Sight First GrantsSight First Grants
MISSIONMISSION
The mission of the Sight First The mission of the Sight First Program is to build Comprehensive Program is to build Comprehensive Eye Care Systems to fight the major Eye Care Systems to fight the major causes of blindness and care for causes of blindness and care for the blind or visually impaired.the blind or visually impaired.
SightFirst GrantsSightFirst Grants
OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES:: To Fund sustainable projects that:To Fund sustainable projects that:
-Deliver comprehensive eye care systems -Deliver comprehensive eye care systems & provide high quality eye care services& provide high quality eye care services
-Develop/strengthen infrastructure-Develop/strengthen infrastructure
-Train personnel -Train personnel
-Provide rehabilitation-Provide rehabilitation
-Target underserved population-Target underserved population
SIGHT FIRST APPROVAL SIGHT FIRST APPROVAL POLICYPOLICY
The policy was instituted in August ‘07.The policy was instituted in August ‘07. Annual grant approvals set at US$13 Annual grant approvals set at US$13
million, subject to annual review by the million, subject to annual review by the LCIF boardLCIF board
Grants approval are based on Grants approval are based on evaluation of anticipated market and evaluation of anticipated market and economic conditions, past annual economic conditions, past annual approvals and the needs of SightFirstapprovals and the needs of SightFirst
Sight First GrantsSight First Grants
Sight First Grant applications should reach Head Quarters normally 90 days before the scheduled Sight First Advisory Committee Meeting which are in January & August.
Application ProcessApplication Process- Develop Sight First Application under guidance of Technical Advisor with careful Budgeting
- Acquire endorsements of District/MD Officers
- Submit application for review to SightFirst Technical Advisor
- Attach a copy of the FCRA Application submitted, duly acknowledged by the Home Ministry
Application Review Process
Work with Technical Advisor and Sight Programs staff to prepare the
project for SAC review
SAC Review
Decision of SAC Conveyed to the Project Committee
Documentation
Sign and return grant agreement
Submit Document B & Proforma Invoices through Technical
Advisor to LCIF Grants Financial Coordinator.
Clear all FCRA Queries &
Documentation with LCIF Grants Coordinator
Project ImplementationProject Implementation
•On completion, of the Project , Technical Advisor to visit the project site & confirm satisfactory project implementation
•Submit Accounts / Progress Report and photographs to Technical Advisor
• LCIF Grants Financial Coordinator
•
•Sight Program Department Staff
Sight First GrantsSight First Grants
In a Sight first Grant there is no requirement In a Sight first Grant there is no requirement for a matching contribution from the local for a matching contribution from the local lions. Except in a one off specific case.lions. Except in a one off specific case.
There are no limit to grant applications There are no limit to grant applications under Sight First. under Sight First.
Sight First GrantsSight First Grants
Submissions RequiredSubmissions Required
Receipt and payment account statement duly certified by a Receipt and payment account statement duly certified by a Chartered Accountant.Chartered Accountant.
Original InvoicesOriginal Invoices Updated Bank StatementUpdated Bank Statement Photographs of the projectPhotographs of the project Evidence of Grant funds noted in the District Accounts Evidence of Grant funds noted in the District Accounts Certificate from District CabinetCertificate from District Cabinet.. Document ‘C’ duly signed by Technical AdvisorsDocument ‘C’ duly signed by Technical Advisors Document ‘B’ for request of next grant installment (if any) Document ‘B’ for request of next grant installment (if any)
along with Performa Invoices duly approved by Technical along with Performa Invoices duly approved by Technical Advisors.Advisors.
LCIF GrantsLCIF Grants
All LCIF information is also All LCIF information is also
available on the LCIF website:available on the LCIF website:
www.lcif.orgwww.lcif.org
FCRAFCRA FCRA stands for the FCRA stands for the Foreign Contributions Foreign Contributions
Regulations Act.Regulations Act.
Application for FCRA to be ideally made prior to Application for FCRA to be ideally made prior to submission of the application for the grant.submission of the application for the grant.
A copy of the Application duly Acknowledged by the A copy of the Application duly Acknowledged by the Home Ministry to be attached along with the Grant Home Ministry to be attached along with the Grant Application.Application.
FCRA Registration facilitates early disbursement of FCRA Registration facilitates early disbursement of Grant FundsGrant Funds
FCRAFCRA
Ideally the FCRA Registration should Ideally the FCRA Registration should be applied for in the name of the Club be applied for in the name of the Club OR the district. This is because LCIF OR the district. This is because LCIF awards grants to either the club or awards grants to either the club or the district and not to any Trust. the district and not to any Trust.
It is for the club to then justify the It is for the club to then justify the relationship between the club and the relationship between the club and the Trust.Trust.
FCRAFCRA Prior making the application for the FCRA Prior making the application for the FCRA
Registration a separate bank account has to be Registration a separate bank account has to be opened.opened.
This bank account would be used exclusively for This bank account would be used exclusively for Foreign Inward Remittance. Foreign Inward Remittance.
An Organization in existence for less than 3 years An Organization in existence for less than 3 years may apply for PRIOR PERMISSIONmay apply for PRIOR PERMISSION
This PRIOR PERMISSION Registration is given on a This PRIOR PERMISSION Registration is given on a case to case basis and is case specific.case to case basis and is case specific.
FCRAFCRA
Payments from an FCRA Bank ayments from an FCRA Bank account to be made directly to account to be made directly to the suppliers by Account Payee the suppliers by Account Payee cheques only.cheques only.
Unutilized funds on completion Unutilized funds on completion of the project need to be wire of the project need to be wire transferred back to LCIFtransferred back to LCIF
FCRAFCRA
There is NO provision in the FCRA Act There is NO provision in the FCRA Act prohibiting outward remittance of prohibiting outward remittance of unutilized funds from the donee’s account unutilized funds from the donee’s account to the donor’s account. to the donor’s account.
PROJECT BUDGET is to be precise so that PROJECT BUDGET is to be precise so that there are no unutilized funds.there are no unutilized funds.
QUESTIONS QUESTIONS
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ANSWERSANSWERS