Jeanette F. Schlobach Grant Program

The Jeannette F. Schlobach grant program is open to nonprofit organizations serving residents of Dutchess County, New York who are impacted by poverty.

Organizations involved in providing programs and services to individuals, families and their pets to support and improve economic stability, health and educational opportunities, are encouraged to apply.

This may include, but not be limited to organizations providing:

  • comprehensive case management services, including those that work to increase access to public benefits and community resources
  • homelessness prevention and affordable housing services,
  • educational opportunities, job readiness and job training services to youth and adults,
  • access to critical health services for individuals and children; and
  • access to low-cost services to family pets, etc.

The Community Foundations’ goal is to support programs that have proven to be effective, demonstrate increasing demand, and to encourage and support innovative solutions to those facing economic adversity. 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.

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 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 Focus:
The Foundation will focus its grantmaking on making awards of General Operating Support for organizations that address:

  • Support for existing or expanding programs and services that are proven effective in assisting individuals and families improve their economic stability, health and educational access and opportunity;
  • Equipment and capital support to improve organizational infrastructure and enhance capacity to deliver services;
  • New program pilots may be considered if organizations demonstrate the capacity to effectively carry out the program and sustain it beyond initial funding; and,
  • Requests that meet the above criteria and leverage existing resources and additional funding sources are encouraged.

Important: This grant program is intended to support organizations in achieving enhanced impact. Requests should be structured to demonstrate how a single grant from this program will support, grow and improve your programs. Annual funding should not be anticipated.

Funding Available:
It is anticipated that $120,000 will be available to grant this year. Multiple grants will be awarded. One application cycle will be offered annually in the fall.

Awards:     
Grants made through this program will not exceed $20,000.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 deadline.

Questions:
Applicants are encourages to review the grants guidelines carefully and may contact Community Foundations if they have any questions at grants@communityfoundationshv.org or Cristin McPeake, VP 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
  • Impact: Demonstrates how funds will support, grow and improve programming/services for innovative solutions to those facing economic adversity.
  • 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 Advisory Board of the Community Foundations.  This Board is comprised of community members representing all areas of Dutchess County.  All recommendations made by the Dutchess Advisory Board are then reviewed, approved or declined by the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundations.

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