Deadline: 01-Aug-21
The Washington County Community Foundation is seeking applications from exempt non-profit organization providing charitable services in Washington County for its Capacity-Building Grants Program.
Focus Areas
Grants shall be awarded in any of the following areas:
- Arts & Humanities – projects that benefit arts education, arts appreciation, and cultural and historic projects in the community.
- Community Improvement – projects that focus on strengthening, unifying and building the economic, cultural, educational and social services, and the spirit of any community or neighborhood. Projects include, but are not limited to, economic development activities in depressed areas, community parks, walking trails, green space projects, agricultural fairs, and community festivals.
- Education – projects to enhance the education experience for persons of any age, including literacy and lifelong learning.
- Environment & Animal Welfare – projects to protect the environment and to ensure biodiversity, including conservation, protection of ecosystems, agricultural projects, protection of wildlife, and the care of domesticated animals.
- Health & Fitness – projects that promote the physical and emotional health of the community, including medical services, counseling, fitness, and wellness programs.
- Human Needs – projects that give aid, comfort, support or assistance to children and youth, senior citizens, or the indigent.
- Religious/Faith-Based – projects that promote interdenominational sharing and understanding and that emphasize the importance of spiritual growth and development.
Funding Information
- Grants shall range from $5,000 to $50,000
Eligible Requests
- In these two cycles, only capacity-building projects will be considered.
- Capacity building is defined as any activity that increases the nonprofit’s operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity.
Eligibility Criteria
The Foundation has established basic standards for grant eligibility as follows:
- Applicant organization should be legally constituted and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
- The Foundation may, from time to time, and at its sole discretion, consider applications from non 501(c)(3) entities provided that the nature of the project clearly is charitable in nature.
- Applicant organization must have a charter and/or by-laws which clearly define the organization’s purpose, structure, and the duties, authority and responsibilities of the governing body of the organization.
- Applicant organization must have a duly constituted volunteer Board of Directors which meets regularly and has full power to establish operating policy; to employ and dismiss employees; to control and be responsible for other groups operating in or using the name of the organization; to enter into contracts; and to acquire, manage and dispose of real and capital properties obtained in the name of the organization.
- Applicant organization must demonstrate that it is fiscally responsible and that it is in compliance with all legal requirements of legislative bodies.
- Applicant organization must adhere to a policy mandating that all of the income of the organization be used for its particular stated charitable purposes and none for its members.
- Applicant organization should seek to assure accountability, operating efficiency and responsiveness to community needs.
- Applicant organization should publish an annual report which provides its goals, objectives, services, and such financial information as required by the PA Charitable Purposes Act for that organization.
- Applicant organization must operate a project which meets a demonstrated and documented need and which can be carried out principally within the county of Washington, Pennsylvania. Grants from Donor Advised Funds are permitted to benefit communities outside of Washington County.
- Applicant organization must operate a project in at least one of the Foundation’s funding areas.
For more information, visit https://www.wccf.net/for-grant-seekers/grant-requests