Community Grants

Applicants are encouraged to review the grants guidelines carefully and may contact the Community Foundations if they have questions.

Funding Focus:
Funding will support a broad variety of organizations and programming, including; effective and innovative programs in the areas of human services, arts and culture, education and youth, health, the environment and civic affairs. Funding will have a focus on benefiting people who are from historically marginalized and under-funded communities or populations based on their race, ethnicity, age, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, health status, abilities or geographic location.

General Operating Support grants will provide unrestricted support to the organization but can include specific support including:

  • planning and/or the direct implementation of the program
  • technology, equipment, or material costs
  • strategic planning, staff/board development and/or succession planning
  • management systems (financial, HR)
  • marketing and communications
  • investments to increase organizational capacity

Eligibility:  

  1. Tax exempt organizations (including faith-based organizations) located in or providing services to residents of Dutchess, Putnam or Ulster Counties, New York
  2. Nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status or an established fiscal sponsorship arrangement with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Please note that grants (including GOS) are not given to support:

  • Individuals
  • Political or partisan purposes
  • Lobbying activities
  • Loan reimbursements for capital projects already underway or completed
  • Retroactive expenses that were incurred prior to the grant award
  • Endowments
  • Religious organizations for sacramental or theological purposes, however, grants may be made to support non-religious community programs provided through these institutions
  • Schools, however, grants may be made to support student/teacher community service programs targeted to assist broader community needs
  • Private foundations
  • For-profit organizations

Funding Available:
It is anticipated that a total of $150,000 will be available to grant. One application cycle will be offered annually in the fall.

We recognize the needs far surpass our available resources. An unsuccessful application does not reflect a judgement about the worthiness of an organization or project. Please understand that we will not be able to grant many of the requests we receive.

Awards:     
Grants made through this program will not exceed $5,000.

Application: 
Organizations applying for funding are required to use the Community Foundations’ Online Grants Portal. Click here to access the Grants Portal.

Deadline: 
The Community Foundations will be accepting LOIs (Letters of Intent/Inquiry) applications from July 1st through August 15th. If your organization is invited to apply with a full application it must be submitted by October 1st. LOIs and full applications will not be accepted after the deadlines.

Questions:
Contact grants@communityfoundationshv.org or Cristin McPeake, Vice President, Programs at (845) 452-3077 or cmcpeake@communityfoundationshv.org

Review Criteria:
While this list is not exhaustive, the Foundations considers applications with the following criteria in mind:

  • Organization/Program Feasibility: Clearly demonstrates an ability to accomplish their mission, is viable in the long term, and secures other sources of financial and in-kind support
  • Community Need/Opportunity: Fosters trust and collaborative civic participation in addressing a vital community need and collectively improves community conditions
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Develops and maintains community connections for the underserved & economically diverse; Incorporates diverse cultures, philosophies & experiences across their organization/programming

Review Process:
All applications will be rated on these criteria and reviewed by the Dutchess, Putnam or Ulster Advisory Boards of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.  The Advisory Boards are comprised of community members representing each County.  All recommendations made by the Advisory Boards are then reviewed, approved or declined by the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundations.
the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundations.

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