Mark your calendars for 5 to 8 p.m., November 9, for the best party in Dayton - the 2010 Biennial Meeting Celebration of The Dayton Foundation at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. It's also a kick-off to the Foundation's 90th anniversary.

An exciting program in the Schuster Center Mead Theatre will include the latest news from The Dayton Foundation, performances by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, The Human Race Theatre Company, The Muse Machine and Cityfolk presenting an ensemble from the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance. Live music and a Wine and Light Supper Social will follow in the Wintergarden. Come celebrate and enjoy the company of Foundation donors, financial and estate advisors, community leaders and other special friends from around the community.

Ticket information will be available in September. Be sure to respond early, as space will be limited.

If your organization intends to apply for funding from The Dayton Foundation, we highly recommend that you attend the Foundation's discretinary grants program orientation on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The deadline to register is Friday, November 12.

This free, 90-minute session will help explain the Foundation's grant application process and funding guidelines.

Click here to register online.

The first step in the Foundation's discretionary grant application process is to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through our online LOI system. The LOI provides the Foundation with an overview of a not-for-profit organization's funding request. If, after the Grants Committee has reviewed your organization's LOI and determined that the project falls within our funding guidelines, you will be sent a full grant application.

Click here to access the Letter of Intent system. All Letters of Intent must be submitted by 5 p.m.