Partner ~ Step 3: Meet
Once your completed online application is received through the IGAM module, you can schedule a site visit with Bridgeway staff. For projects in Canada, a site visit with the Development Officer and Executive Director is generally made to your office and/or your project site. For international projects, the site visit is typically made to your organization’s Canadian office. 
In some cases, a site visit may be postponed into the next grantmaking round due to timing or travel limitations by staff.
A site visit will often last between 2-3 hours, and Bridgeway staff will use the opportunity to understand more fully the nature of your work and how your organization functions. As well, there will be specific questions regarding the project being considered.
Bridgeway staff will develop a recommendation for the Grantmaking Committee based on your written application and their visit with you.
Decision time...
Following the site visit, a decision on your application will be made by the Grantmaking Committee. This group of Bridgeway members is empowered by the Board to select grants.
In 2010, Bridgeway is participating in the collaborative granting initiative Stronger Together 2010 for the first half of the year, with successful grant applicants being announced on June 15, 2010. The latter half of 2010 will see Bridgeway focus on Innovation and Cambridge Fund grants. Concept Papers to Bridgeway for projects aligned with these funds will be received August 1 through October 11, with full applications due (for those who are invited) no later than midnight, October 18th.
Click here to read our news release about Bridgeway's Fall 2010 grantmaking.
Sometimes Bridgeway's Grantmaking Committee approves the grant outright. Other times, conditional, matching, or challenge grants are awarded. At times payments can be delayed or a new payment schedule will be proposed. And sometimes, the Committee will decline a grant.
All acceptances and declinations will be communicated by letter to the applicant.
Acceptance letters state the terms of the grant. For a grant to become active, the organization’s Executive Director must confirm agreement to the terms of the grant, and fax back a signed copy of the agreement. Payments are released according to the grant terms after this is received.
If you are advised that your grant application has been declined, you may call the Bridgeway office to set up a future conversation to inquire what led to the declination.
Do not count on funding until you have been notified of your successful grant and the conditions attached to it (if any).
