Deadline: 21-Feb-22
The Pickaway County Community Foundation (PCCF) has announced Community Grants Program to carry out the wishes of fund donors and help nonprofits meet the ever-changing needs of their community.
They believe that one of the best ways to improve their community is by supporting nonprofits in their region. The Pickaway County Community Foundations’ competitive grantmaking is supported by many thoughtful donors who have entrusted them to identify and invest in their ever-changing community needs.
They make grants to all the communities in Pickaway County and to nonprofits large and small. The Foundation accepts proposals from tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations serving Pickaway County as part of a competitive grant making process to respond to new programs, emerging needs, and innovative services that might not be started or continue were it not for PCCF’s support.
Focus Areas
PCCF is particularly interested in proposals that help address areas of need in the community as follows:
- Arts & Culture: Programs and activities that reach out to underserved populations, and strengthen and support local arts organizations
- Community & Economic Development: Programs and activities that enhance and improve the economic vitality of the community
- Education: Early education and care; language and reading readiness; keeping children in school; family literacy/adult education; and professional development for teachers
- Environment: Community-focused parks and greenspaces; recreational trails; stewardship of natural resources
- Health: Access to care; early screening and referral; mental/physical disabilities; teen pregnancy, prenatal care and education; fitness and nutrition
- Human Services/Strengthening Families & Supporting Youth: Services for children and families living in poverty; services to elderly in need; prevention of child abuse and neglect; parenting resources; access to quality child care; prevention of substance abuse
- Supportive Communities: Safer, livable communities; advocacy for the poor and underserved; shelter/housing; transportation; access to emergency assistance for basic needs; citizen involvement
- Agriculture: Exploration of the possibilities of incentives for farmers to develop their produces, support for the new creation of new value-added agriculture enterprises; development of funding sources for entrepreneurs to incubate startups and growth phases; definition and focus on the emerging concept of community development venture capital.
- Workforce Development: Preparation for workforce skills, job readiness training, or program that develop skills that lead to in demand occupations.
- Leadership: Develop programs that enhance leadership skills, and opportunities to link leaders throughout the county.
Priorities
- The mission of the Pickaway County Community Foundation is to provide charitable resources and expertise that improve the quality of life in Pickaway County. PCCF will work to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in their area, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment; addressing needs through grant making; and serving as a leader, catalyst, and a resource for charitable giving.
- Pickaway County Community Foundation grants are made for public charitable purposes that enrich the quality of life of citizens of the Pickaway County, Ohio area. Generally, priority will be given to projects or programs that:
- Help launch new projects which represent a unique and unduplicated opportunity for the community
- Support established organizations for special purposes
- Support organizations which deliver effective existing programs to assist or empower underserved or disadvantaged populations
- Offer new approaches to solving problems, and stimulate others to participate in problem-solving
- Create opportunities for organizations to collaborate without duplicating services, and
- leveraging additional resources
- Make a clear difference in the quality of life for a substantial number of people
- Propose innovative, creative and practical solutions to both current and emerging community needs
- Strengthen an agency’s effectiveness or stability
- Generate matching funds
What they Fund?
Increasing the capacity of nonprofits to respond effectively to community needs is essential. In general, the Foundation prefers funding:
- Programs or projects scheduled to take place in the same year in which the grant is awarded
- Start-up costs for new programs
- One-time projects or needs
- Capital needs beyond an applicant’s capabilities and means
- Grant proposals that exhibit a diversification of funding sources
- Grant proposals that delineate plans for future funding
- Collaborative efforts (Note: PCCF will review funding requests from a “lead” agency or for an agency on behalf of a collaborative effort on a case-by-case basis so as not to penalize any one potential grantee from receiving grant funding for its specific projects.)
Eligibility Criteria
The Foundation will accept grant applications from:
- IRS Charitable Status – Nonprofit organizations in possession of a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service declaring the organization a public charity that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c)(3). Charitable organizations must have a governing board, and conduct business without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, disability or national origin.
- Geographic Area – Nonprofit organizations must be operating or proposing to operate programs primarily for the benefit of Pickaway County residents.
- Faith-Based Organizations – May apply for program funding provided there are not requirements to participate in religious instruction and/or take part in religious activities.
- School Systems – Requests from school systems must be initiated and submitted by the superintendent’s office (Preference will be given to programs or projects that serve more than an individual classroom with a school or school system.) Grants must be submitted to the school foundations first.
- Multi-Department or Branch Applicants – Large organizations with many branches or departments (e.g., universities, colleges, YMCAs, public libraries) must submit requests from the president’s office, director’s office or development office.
- Previous Grantees – Must have complied with all reporting requirement, and be in good standing before submitting another grant request. As a general rule, a returning applicant will not be considered if an Interim or Final Progress Report was not received by the stated deadline.
For more information, visit https://www.yourpccf.org/grants/