The Vermont Community Foundation is seeking applications for the Spark Connecting Community Grants to support emerging grassroots projects with the potential to build social capital—the connective tissue of communities.
Donor Name: The Vermont Community Foundation
State: Vermont
County: Essex County (VT), Franklin County (VT), Grand Isle County (VT)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/02/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Spark Connecting Community grants put building and nurturing community front and center. Social capital can be described as the value developed from working together, connecting across differences, and sharing common place-based experiences. Higher levels of social capital are correlated with better health outcomes, higher educational achievement, increased civic engagement, and greater resilience—all of which help build community vitality.
This grassroots grantmaking model focuses on strengthening community connections that lead to action and impact. While they are looking to fund projects throughout Vermont, this year they will prioritize projects from under-represented counties in grantmaking. Spark applications from Essex, Grand Isle, and Franklin counties will receive priority consideration.
The Spark program will accept applications from hyperlocal, place-based projects (applications from a single community or a few towns working in partnership in the same region) or statewide/regional projects that support a community of individuals with a shared identity or interest, such as a project supporting visual artists throughout the state.
Priorities
- Applications received from Essex, Grand Isle, and Franklin counties will receive priority consideration.
- The program will prioritize applicants with operating budgets of $500,000 or less.
Funding Information
Grants will be in the range of $500-$5,000.
Grants can be funded
This program will prioritize funding projects that:
- Increase Vermonters access to opportunity as outlined in their four focus areas
- Connect people with each other in deep and meaningful ways that are grounded in acts of generosity
- Connect people to the environment around them in ways that encourage stewardship and respect
- Increase opportunities for positive social interaction
- As part of a project budget, the Spark program will support stipends to individuals who otherwise would not be able to participate to ensure more inclusive community processes, programs, and/or events (ex. childcare support, stipends to individuals, or transportation).
Here are some examples of what the program will fund:
- Out of school and/or experiential learning opportunities for students to connect with local community members;
- Community-created public art to support downtown revitalization;
- A nature trail to support environmental education and encourage healthy exercise; and
- A community diversity event and dialogue in a town experiencing changing demographics.
Eligibility Criteria
- First time grant seekers are encouraged to apply and be in touch if any help is needed with the application.
- Groups and organizations may apply multiple times but may only receive funding once in a calendar year, even if the organization is applying for funding for projects in different communities or towns.
- An organization serving as fiscal sponsor for a Spark grantee does remain eligible to submit another application for a different project.
For more information, visit TVCF.
