The Our Community Foundation is accepting applications for Cycle 2 of its 2023 Competitive Grantmaking program.
Donor Name: Our Community Foundation
State: Alabama
County: Blount County (AL), Jefferson County (AL), Shelby County (AL), St. Clair County (AL) and Walker County (AL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/18/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Priority Areas
Thriving Communities
- Equity and Inclusion
- Regional Cooperation
- Economic Opportunity for All
- Overcoming Persistent Poverty.
If eligible, applicants may request a grant in one of the following three categories:
- Strategic Purpose: These grants can help establish a new program, improve or expand an existing program, increase organizational capacity, meet a new capital need (building, equipment, etc.), and/or launch a policy/systems change effort. Requests should not exceed 25% of a proposed project budget.
- General Operating for Emerging Organizations: Organizations with documented revenue under $25,000 (based on previous fiscal year) may request a general operating support grant in this category. General operating support is defined as funding to maintain current programs and/or operations.
- General Operating Support: Organizations with documented revenue between $25,000 – $100,000 (based on previous fiscal year) may request a general operating support grant in this category.
The two general operating categories are the same in substance; they just provide emerging organizations two opportunities to receive general operating support funding as they grow. Eligible organizations (under $25,000 revenue) may receive General Operating for Emerging Organizations funding one time only. Eligible organizations ($25,000 – $100,000 revenue) may receive General Operating Support funding one time only. Any grants awarded in 2023 are counted toward these limits.
Funding Information
- There is no maximum request amount, but in recent years awarded grants have ranged from $5,000 to $100,000 with an average amount of $35,000. The applicant’s request and project budget should be reasonable in relation to the applicant’s prior revenue, budget, and activities.
- For Strategic Purpose grants, requests should not exceed 25% of the budget for the proposed project. Potential or secured support for the remaining 75% of the budget should be identified.
- Organizations requesting a grant of $75,000 or greater MUST have an annual or semi-annual independent audit.
Funding Duration
Strategic grants may be requested over a one, two, or three year period based on the scale and schedule of the proposal. General operating grants are limited to one year terms.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be currently designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the IRS OR be a 501(c)(3) exempt religious institution OR be a government entity. Private non-operating foundations are not eligible. Applicants may use a fiscal sponsor only if there is a meaningful mission fit and an existing, working relationship between the two organizations.
- Applicants must serve Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and/or Walker counties in Alabama.
- Large organizations with many branches or departments (e.g. colleges, universities, YMCA, public libraries) must submit requests from the president’s office or the development office.
- An applicant with a current open grant from the Community Foundation may apply but MUST be up-to-date on all reporting and should have a very compelling or timely reason for requesting a new grant.
Ineligibility
No grants are made to or for:
- Individuals
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- National fundraising drives
- Sponsorship of fundraising events
- Political organizations or candidates for public office
- Scholarship or endowment funds
- Debt reduction
- Scholarship or campership programs
- Replacement of government funding cuts
- General operating support (funding to maintain current programs or operations) – with exception of small organizations with under $100K revenue (see categories above)
- Unspecified indirect costs (may request a portion of funds to support administrative or other indirect costs, but must be presented as specific line items vs. indirect cost rate/percentage)
For more information, visit Our Community Foundation.
