Each and every day, the Community Foundation strives to improve the lives of people who live, work, learn, and play in Monroe County. Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation fuels innovative ideas and lasting impact by granting funds to meet our community’s most pressing needs and seize its most compelling opportunities. For over 30 years, the Community Foundation has funded projects and programs that are forward thinking, community changing in their implementation, practical in their application, and uniquely relevant to the community.
Purpose
CFBMC, with the support of funding generously provided by the Smithville Charitable Foundation, is pleased to announce the “Creating Community” grant initiative and invites local organizations to submit proposals. These grants are intended to foster our community’s vibrancy, quality of place, and livability through supporting and enhancing the amenities that make Monroe County an attractive place to call home. Examples of eligible proposal areas include but are not limited to: the arts, public recreation, community spaces, beautification, animal welfare, environmental preservation and enhancement, and opportunities to create a more welcoming, inclusive Monroe County.
Our community has generously worked to address many basic needs during the last year and a half. The Community Foundation, along with federal, state, and other local funders has provided, and will continue to support critical funding to support human and social service needs resulting from the pandemic. For the fall 2021 grantmaking cycle, the Foundation seeks to complement this funding through a focus on restoring and enhancing the overall livability of our community.
The Foundation will continue to monitor community needs and opportunities and respond accordingly through aligned grantmaking strategies, as we have throughout the pandemic. We currently anticipate multiple grantmaking cycles, the first in fall 2021 followed by a second in spring 2022. This schedule may change if circumstances make it prudent or necessary.
Grant Funds Available
Range of grant awards: $10,000 to $25,000 per proposal
Total grants: 6-15 awards expected
Process and Timeline
September 8, 2021 Announcement of grant cycle; application opens
October 25, 2021 Application deadline
Early December 2021 Announcement of awards
Mid-December 2021 Grant funding available (pending grant agreement)
Eligibility
Applications may be submitted by local 501(c)(3) nonprofits and other organizations that are exempt from filing for a 501(c)(3) status. This includes units of government, school corporations, and religious organizations. Grants may be awarded to religious organizations for programs that are non-proselytizing and do not promote religious doctrine or instruction. In limited situations, CFMBC may be able to grant to other types of organizations that are serving a charitable purpose but do not have a 501(c)(3) status. To confirm eligibility, please contact Marcus Whited at [email protected] or (812) 333-9016.
Direct costs for implementing the project or program are eligible grant expenses. In addition, no more than 30% of the requested grant funding may be used for indirect costs that contribute to the organization’s ability to implement the grant project, or for building and/or sustaining operational capacity for the duration of the grant period. Examples of indirect operating expenses that may be eligible include areas such as fund development, internal operations such as IT upgrades, financial management tools, administrative costs, essential staffing, and core program costs.
Questions? Please contact Marcus Whited at 812.333.9016 or [email protected].
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.