Deadline: 30-Sep-20
The Fund for Columbia County invites applications for a competitive grant cycle for nonprofits serving vulnerable residents and their families in Columbia County, N.Y.
The fund recognizes the impact COVID-19 has had on community and the nonprofit sector. The committee has reserved a modest amount of funding from its spring grant cycle to support recovery efforts in the fall, as the impact of the pandemic and resulting economic consequences could be better understood.
While the fund has traditionally supported projects and programs, this one-time opportunity will provide unrestricted general operating support funding to help established nonprofits continue to achieve their mission and impact and allow for planning and recovery. these grants are flexible and allow funds to support an organization’s ongoing administrative and infrastructure costs and to maintain existing, effective programs.
Funding priority will be given to organizations serving communities of color, low-income, rural/geographically isolated, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, refugees, immigrants, or other historically marginalized, underserved and under-resourced communities or populations.
Grants are not given to support:
- Annual fund or campaign appeals
- Loan reimbursements for capital projects already underway or completed
- Endowments
- Private operating foundations
- For-profit organizations
- Religious organizations (Please note grants may be made to support non-religious, community focused programs provided through religious/faith-based organizations)
- Schools (Please note grants may be made to support student/teacher community service programs targeted to assist community needs)
Funding Information
- A total of $50,000 is available for awards of up to $5,000 each.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofits and community organizations serving the residents of Columbia County. Community groups may apply under the fiscal umbrella of a nonprofit organization.
- Must be operating as a nonprofit organization for at least one year with 501(c)(3) status or an established fiscal sponsorship arrangement with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Actively engaged in planning for the future
- Can demonstrate financial resiliency
Neither the Fund for Columbia County nor Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation supports organizations which in their constitution, by-laws or practice discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender/gender identity socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.
Review Criteria
The Fund for Columbia County reviews applications with the following criteria in mind:
- Organization Feasibility: Clearly demonstrates an ability to implement a proposed recovery plan, 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 and economically diverse; incorporates diverse cultures, philosophies and experiences across their organization/programming
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3gK6LBu