Our goal is to provide the support and connection to resources that allow caregivers to attend to their own needs, too.

Guidelines

· The caregiver must be the caregiver of an individual with a medically diagnosed SCI. Other conditions are not eligible for our grant programs, including (but not limited to) spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio, Guillain-Barre, Strohl Syndrome, ALS, all other neuropathies, and all other conditions causing disability.

· The caregiver must be an informal caregiver. Informal caregivers are individuals who provide unpaid care to family, friends, or neighbors. Family members who get paid under the state waiver program are informal caregivers for our purposes.

· The caregiver and individual with SCI must currently reside in Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia. 

· All awards will be paid directly to vendor or provided in the form of a gift card. No money will be directly rewarded or distributed to the caregiver. 

· Please be sure to include examples of how funds can be best used to support the caregiver. We will consider paying for various services and supports including but not limited to: 

o Co-pays and out of pocket payment for mental health support (therapy sessions, wellness apps, etc).

o Payments to professional caregivers for respite care

o Meal planning services and food delivery services.  

o Health and Wellness activities (massages, yoga, gym memberships, etc.)

o Overnight hotel stays, transportation, and entertainment.

o Family organization tools (skylight calendar, etc.)

o Cleaning Services

· The Fund reserves the right to modify, terminate, or withhold the distribution of funds, and the decision to do so is at the sole discretion of the Fund. 

· If you receive an award, we may use your first name, state of residence, photos, and answers to specific questions for marketing purposes. If you do not agree please email cslayton@ryanshazierfund.org and indicate that you decline to participate in any marketing or promotional materials. 

All applications must be submitted using the online application portal on Submittable.com. We are unable to process paper or pdf applications. The email address used to create the Submittable.com account will be the primary email address used to receive notifications. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, you will need to notify them of communications through the application portal. Whenever possible please use the email address of the person applying for support. Be sure to use an active email address that you check regularly. 

Guidelines and Rules:

1. Applications must be completed by the applicant unless they are under the age of 18 or if the applicant’s disability prevents them from using a computer. The application may be completed by a primary caregiver (parent, spouse/partner, other family member or friend) if assistance is required. Applications submitted by a vendor or service provider on behalf of a client will not be accepted. 
2. The maximum amount awarded is $15,000 during the lifetime of the applicant. 
3. You may make a request for only 1 item or project during each application cycle with a $15,000 maximum amount requested.
4. You must begin spending the money within one year of acceptance. Failure to create an appropriate service plan and begin fund distribution will result in the forfeiture of the grant. Please discuss any reasons for delays or exceptions with the Program Director or the Programs and Outreach Coordinator. 
5. Good communication with the Ryan Shazier Fund staff is critically important to the success of  everyone involved. We ask that you respond to our communications in a timely fashion and keep us updated about any delays or challenges you are experiencing. Failure to communicate may result in funding delays and      possible rescission.      
6. If you have previously been denied, you may reapply at any time, paying special attention to improve upon the reason for denial. The Ryan Shazier Fund staff will do their best to advise you on the reasons for denial. This is      a competitive application process and there may be no specific reason why an application was denied, often it is simply because there were a significant number of applicants who exhibited a more immediate need.
7. We only pay reputable vendors and service providers directly. Any vendor or service provider must submit a completed W-9 tax form. Individuals may submit their W-9  forms with their SSN in place of an EIN. 
8. We DO NOT provide funding to the grant recipient or reimburse for equipment already purchased. 
9. We do not pay for previously incurred medical expenses including co-payments. 
10. Applications for medical procedures will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If applying for medical procedures, you will need to provide supporting documents to the Program Director with your application. 
11. Modifications to the original application may be made with approval from the Program Director and will be processed through our modifications and additions policy as required. 
12. The Fund reserves the right to modify, terminate, or withhold the distribution of funds, and the decision to do so is at the sole discretion of the Fund. 
13. If you receive a grant, we may use your first name, state of residence, photos, and answers to specific questions for marketing purposes. If you do not agree please email GoldenWindow@RyanShazierFund.org and indicate that you decline to participate in any marketing or promotional materials. 
14. Most importantly, we want to stay in touch and hear about your experience. If you receive a grant, we may reach out to you and have you participate in evaluations through surveys or individual conversations. There are required pre-program and post-program surveys. 

The Golden Window Application Cycle Opens 3 Times Per Year. Please note the date applications are open and the submission due date. 

Applications Open:  Submissions Due: Award Notifications:

October 1st                                                November 1st                                                  First week of December

February 1st                                               March 1st                                                         First week of April

June 1st                                                     July 1st                                                              First week of August

Process and Procedures:

1. All applications must be submitted using the online application portal on Submittable.com. We are unable to process paper or pdf applications. 

2. The email address used to create the Submittable.com account will be the primary email address used to receive notifications. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, you will need to notify them of communications through the application portal. Whenever possible please use the email address of the person applying for support. Be sure to use an active email address that you check regularly. 

3. Applications must be submitted by midnight on the final day of submission. Applications that were started but not formally submitted will not be considered during that funding cycle. 

4. Once applications are formally submitted, they are reviewed by the Ryan Shazier Fund Program Team. If there is additional information necessary or ways to improve your application someone will reach out through the application portal. The Programs Team may also edit your application; you will automatically receive a notification if edits are made with the reason for the change. 

5. Approved applications are then transferred in their redacted form to the SCI Advisory Committee for review and scoring. 

6. Upon completion of their reviews, the applications are ranked, and the top applications are sent to the Golden Window Funding Approval Committee for final approval. 

7. Notifications of awards are sent during the first week of the month. If you are approved, you will receive a message through the application portal notifying you of the amount awarded. You will need to accept the award in the portal and follow the instructions in the message to schedule your intake meeting. Intake meetings must be scheduled within one month of the award notification or the award will be forfeited. 

8. If you do not receive funding, you will be notified that your application has been declined. Please reach out about why your application was declined closer to the beginning of the next application cycle. Staff may not be able to give you an immediate response.