2023 Special Grants
Rest Haven is pleased to announce our 2023 Special Grants. We once again will provide one-time grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working to improve the health of at-risk and underserved children residing in San Diego or Imperial Counties.
Our mission is to provide funds for health-related needs and services for children, ages 0 through 17, in San Diego and Imperial Counties when no other funds are available. The intent of the 2023 Special Grants program is to support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with the expansion of an existing program, support a new program, or support the acquisition of equipment that will be used to enhance children's health needs. If your organization shares our mission and vision, we invite you to submit your application that identifies a community need, a plan to increase your capacity to meet that need, and your plans for the sustainability of the project once our grant funds are expended.
Priority consideration will be given to those requests that support the areas of Mental, Emotional or Behavioral Health or Childhood Food Insecurity, as well as those requests asking for funding for a matching grant.
2023 Special Grants Timeline:
| 4/10/23 | Applications announced |
| 4/14/23 | Grant Applications open |
| 5/19/23 | Grant Applications due |
| 8/4/23 | Applicants notified of grants awarded |
| 8/31/23 | Checks disbursed |
| 9/1/23 | Grant period begins |
| 3/31/24 | Interim Grant Report due |
| 8/31/24 | Grant period ends |
| 10/31/24 | Final grant reports due |
- Key contacts for organization
- List of Board of Directors and key staff
- Multiple price quotes for equipment or supplies over $1,000
- Invoices or statements for large equipment
- Project Budget
How to Submit Your Application
Rest Haven is proud to now be fully digital. All applications must be submitted through our online portal after you create your unique account by clicking here. Paper copies are no longer accepted.
Here are the steps you will take to submit your application:
1. Create your account using the link provided above.
2. As soon as you fully register, you can view our 2023 Special Grants Application.
3. Once the application opens on April 14, 2023, you can begin filling in your responses to the questions and prompts. All of your responses and uploaded documents will be saved, and you can access your application at any time and from any device as long as you have your login credentials. You can also share your credentials with other staff members so they can help you complete the application. Note: Rest Haven does not have access to your password. If you forget your password, you must change it by clicking "Forgot Your Password" and following the prompts.
4. The application will close on May 19, 2023, and you will no longer be able to make any changes after that date.
5. All Interim Reports and Final Reports will be made using the same portal.
6. For help please see the Applicant Tutorial.
Deadlines and Award Notifications
The application deadline is May 19, 2023. Your completed application, including all requested uploads, must be submitted via our online portal by this date. All grant requests will be reviewed through a committee process and approved by the full Board of Directors at the end of July 2023.
Applicants will be notified electronically in August 2023 as to the status of their grant request. Those organizations awarded a grant must sign our Grant Agreement before funds are disbursed. Rest Haven reserves the right to reject any request submitted for any reason without indicating reasons for said rejection.
Limitations on Use of Grant Funds
All Special Grants awarded by Rest Haven are to be used for the specific project that was approved by our Board of Directors. Grantees must return any funds (1) not used for the purpose stated in the approved grant application or (2) in a manner inconsistent with the grantee's approved budget.
Rest Haven recognizes that, on occasion, there may be a need to change or substitute items for various reasons. If a grantee believes this is required, the organization must complete the following before the funds in question are spent:
1. Submit a formal written request to Rest Haven explaining why the grant recipient is requesting the proposed changes in use of grant funds, and
2. Submit a revised budget reflecting the requested changes.
Once the written request and revised budget is received, the Executive Director, Board President and Grant Review Committee Chair will review the request. After a request for changes is reviewed and a decision is made, a written response will be provided. Contact our Executive Director at executive@resthavenchf.org for further details.
Reporting Requirements
All 2023 Special Grant grantees must submit an Interim Report by March 31, 2024, updating the Rest Haven Board of Directors on the progress of grant objectives and grant expenditures. Final Reports and Final Budget Expenditure Reports are due by October 31, 2024. These reports will detail the manner in which the grant monies have been used and document results and progress. All reports will be submitted electronically through our portal.
The Final Report will include a brief description of the project, a summary of how the funds were spent, whether the goals, objectives and timelines outlined in the original proposal were met, and whether there were any changes or challenges during the grant period. The Final Budget Expenditure Report should reflect all expenses for which Rest Haven grant funds were used and any applicable matching grant funds spent. Receipts must be submitted for any individual items purchased over $1,000.00. Rest Haven reserves the right to request additional receipts as deemed necessary.
Should a grantee not submit the required reports, submits incomplete reports, or is repeatedly delinquent in submitting reports, future applications for funding will not be considered.
2022 Special Grants Requirements and Reporting
2022 Interim Reports for all 2022 Grant Awardees were due on March 31, 2023. A Final Grant Report along with a Final Budget Expenditure Report is due by October 31, 2023. Final Grant Reports and Final Budget Expenditure Reports must be submitted through your online portal. Further details will be emailed to all 2022 Special Grant Awardees by the end of July 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rest Haven’s mission is to provide funds for health-related services for children in San Diego and Imperial counties when no other funds are available. To support its mission, the Rest Haven Board of Directors makes grants available annually to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving San Diego and Imperial County communities under the guidelines and restrictions set forth in above. The Board invites nonprofits working with underserved children to submit an application for our annual Special Grants process to request funding to support identified children's health needs in their communities.
As funding allows, these one-time grants are available on a competitive basis. Grants are awarded in August, with disbursements commencing September 1. All funds must be expended by August 31 of the following year. Historically, Rest Haven has awarded $200,000 on average in gifts annually to multiple organizations. Grant awards can be for up to a period of one year.
Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that shares Rest Haven's mission and provides services to children who reside in San Diego or Imperial County ages 0-17 can submit a request on behalf of the organization.
No, Rest Haven will not fund salaries unless the sustainability of the program for which the salaries are being requested can be demonstrated beyond the one-year grant period. Rest Haven will not fund any fringe benefits.
Sustainability is the ability of a program to continue operating after the Rest Haven grant is exhausted. Rest Haven grants are for one year only. If you are applying for salary support or support for a new program, it is critical that the proposal include a demonstrated plan showing how the agency will sustain the program beyond the year for which the grant is awarded.
No, Rest Haven will not fund general program operating support. A Rest Haven grant is not meant to be used for general support when other funds supporting the program have been or will be eliminated. However, and as mentioned above, overhead in the form of salaries may be funded if sustainability is demonstrated.
No, Rest Haven will not fund brick and mortar or provide funds for a capital improvement campaign.
Yes, organizations can submit a grant request for a different need or program the following year.
Organizations are discouraged from submitting grant requests for the same need or program the following year after funding is awarded.
Yes, two price quotes must be included for any one item or piece of equipment that costs more than $1,000.
Yes. When equipment is requested, goals and objectives still need to be identified in the proposal (e.g., how many children do you anticipate will use this equipment, what do you hope will be its impact, will it be used at more than one site).
A proposed budget template is downloadable from our online application and must be included with your full application. The budget should only address the those items your are requesting Rest Haven to fund as part of your project, as well as any anticipated matching grants. Do not include your general operating budget unless we specifically request to review it. A sample budget is available for you to download for guidance.
No. The amount should be based on the need, but take into consideration that Rest Haven will be awarding $244,000 total during this 2023 grant cycle. We historically award 8 to 18 grants in any given year.
A matching grant are funds you request from another donor source to partially support the same grant request being made to Rest Haven or partial funds already secured from another donor source for which a matching grant is being requested of Rest Haven. General fundraising to support other program needs is not considered a matching grant.
No, but Rest Haven will not release funds until we receive a written commitment of funding from the matching funds donor source. This written commitment for matching funds must be secured no later than November 30, 2023, or Rest Haven Special Grants funds will no longer be available.
Every grant recipient must provide an Interim Report which is due by March 31 and a Final Report and Final Budget Expenditure Report must be submitted by October 31. These reports will be made through our online portal that you used to apply.
Our Special Grants Review Committee reviews all of the applications submitted and ultimately recommends to the full Board of Directors which applications should be funded.
If approved, grant funds will be disbursed in late August, and can be expended beginning September 1. The grant award period is September 1 – August 31.
If grant funds are being requested to support a project that extends over a period of more than one year, a multi-year grant may be requested.