Community Grants

Guidelines

There is a common application process for all nonprofits that wish to request program or operating support from any one of the following funding partners:

All preliminary proposals must be submitted to The Community Foundation.  Based on the nature of the request, funding criteria and restrictions of each funding partner, staff will determine which funding partner(s) will consider the organization’s preliminary proposal.  These factors, along with the amount requested, availability of grant funds and funding priorities, are considered by committee.

*Please review carefully the focus areas, eligibility criteria and deadlines for each funding partner, as they may vary.

A limited number of organizations will be invited to submit fully-developed proposals.  If you are selected to continue in the process, you will receive specific proposal guidelines and the appropriate forms at that time.  Throughout this process, we hope to make the best use of your limited time and resources.

Please note that our policies limit organizations to competitive grant support one time in a calendar year from TCF and/or its funding partners.  However, from time to time, organizations may be considered for additional community grant support in a calendar year if the funding partners undertake a special initiative or by invitation.

How to Apply

The Community Foundation (TCF) recently updated its process for submitting requests.

TCF considers Preliminary Proposals for community grants (requests for program or operating) twice a year.  We have implemented a new format for Preliminary Proposals and are no longer accepting letters of intent.

Organizations are now required to complete both of the following documents in order to be considered for a community grant.

  1. Download the Organization Summary Form
  2. Download the Preliminary Proposal

Deadlines

All deadlines are 5:00 p.m. receipt deadlines, not postmark deadlines. When a deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline is extended to the following Monday. We cannot accept Preliminary Proposals sent by facsimile or e-mail.

  Winter Cycle Summer Cycle
Preliminary Proposal November 5 May 5
Foundation Response November 19 May 19
Proposal Deadline January 5 July 5
Grant Decisions 3rd week of March 3rd week of September

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact Susan Hallett or Elaine Summerfield by email, or call (804) 330-7400.