The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) announced today that grants of $10,000 to $50,000 are available for local nonprofit and tax-exempt agencies through the foundation’s Community Impact Funding Initiative, a joint project with the Smithville Charitable Foundation. The initiative, which aims to strengthen the community by supporting innovative projects with lasting impact, is designed to enable organizations to address pressing problems or pursue compelling opportunities of vital importance to Monroe County. Up to $400,000+ will be available for funding community impact initiative grants.
“We are looking not only for projects that will have a measurable, meaningful impact on critical issues for local residents, but also for those that will become self-sustaining by permanently expanding the organization’s capacity to serve the community,” said Tina Peterson, CFBMC president and CEO. “The large award amounts reflect our commitment to facilitating major projects that would not otherwise be possible for these organizations.” “We want to see organizations come forward with ideas that are going to fundamentally impact what they can do for the area,” said Darby McCarty, president of the Smithville Charitable Foundation. “We’re hoping to hear from a broad range of organizations representing many different types of services.”
Local 501(c)(3) organizations and other organizations exempt from filing for 501(c)(3) status may apply for the grants with requests ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Priority consideration will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria: offers innovative or transformative solutions to critical community issues, fosters collaboration across organizations and/or sectors to increase impact and effectiveness, and creates capacity-building opportunities for developing more efficient or sustainable organizations.In addition, funding from several Field of Interest funds may be available for programs/projects that support the following:
- promote arts education in elementary and secondary schools in Bloomington and Monroe County
- classical music performance and education
- the arts and/or arts programs in Monroe County
- shelter and/or programs that assist the homeless
- the art of dance, primarily ballet or contemporary dance (including education, instruction, choreography, and performance)
To be considered for funding, applicants must first submit a two-page letter of intent and verification of tax-exempt status to CFBMC by 5 p.m. on September 20. Following review of the letters of intent, selected organizations will be invited to submit full grant proposals, which will be due November 4. Grants will be awarded January 14, 2014.
Guidelines and instructions for the letters of intent are available online at https://cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-grant/community-impact-grants/. For more information on the Community Impact Funding Initiative and application procedures, contact CFBMC Program Director Renee Chambers at (812) 333-9016 or [email protected].
About the Community Foundation: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation has granted $18 million to more than 330 local nonprofit organizations. Our $20 million endowment is growing and so is the difference we make by connecting caring people, important causes and community resources.
About the Smithville Charitable Foundation: Inspired by altruism, the Foundation’s main goal is to enrich the lives of those around them by creating opportunities and bringing necessities to communities in its areas of service. As a private foundation, they work closely with community foundations in surrounding counties and support a variety of causes related to religion, education, health, relief of poverty or distress, and various public organizations.