We receive many questions each year about how our application process works. This article appeared a few years ago but the information is always timely. If you have additional questions after reading, please reach out to us at info@theorangeeffect.org.
Grant applications are reviewed quarterly. You can mail them to us at any time but the deadline to be included in the review means having your application postmarked on/by the 1st of the month that it is due (February, May, August, November).
Applications must be 100% complete when they are received in order to be reviewed. Every section must be completed (regardless of whether the application is for therapy or a device) and all required attachments included. There are no exceptions to this or the postmark date. Please know that at this time we cannot accept any applications online. We are working towards having that capability sometime in the future.
The application review committee consists of four members of The Orange Effect Foundation Board of Directors and the program director. The review committee is primarily looking for a demonstration of need. As an example, many insurance companies do not cover speech therapy or cover very few sessions. If your application states that you are applying because your insurance does not cover speech, you also need to demonstrate that this places a financial burden on your family or household.
Each quarter the application committee has a budget to work within. Not always, but generally, that budget is $20,000 per quarter. We receive up to 60 applications per quarter with an average ask of $3,000 per child. At this rate we can accept about seven kids per quarter. The review committee does everything possible to help the highest number of kids in need of a device or speech therapy.
The application review committee then takes their report to the full Orange Effect Board for approval. The full board meeting generally takes place on the 2nd Friday of March, June, September, and December. All grant applicants are notified of the board’s decision via email within a week of the board’s decision.
