2026-2027 Grants Program Overview of Tiers 1, 2 & 3
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) is launching a multi-tiered grant funding initiative to support the growth, resilience, and long-term vitality of Monroe County. Each tier is structured to balance immediate community needs with longer-term opportunities for transformational change. Through these multi-tiered investments, CFBMC seeks to position our community to advance efforts that support meaningful progress toward enhancing quality of life, attracting and retaining younger adults and families, increasing livability, and advancing community priorities in Monroe County.
- Tier 1: Rapid Response Grants for Capacity & Organizational Sustainability
- Tier 2: Strategic Impact Grants
- Tier 3: Transformative Community Investment Grants
Rapid Response Grants for Capacity & Sustainability represent the first tier of this initiative. The goal of this competitive funding tier is to prioritize responsiveness and flexibility—to help organizations build capacity, improve sustainability, and enhance the services they provide to our community.
Examples of potential grant uses include technology upgrades, equipment or vehicle purchases, facility improvements, staffing support, and other operational investments. Up to $500,000 in funding is available for this tier, with individual grants ranging from $20,000 to $75,000.
Tier 2 will launch this fall to support larger grant requests in amounts ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Strategic Impact Grants are expected to be more comprehensive in their design and implementation, with longer performance periods to deliver upon programmatic priorities. These grants are intended to support strategic, outcome-driven initiatives positioned for sustained community impact. Priority will be given to innovative projects, transformative solutions to critical community issues, and cross-organizational and/or cross-sector collaborations to increase impact and effectiveness. Up to $750,000 in funding is available for this tier. Since the intent of the first two grant tiers does not overlap, organizations can apply for funding in either or both tiers.
Tier 3 grants will support bold, catalytic, and collaborative projects through grants of up to $500,000 each. Transformative Community Investment Grants are positioned to support high-impact opportunities such as housing, workforce development, economic mobility, talent attraction and retention, community health, entrepreneurship, innovation, or other efforts that strengthen community competitiveness. Approximately $2 million in funding will be available in this tier. In late 2026, CFBMC will work closely with a small number of organizations to develop concept papers. Organizations with the most promising concepts will then be invited to develop full implementation proposals.
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants: Purpose & Focus Areas
Grants in Tier 1 will be awarded to organizations already engaged in important community-based work that need timely support to stabilize operations, respond to increased demand, or capitalize on immediate growth opportunities.
Funding is intended for practical organizational needs that can be addressed in a short time frame (up to 9 months). Examples of anticipated funding requests include technology upgrades, equipment and vehicles, facility improvements, staffing support, and other operational investments. Tier 2 grants will provide options for programmatic investments. s.
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants: Amounts
- Size of grant awards: $20,000 to $75,000 per proposal
- Number of grant awards: 7-25 awards, depending on grant amounts
- Total Funds Available: Up to $500,000 in this tier
- Performance Period: Up to nine months
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants: Eligibility
Grants will be awarded to organizations serving Monroe County, Indiana. These include:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits and organizations that are exempt from filing for a 501(c)(3) status, such as units of government, school corporations, and religious organizations. (Grants awarded to religious organizations must be for programs or projects that are non-proselytizing and do not promote religious doctrine or instruction.)
- In limited situations, the Community Foundation may also grant to other types of mission-aligned organizations that serve a charitable purpose but do not have 501(c)(3) status, including other types of nonprofits and for-profits.
The Community Foundation does not accept requests for:
- Previously incurred debts
- Political campaigns
- Efforts to influence legislation of any governmental body other than through making available the results of nonpartisan analysis, study, and research
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants: Timeline
This grant program will employ a rolling rounds approach, meaning applications are reviewed in two separate evaluation cycles.
- July 10, 2026 – First round deadline
- August 10, 2026 – Second round deadline
Organizations may apply at any point before either round’s deadline. Applications received by July 10, 2026, will be considered in the first round. Applications received after this date, but before August 10, 2026, will be reviewed in the second round.
Please note: the amount of funding available in each round may vary. However, not all grant funds will be awarded in the July round. Funding decisions will be based on the number of quality applications received in each round. All applications will be evaluated promptly after each deadline. Organizations will be notified of award decisions in early August for the first round and early September for the second round. Grant funding will be available to successful applicants as soon as practical in August, September, or October 2026.
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants: Application Process
Interested applicants must create an online account through the Community Foundation’s grant portal and submit an application by 11:59 p.m. E.T. on the deadlines listed above.
Applicants will be asked to provide the following information in a relatively succinct application:
- Organizational mission and core work description
- Project summary
- Project budget
- Anticipated project impact & outcomes
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants: Selection Criteria
Grant evaluation criteria will consider the following:
- Alignment with program purpose – The request clearly supports organizational capacity, sustainability, or readiness to meet community needs.
- Urgency and timeliness – The funding addresses an immediate need, time-sensitive challenge, or growth opportunity.
- Community benefit – The proposed investment will meaningfully strengthen services or outcomes for Monroe County residents.
- Feasibility & readiness – The proposed use of funds is realistic and achievable given the timeline and amount requested.
- Potential for impact – The grant is likely to strengthen the organization, make it more effective, or improve its ability to serve the community.
- Financial reasonableness – The budget is appropriate, proportional, and justified for the proposed need.
- Overall competitiveness – The proposal stands out in terms of relevance, readiness, and impact.
Organizations that are not selected for funding in the first round are welcome to revise and resubmit their applications for consideration in the second round, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants: Disbursements and Reporting Requirements
Before grant funds are disbursed, the grantee and the Community Foundation will execute a grant agreement. The grant agreement will outline the grant’s payout schedule and the grantee’s reporting requirements. The grantee must spend all grant funds within 9 months of the signed grant agreement.
A final report must be submitted by the dates specified in the grant agreement. Reports are expected to include a narrative summary and a financial statement detailing how grant funds align with the approved budget.
Please direct any questions regarding this grant initiative to info@cfbmc.org.
Equal Opportunity in Grantmaking
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (as defined in paragraph 249(c)(4) of title 18, United States Code), sexual orientation, marital or parental status, political affiliation, military service, physical or mental ability, or any other improper criterion be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds made available by the community foundation, and any other program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds appropriated for grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance administered by the Community Foundation.