Competitive Grant Guidelines

Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits can apply annually in one of three ways:

• The Spring Cycle (application open Feb. 1 - Mar. 1)
• The Fall Cycle (application open Aug. 1 - Sept. 1)
• $5,000 or Less Grant Requests (open all year)

Requests should address a critical community need and target the root cause of a problem, serve more than just a few people, avoid duplicating existing services (unless they reach an underserved population), encourage collaboration with other organizations and agencies, and include an effective method for measuring the impact of the Foundation’s investment.

Grants will be awarded to the following areas of focus:

Collaborative Planning for Economic Growth –

• Support economic development and other community leaders in pursuing projects, initiatives, grants, and funding as a collective, unified entity
• Instill a greater sense of pride and shared ownership across all communities to promote a positive image of the area and understanding that economic development in one community benefits all

Lifelong Learning and Success –

• Expand access to high-quality early childhood education from birth to age five
• Support family engagement and student success in the K12 system by bridging community resources with the system’s greatest needs
• Increase awareness of career and technical education opportunities by expanding training and mentoring for youth and young adults
• Support community members to access and achieve success in education and workforce training in high school and throughout adulthood for lifelong learning

Health, Well-being and Quality of Life –

• Promote community health education and knowledge of resources and services throughout the community
• Expand resources, capacity, and access to substance use treatment and recovery
• Increase counseling and mental health resources for all, with a particular focus on youth
• Develop and sustain more community amenities, recreational opportunities, and after-school activities desired by youth and families

Next Generation Leadership –

• Increase community engagement, service, and champions through expanded leadership development opportunities
• Increase mentorship opportunities and activities to engage youth in communities throughout the county

Grants are not made to individuals, religious organizations for religious purposes, dinners, balls or other ticketed events, political purposes, lobbying activities, replacement of government grants or funding endowments or other discretionary pools.

Audit Requirements:

• Organizations with annual revenue of $3 million or more are required to provide an audit
• Organizations with annual revenue of $2 million up to $3 million are required to provide an annual review
• Organizations with annual revenue of $1 million up to $2 million are required to provide a financial compilation

Additionally, any organization requesting funding of $100,000 or more will be required to provide financial compilation, and those requesting funding of $250,000 or more will be required to provide an audit.

All applications must include a balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow.

Capital funding requests for permanent property improvements (buildings, grounds, structures, etc.) cannot be granted unless the organization owns the property. Applications must include proof of ownership, such as a title opinion or informational title commitment, showing clear title with no restrictions, along with the deed and property description. Food bank and feeding program requests (food, vehicles, equipment, supplies, etc.) are only accepted during the Spring Cycle. Public school system requests must come from the Superintendent’s office and consolidate all system-wide needs into one application. Individual school requests must be for pilot projects that, if successful, could be expanded to other schools. Large organizations with multiple branches or departments (colleges, universities, etc.) must submit requests through the Development or President’s office with approval from its head.

Grant Review Process:

After submission, applications are evaluated internally. This includes verifying that organizations are registered and in good standing with the IRS and have provided the required documents. Applications are then assigned to our Grant Review Team, a group of volunteers who review and discuss applications with the submitting organization. They also conduct site visits to better understand the organization and the requested funds.

Findings are presented to Staff and Donor-Advised Funds during Grant Review Day. Following these presentations and staff discussions, funding recommendations are made to the Foundation's Board of Directors for final approval.

If awarded, recipients must complete a virtual Electronic Signature Agreement via Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM). This agreement confirms that grant funds may only be used for the activities listed in the recipient’s application. Funds must be spent according to the approved budget and timeline, with no significant changes made without prior approval from the Foundation. Any unspent grant funds that do not align with the approved project must be returned. Organizations must receive written approval before making any modifications to their grant.

Grant Reports are also to be submitted online via GLM. Spring reports are due January 31 at 5pm and Fall reports are due July 31 at 5pm. Reports must include both program / project progress and financial data. Future requests will not be considered if reports are late or incomplete.