grant process this year with a simplified round one, he said, the number could be higher, but he can’t be sure.

Round one is a screening process that evaluates whether the applicant meets basic criteria.

“In a perfect world,” Schechter said, “all of them would pass in the second round because the quality of the application would be sufficient.”

Nonetheless, he said that each year the organization receives a few applications to “sustain” a lifestyle with a trip to the Himalayas, for instance, which does not meet 1FT’s criteria. 

1PT policy prohibits the organization from revealing past applicants who have not won grants. In new process, projects that make the second round will be announced, and voted on by members. Non-members will also have the opportunity, then, to contribute any amount they wish to the organizations. For a project to “win,” its funding request must be fully met.

Afterwards, an anonymous grants committee will assign any remaining funds to a number of the projects that weren’t fully funded by members or the public. Again, their requests will have to be fully met for them to receive funds.

Schechter said that he has worked with a few organizations interested in applying, and he is willing to help anyone else with questions about the process. Visit www.onepercentforthetetons.org for more. JHW

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