The Burns Donovan Foundation

Mission Statement:

The Burns-Donovan Foundation seeks to support efforts in education, formation, music, the arts and other ways that beauty can lead people to God.

Grant Application
Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis to individuals and to organizations (qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code) that undertake religious and educational activities in the Midwest.

All grant request are channeled through St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center. 

Grants can be submitted by email to the pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, Ames 

or by mail at: 
St. Thomas Aquinas Church & Catholic Student Center
Burns-Donovan Foundation
2210 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50014

Information To Be Included in the Grant Application

Information To Be Included in the Grant Application
-Sponsoring Organization
-Activity Title
-Activity Coordinator and contact information
-Activity Schedule
-Total and Itemized Cost of the Activity
-Grant Funds Requested
-Other Funding Sources
-Detailed Description of Activity

Purpose/Scope
What is the primary purpose of this activity? Include those involved and discuss benefits to the individual, organization and/or community.

Project Evaluation
Who will evaluate the activity and how will success be measured?

Unused Grant Money
All unused grant money must be returned to the foundation.

While we welcome applications for a variety of ideas and initiatives,
the Board tends to favor:

1. Educational programs or events over material things.
2. One time special events over ongoing or repeating events
3. Requests for specific events over requests for a help with a general budget item.
4. Projects where others are asked to join in support over total funding.
5. Catholic over ecumenical projects.
6. Projects in Iowa over other areas of the country or world.
7. Projects which reach many people over individual opportunities.
8. Projects that articulate a benefit for others over benefit only for oneself
9. Outreach to youth over general parish population.
10. Events which engage the heart over those that engage just the head.