Over the past several months, a diverse group of community leaders from all over Richmond County have been participating in a series of public forums hosted by the GoldenLEAF Foundation to determine the best use for more than $2 million in community assistance grant program.

Anyone with a project they feel deserving has until 5 p.m. March 23 to mail, fax or e-mail the appropriate paperwork to GoldenLEAF’s offices in Rocky Mount.

However, there are some ground rules to understand.

The first of GoldenLEAF’s ground rules is the applicant must be a governmental agency or a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

If the entity you wish to fund doesn’t meet these basic requirements, the Foundation isn’t going to entertain your proposal.

The IRS defines this designation as a tax-exempt status.

In order to be a 501 (c) (3), “an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set fort in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.”

This means churches and many other organizations are not eligible.

Second, you must submit the proper paperwork.

A packet has been sent out to forum participants by the Foundation.

The required paperwork is called a proposed project summary form. It is four pages long and contains a line-item budget for money requested from the Foundation.

The form also poses many questions, such as: ways the project will impact one or more of the areas of economic development, education, infrastructure and quality of life; and the outcome, sustainability and leveraged sources of funding for proposed projects.

Third, proposed projects will be assessed by a body representing Richmond County to decide which will make the cut.

A committee made up of appointees from every elected body in Richmond County will make up a panel to assess projects and determine which will be pitched to the board of the GoldenLEAF Foundation.

Four will be appointed by the county commissioners, while two will come from each of the county’s municipal councils and another two will be appointed the county’s board of education.

These appointees will be given the charge of focusing on projects to benefit the areas identified at the forum sessions, and relevant to those desirable outcomes.

Anyone who wants to acquire a copy of the proposed project summary form, or who has additional questions or requests for information, is encouraged to contact GoldenLEAF Vice President of Programs Pat Cabe or Courtney Mills toll-free at (888) 684-8404.