Funding Guidelines

Millipore strives to fulfill its social obligation of serving the public interest directly through contributions to selected non-profit organizations and institutions primarily in science education, bioscience research, and local community support. The following guidelines serve as touchstones for our contributions:

• Our contributions are consistent with Millipore's presence in the community and are closely related to the community’s activities.
• Our contributions are in amounts commensurate with available funds and desired results.
• We take the initiative, when appropriate, to support new projects or new non-profit organizations, and sometimes seek to leverage additional support from other sources (by a challenge grant or otherwise).
• We conduct periodic evaluations of the programs and projects we support; support of any program or project at one point in time does not guarantee continued support.
• Although we coordinate all contributions centrally, we encourage Millipore site managers around the country to submit funding proposals that address the specific needs of their local communities.

Unfortunately, we cannot meet every request due to the high number of groups in need of assistance. In order to focus our activities and resources on those areas in which we feel we can make a significant impact, we sponsor organizations and institutions most closely connected to Millipore's goals and identity, and to the Millipore Giving Program’s purpose. We therefore ask you to review the following criteria before submitting your request.

• Primary support is given to programs related to education, science, and sustainability initiatives. At the local level, social service and public safety programs will be considered for funding.
• Programs which serve Greater Boston, MA, Bedford, MA, Billerica, MA, Burlington, MA, Danvers, MA, Jaffrey, NH, Kankakee, IL, Lawrence, MA, Lowell, MA, St. Charles, MO or Temecula, CA will be considered for funding.
• Only organizations with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status will be considered for funding.

If your program meets all of these criteria, you may submit a copy of your 501©3 certificate, your tax I.D.. #, and a letter of inquiry no more than two pages in length briefly describing: your organization, the program for which funding is sought, and the amount of funding requested. Those organizations whose programs are of interest to Millipore will be invited to submit full proposals.

Millipore accepts the Associated Grant Makers Common Proposal Form.

Please mail or email your letter of inquiry to:

Tara Duplaga
Millipore Giving Program
290 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
tara.duplaga@merckgroup.com

Returning Grantees

Current grantees seeking renewed funding are asked to submit a report on the previous year’s grant before requesting renewed funding. The report (2–3 pages in length) should review program activities and outcomes over the last 12 months, compare outcomes to expectations, and discuss any planned changes or improvements to program design and implementation. Previous sponsorship does not guarantee renewed sponsorship.

Frequently Ask Questions

1) How often does Millipore review proposals?
Every 8-10 weeks.

2) What is the average size grant?
Approximately $5,000.

3) How many copies of a grant proposal do you need?
Just an original.

4) Will you consider multi-year grants?
Yes.

5) Do you make grants for operating expenses?
Yes; however, we prefer program grants.

6) Do you accept the AGM Common Proposal Format?
Yes.

7) Would it help if we make a presentation to your review committee?
No. If after reviewing the proposal we have questions, we will contact you in advance of the proposal review meeting to obtain the additional information. If necessary, we will make a site visit to your location.

8) What kind of reporting do you expect after a grant has been made?
We require:

(a) Periodic reports on how the program with Millipore funding is going.
(b) Invitations to program related events.
(c) A year-end report on the funded program (Please see Applying for a Grant.) A completion report is necessary before considering a grant renewal.

9) Our application for tax exempt status is pending. Will you consider our proposal?
No. You must have your 501(c)(3) before the Review Committee can consider the proposal.