Deadline: 01-Sep-21
The Fermont Area Community Foundation is seeking applications for its grant program to reduce the unemployment rate below the national average in the next 10 years while preserving their rural character.
To achieve this goal, the Community Foundation will focus grantmaking to support Newaygo County nonprofit agencies ingrained in this work. The following grantmaking guidelines reflect the community and economic development framework and support the realization of thisgoal. The Community Foundation is most interested in programs that seek to align with the four community and economic development indicators highlighted on the Newaygo County Area
Grantmaking Guidelines for Community and Economic Development
Proposals should demonstrate proactive and/or proven approaches to systemic change. Effective grant applications should demonstrate:
- Serve residents of Newaygo County
- Community need supported with relevant local data
- Alignment of grantmaking priority areas
- Alignment with measures indicated on the Newaygo County Area Dashboard
- Specific program goals
- Long-term impact
- Realistic implementation plans
- Feasible budget projection
- Sustainability
- Collaboration with community partners
- Small business development
- Specific program goals
- Long-term impact
- Realistic implementation plans
- Feasible budget projection
- Sustainability
- Collaboration with community partners
Priority Areas
Grant applications are required to meet one of these focus areas:
- Small business development
- The majority of businesses in Newaygo County have less than 10 employees. Programs that align with this priority area will encourage the growth of locally-owned businesses and assist with increasing their ability to create jobs and hire unemployed and underemployed residents.
- Entrepreneurship development
- Entrepreneurs present new opportunities for their local economy. Programs that align with this priority area support an entrepreneurial culture that encourages residents to explore their ideas and supports the establishment of new local businesses.
- Workforce development
- Many people who are unemployed or underemployed are unable to fully participate in the workforce due to a gap between their skills and the skills needed for good jobs. Programs that align with this priority area will focus on closing the skills gap by strengthening households economically and increasing the competitiveness of local businesses through a stronger workforce.
- Capacity of local community and economic development partners
- Local community and economic development organizations strengthen and grow the local economy. Programs that align with this priority area will increase the capacity of these organizations to work towards measurable outcomes and collaborate both locally and regionally.
- Natural resources promotion and utilization
- Newaygo County boasts a wealth of natural resources. Programs that align with this priority area promote the utilization of these natural resources in ways that will positively impact the local economy while preserving their rural character.
Ineligible
Things Fremont Area Community Foundation typically will not fund
- Grants to individuals, the purchase of property, sponsorships of one-time or special events, existing obligations, religious programing requiring affiliation and/or religious instruction, or projects that began prior to award notification.
For more information, visit Fermont Area Community Foundation.
For more information, visit https://facommunityfoundation.org/grants/types-of-grants/community/