By DEVAN GAGLIARDO – Community Foundation of Grundy County
June 8, 2015
MORRIS – Believe it or not, school is out for summer. June has arrived and we are already halfway through 2015.
Earlier in the year, I wrote about the Community Foundation of Grundy County’s grant process and since we are halfway through the year, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind organizations about our grant process.
In order to receive unrestricted grant funds, organizations must complete a grant application, which is reviewed by our Grants and Programs Committee. Monies from the unrestricted grant fund can only be approved for nonprofit organizations that serve Grundy County. The foundation does not typically award funds for individuals, scholarships, religious denominations, disease-specific organizations or operational budgets.
Our grant cycle is open for the 2015 calendar year and grants are awarded until the fund is exhausted. Grant requests typically do not exceed $5,000. Organizations interested in applying for a grant must provide the Grants and Programs Committee with a description of their project, including the benefits it would have on Grundy County, the proposed budget and the organization’s financials. Organizations must also have proof of the organization’s charitable status.
In addition, organizations must provide the Community Foundation of Grundy County with photographs or copies of public relations around the project. Monies granted to an organization must be used for the purpose approved by the Community Foundation of Grundy County. The Grants and Programs Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month; however, we ask that applicants submit their applications one week before that meeting so the committee has time to review the grant prior to meeting.
Our total unrestricted grant budget for 2015 is $30,000. To date, the committee has approved three grants totaling just under $7,000. The Grundy County Health Department was awarded a small grant to complete the Hoarding Task Force, which was a pilot project supported by the foundation in 2014. We Care of Grundy County requested and was approved for a grant to assist in purchasing a new van. And the Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association of Minooka was awarded a grant to purchase a new AED.
The Grants and Programs Committee met last week and reviewed several grant applications, three of which the committee will take to the Board of Trustees at the June board meeting for final approval. So stay tuned for those.
Even if all three of those grants are approved, we will still have funds available for 2015. Therefore, I would strongly encourage any nonprofit that has a need to apply. I am always willing to talk with organizations before they submit a grant application should questions arise.
In August 2014, the foundation began convening the Senior Network, which is comprised of organizations that serve senior citizens. Since August, the foundation has made seniors the focus of several events and is interested in supporting senior programming through our unrestricted grants. Therefore, the Grants and Programs Committee would welcome organizations serving senior citizens to apply for a grant.
Anyone with questions regarding applying for an unrestricted grant through the Community Foundation of Grundy County can contact me at [email protected] or 815-941-0852.
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