Deadline: 30-Oct-20
The Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) awards quarterly Community Enrichment Grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations to help meet local needs and enrich the quality of life for the people of the Outer Banks.
Community Enrichment Grants are awarded to projects that directly benefit all or a portion of service area. The service area includes all of Dare County, and all Outer Banks communities, from Corolla to Ocracoke Island. They currently do not award Community Enrichment Grants for projects targeting mainland Hyde or mainland Currituck.
Priority will be given to projects and organizations that:
- Involve or benefit a broad segment of the community.
- Provide an innovative approach to addressing area needs.
- Either initiate new projects or programs to influence beneficial change, or fill gaps, or address urgent community needs.
- Attract additional funding from other sources (i.e., matching funds).
- Promote an organization’s financial sustainability.
- Promote collaboration and efficiencies amongst multiple organizations.
Duration
- Grants are typically awarded for a 12-month period unless an extension is granted, or other special circumstances apply.
Eligible programs include:
- Arts and/or culture
- Animal welfare
- Children and/or youth
- Disaster relief and/or prevention
- Education
- The environment
- Health
- Historic preservation and/or interpretation
- Other human services
- Community Enrichment Grants are usually awarded to support the direct costs of a charitable project or program (e.g., art supplies, medical equipment, educational materials, vehicles, program staff). These grants are paid on a reimbursement basis for actual costs incurred.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any 501(c)3 organization is eligible to apply for a Community Enrichment Grant, as are other tax-exempt organizations for charitable projects that meet a public need, in accordance with IRS guidelines.
- Schools and Government Agencies: Occasionally, schools and government agencies may be considered for Community Enrichment Grants, if it is demonstrated that financial support is not available from other sources. Schools and government agencies may also be eligible for certain Special Focus Grants. For Dare County schools, please inquire first with the Dare Education Foundation before contacting us.
- Individuals: Community Enrichment Grants are never awarded to individuals.
- Faith-Based and Religious Entities: The Outer Banks Community Foundation will consider Community Enrichment Grants to faith-based and religious entities, including churches, for projects that address the needs of the wider community. They will not award Community Enrichment Grants for projects that primarily seek to promote religious beliefs or attempt to recruit new members to a particular religion. They will generally not award grants to churches for projects or assets that would primarily benefit the members of a single congregation or religion. Please contact the staff before starting an application.
- The Outer Banks Community Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, or disability.
For more information, visit https://www.obcf.org/grants/community-enrichment-grants-guidelines/