GRANTS PROCESS

The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) distributes funds to nonprofit organizations aligned with any of our cause areas that cannot be funded through traditional funding sources. The 2024 Grant Application Window has now closed. Grant Applications for 2025 will start earlier this fiscal year, with the application period beginning Fall 2024.

THE GRANT PROCESS

DIFFA distributes funds to nonprofit organizations aligned with any of our cause areas that cannot be funded through traditional funding sources: 

Direct care for people and families infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS

Advocacy on behalf of effective and progressive public policy

HIV/AIDS awareness, education and infection prevention

General Funding Grants 


Submitted grant requests go through an in-depth vetting process with the DIFFA Dallas board of directors including requestor site-visits and thorough review of submitted materials. Site-visits validate content of written requests, evaluate organizations greatest needs and assess the requestors promotion of DIFFA Dallas. Submitted materials are scored against several criteria:

  • Need of the organization

  • Purpose and goals of the program

  • Program innovation

Final grant amounts are determined at the sole discretion of the DIFFA Dallas board of directors based on multiple factors including but not limited to: available funding to distribute, results from the site-visit, grant request evaluation, and support of DIFFA Dallas including:

  • Marketing support of DIFFA Dallas (required for grants over $10k)

    • For example: DIFFA Dallas logo on website, DIFFA Dallas event marketing on social and/or email

  • Volunteer support of DIFFA Dallas (required for grants over $15k)

    • For example: up to 8 hours of total annual volunteer time in DIFFA Dallas office or at a DIFFA Dallas event (including IMPACT podcast recordings)

  • House of DIFFA event attendance/fundraising support (required for grants over $20k)

    • For example: buy or sell one table for House of DIFFA and provide details to DIFFA Dallas

We welcome any non-profit organization with a program aligned to one of our cause areas to apply for a grant. A general funding grant to a first-time applicant is limited to $10,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Programs & Projects 


Only community-based organizations with a 501(c)3 designation are eligible to apply, and must provide services to clients within North Texas. Programs and Projects eligible for funding include: 

  • Prevention

  • Education 

  • Direct Service

  • Legal assistance 

  • Outreach

  • Awareness 

  • Food and nutrition

  • Shelter and housing 

  • Transportation 

Ineligible Programs & Projects 


Programs and Projects not eligible for funding include: 

  • PACs and lobbying

  • Laboratory research related programs 

  • Conferences (unless educational)

  • Publications (unless educational)            

  • Capital improvement

  • Purchase of vehicles 

  • Support/education services for non-targeted populations