PHILANTHROPY GUIDELINES

Contributing to the communities we serve
ITC is the largest independent electricity transmission company in America. In Michigan, including ITCTransmission (ITCT) and Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC), ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains, we are pleased to provide a critical service to hundreds of communities. But we are more than just a source of reliable electric transmission service. We contribute thousands of dollars each year to enhance the quality of life of the residents in the communities we are privileged to serve.

General Giving Policy
ITC supports programs and projects for charitable organizations that have been recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The ITC Charitable Giving Program does not fund student activities, service clubs, sports teams or similar civic programs.
We know that demand for corporate giving in every form is increasing. As a result, we expect to receive far more requests for support than we can possibly fulfill. Therefore, we have outlined the following giving priorities to focus our support in five key areas within the geographic regions we serve. Eligible charities are those 501 (c) (3) organizations that deliver charitable services in the counties where ITC operates in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Oklahoma. See the list of eligible counties in each state HERE.

Program Guidelines
The ITC Charitable Giving Program guidelines described herein provide a general framework through which organizations are able to apply for grants from ITC and by which ITC is able to evaluate grant applications. Applicants are encouraged to review these guidelines before submitting an application to ensure their application meets the requirements set forth. It is important to note that because of budget constraints, not every application meeting the requirements may be able to be funded or be funded to the full extent of the request.

Eligibility
To be eligible for a grant, an applicant organization must have a current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service granting tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a certified 501(c)(3) organization.

ITC will not usually make grants to organizations located outside of its service area. ITC’s service area includes counties where ITC operates in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Oklahoma. See the list of eligible counties in each state HERE.

ITC will not make grants for marketing and related purposes, i.e., to organizations seeking funding for marketing sponsorships, sporting events, trips or tours, capital campaigns, endowments, private foundations, individuals, or political candidates or organizations.

In addition, the applicant organization must comply with certain conditions set forth in the Compliance Certifications noted below.

Compliance Certifications
To be eligible for an ITC Charitable Giving Program grant, an applicant organization must adhere to the following Compliance Certifications:

Corporate Authorization: The recipient organization certifies that it is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that the request for the grant is authorized by the Board of Directors or other duly authorized agent of the recipient organization, and that any grant will be administered by or under the supervision of the recipient organization.
Charitable Purposes: The recipient organization certifies that grants may be used only for charitable purposes, and that the recipient has the ability to both accomplish the charitable purpose and protect the grant from diversion to non-charitable purposes. Grant funds cannot be used to promote or oppose the election of any candidate for any office, or to personally benefit any elected official, or to promote or defeat any ballot measure, nor may they be used for the purpose of advocating a religious belief. (ITC may, however, support agencies operated by religious organizations that serve secular needs.)
Legal and Tax Compliance: By accepting a grant, the recipient organization confirms that it is and will remain – during the term of the grant – in compliance with all federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, including applicable state nonprofit corporation requirements and applicable federal tax filings under the Internal Revenue Code.
Non Discrimination Practices: The recipient organization certifies that they have written policies and a track record of not discriminating on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, political affiliation, religious belief or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Patriot Act Compliance: By accepting a grant, the recipient organization confirms that it is and will remain – during the term of the grant – in compliance with the federal Executive Order 13224 and Anti-Terrorist Funding Guidelines (2006), and that it will not promote or engage in violence, terrorism, bigotry or the destruction of any state, nor will it make sub-grants to any entity that engages in these activities.

Publicity Waiver: ITC reserves the right to publicize awarded grants through a variety of media channels. Grant recipients agree to participate and give ITC permission irrevocably and in perpetuity and without additional compensation to use, adapt, reproduce, distribute, display the name and any marks owned by grant recipient, in whole or in part, throughout the universe, in connection with the promotional or marketing activities of ITC and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Additional Considerations
In addition to the criteria and Compliance Certifications noted above, we also consider an organization’s readiness to take on an ITC Charitable Giving Program Grant, giving special consideration to:
Institutional strength and stability. This includes healthy finances, strong mission and programs, reasonable ratio of program-to-administration expense, proven results and stable staff.
Fitness for the grant: Organizations need to demonstrate a clear need for the ITC Charitable Giving Program Grant and be consistent with our defined scope for that particular grant.

Grant Size and Length
The majority of our grants to non-profit organizations range from $1,000 to $15,000. Although we may occasionally consider multi-year funding requests, grants will usually be made on a year-to-year basis. For any multi-year grant award, we reserve the right to review a grantee’s progress on an annual basis to determine whether a subsequent grant is appropriate.

Grant Approval Process
Grant requests received will be reviewed and approved by ITC Corporate Affairs, in close coordination with other ITC departments and/or executives as appropriate.

Process for Submitting a Grant Request
Applicant organizations must submit their grant request using the on-line grant application process which can be found by clicking HERE. 

Please note: All requests are required to be SUBMITTED ONLINE. No phone calls. Delivered or mailed copies will not be accepted.

Application Deadlines
Applications are reviewed biannually. 

• Cycle 1:  Applications accepted from January 2, 2020 – April 3, 2020