In cooperation with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and the state of Vermont’s Office of Racial Equity, the Vermont Community Foundation is seeking proposals from Vermont villages, towns, and cities that close the opportunity gap by supporting local efforts to foster inclusion and belonging for people of all races and backgrounds.
Donor Name: The Vermont Community Foundation
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of the Grant: Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
Size of the Grant: $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
They recognize the powerful leadership roles that local governments can play in removing structural barriers and building a more inclusive and diverse state, and want to support communities in fulfilling that potential.
The vision they hope to advance with this grant program is a Vermont where:
- All people feel connected to their communities, and do not feel afraid to visit, live, or conduct business in certain towns because of a reputation for exclusion, intolerance, or bias, nor because of a person’s own appearance.
- Businesses and local governing bodies can easily recruit or be led by people who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) because they feel safe and supported as members of the community.
- Educators, students, local leaders, and families have tools and resources to handle issues of discrimination, exclusion, intolerance, or bias as soon as they happen.
- It doesn’t matter how long someone has lived here to be considered a part of the community.
What they Fund
They recognize that Vermont communities are starting in different places in their work on equity, inclusion, and belonging and that communities will need different things at different times. They welcome communities at all stages of learning.
Because of this, the program is open to a range of proposals that meet locally defined community needs. This may include:
- Requests for funding to support consultant-led work within a community
- introductory training on diversity, equity, and inclusion
- implicit bias training
- equity assessments
- planning efforts
- review of hiring practices
- Community-wide conversations
- Support for the creation and work of municipal equity committees
- Stipends for community members to be involved in the work (for example, so that people can take time off work, pay for child care or transportation, or otherwise have their time appropriately compensated)
- Or a combination of these activities
Funding Information
This program will award grants of up to $10,000 for a 12-month project period.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants are Vermont cities, towns, and villages. Nonprofit organizations or community groups doing work on behalf of and in coordination with a city, town, or village may apply if a letter of support from the municipal partner is included.
- Grant applications will be accepted from organizations that are located in or serve the people of Vermont. Organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a public agency or municipality in the state of Vermont. Nonprofit organizations or community groups that do not have 501(c)(3) status may apply for grant awards if another tax-exempt organization acts as a fiscal sponsor.
- No person in the United States shall, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (as defined in paragraph 249(c)(4) of title 18, United States Code), sexual orientation, marital or parental status, political affiliation, military service, physical or mental ability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds made available (meaning any funds having a competitive application process) by the Vermont Community Foundation, and any other program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds appropriated for grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance administered by the Foundation.
For more information, visit Equitable & Inclusive Communities.
