Community Grants

What We Fund

This program is designed to provide meaningful support as a percentage of the specific budget for which funds are requested.   Requests for funding should not represent the lead or primary funding source for the program or project.   

• Grants range from $250 to $5,000.  Awards may be made for less than the amount requested.
• Renewals are never automatic.  If awarded in three consecutive years, an agency may not reapply for a period of one year.  
• Only one request for a specific program or project will be considered from any agency in a calendar year.
• An agency may only receive one community grant within a calendar year.
• Agencies that have been awarded a program grant or after school grant are not eligible.

Grants are primarily awarded for direct service and should not include capital purchases such as computers or space renovations.  Select requests for essential capital equipment may be considered – call the Foundation before submitting any capital request.   

In order to apply:

• Organization must be tax exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3).

With very few exceptions, we do not fund:

• General operating support or unrestricted grants
• Primary or secondary schools -- public, private independent, or parochial -- or colleges and universities
• Funding to replace municipal, state or federal funding, or direct funding to municipal organizations.

If your request is for any of the above purposes, we strongly encourage you call the Foundation before submitting a proposal.

Ineligible for funding:

• Political advocacy and lobbying
• Religious institutions, except for non-sectarian activities that benefit the community at-large
• Individuals
• Annual campaigns
• Endowment funds
• Travel (e.g. sports teams, field trips)
• Animal welfare organizations
• Disease-specific research or other specific
• Environmental conservation, land trust, or other related causes 
• Event sponsorships*
• Private Foundations

*Event sponsorships - while we will consider support for an artistic organization's full performance season, we generally do not provide funding for a single event. We also do not support fund-raising events (golf tournaments, galas) or anniversary events. Rare exceptions may include a youth concert or science event that is programmatic in nature, incorporating meaningful learning elements both before and after the event.  

Also, because the Foundation operates a large college scholarship program (see Scholarships) it does not provide funding for scholarship programs operated by schools or other nonprofit organizations.
 

Online Application

The online application may be used for Community Grants only.  Applications may be submitted at any time.  After your application is submitted, you will receive an email confirmation which will notify you when your request will be reviewed.  Requests are reviewed twice a year, see deadlines above. 

Confidentiality: The Foundation does not consider proposals received to constitute confidential information. We may discuss grant inquiries with other funders, individuals identified within the proposal, outside experts, and other appropriate people in the community. Information you consider to be confidential or proprietary should not be included in your proposal. 

The Apply Online button will redirect you to Egrant, our online application service provider. New users will need to create an account. 

Download eGrant Instructions Apply Online

Final Report Instructions