Community Impact Grant Guidelines
Please review the following grant guidelines to determine if your organization is eligible to compete for funds. Applications are due August 1st. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Who is eligible to apply?
The Community Foundation of West Georgia considers grant applications from organizations that:
- Are determined as charitable under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, public entities or other charitable, educational or cultural organizations.
- Must provide programs and services to the West Georgia area, including one or more of the following three counties: Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties.
- The Foundation will only accept applications from previously funded organizations if a final report has been submitted, unless the request is for a new program/project.
- Have been in operation for a minimum of two years. The Foundation will not consider funding of start-up programs of new organizations
What is the range of grants?
The Community Foundation does not set a minimum or maximum amount for grant awards.
Is there a match requirement for funds received?
While there are no specific match requirement for funds received, the Foundation encourages funding to be matched with other sources.
What does the grant fund?
The Community Foundation looks to fund proposals which:
The Foundation considers and funds applications in the following six areas:
Arts
Education
Environment
Social Services
Please Note: Education includes both public and private education at all levels.
What criteria should applications emphasize?
The Community Foundation looks for proposals which:
- Address a significant need affecting a broad segment of the region’s population or special populations considered a risk.
- Demonstrate organizational expertise in delivering quality services.
- Document capacity to mobilize resources including financial support, in-kind support and volunteers to sustain programs.
- Have established sound management and administration, including a clearly defined and elective governance structure and financial systems.
- Provide evidence of careful planning to address community needs and access community resources.
- Include innovative strategies that offer creative solutions without duplicating other efforts.
- Document efforts to achieve broad-based financial and volunteer support.
- When evaluating requests, the Foundation also considers the balance of geography, needs and resources in the community.
Are new organizations and operating support eligible?
No, the Community Foundation will not consider the funding of new organizations for start-up and operating support. An organization must have been in existence for a minimum of two years. The program must have an established record of identifying and meeting the needs in the community. Also, you must demonstrate support (financial, volunteers, etc.) for the new program.
Can organizations apply for continued funding?
The Community Foundation is rarely the sole funder of on-going ventures. Normally, the Community Foundation does not support organizations on an on-going basis, preferring to distribute its currently limited funds among many organizations. When the foundation receives a request for repeat funding, decision-makers carefully review proposals for other sources of funding and evidence of long term financial strength.
How much can I receive?
The amount requested can not be more than 30% of the total organizational operating budget. Ex. Operating budget $30,000 per year, request cannot exceed $9,000.
What activities are not eligible for funding?
- Activities that are normally the responsibility of government
- Annual fundraising campaigns or fundraising events
- Charities operated by service clubs
- Endowments
- For profit organizations
- Grants to individuals
- Leased property improvements
- Lobbying activities or organizations that participate in such activities
- Memorials
- Operating deficits or debt reduction
- Organizations that in turn make grants to others
- Projects of a religious nature or that require participation in a religious activity as a condition for receiving services
- Scholarships
- Start-ups
How does an organization apply for a grant?
Any 501(c)(3) or organization interested in seeking a grant should follow these steps:
- Review the grant application, located HERE and guidelines listed on this page to determine if your organization is eligible to compete for funds.
- Follow the grant application directions very carefully
- NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Final grant decisions are approved by the Community Foundation of West Georgia’s Board of Directors in October. Grant funds will be available for distribution in November.
What is the application review process?
The Community Foundation staff reviews all received proposal
- The Community Foundation staff may request additional information for more extensive evaluation by the Foundation’s grants committee. Foundation staff and a grants panel made up of community leaders may conduct site visits or telephone interviews for proposals selected for more extensive evaluation. The grants panel and grants committee will make funding recommendations to the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
- The Community Foundation Board of Directors makes the final decisions on grant awards. Written notification of grant decisions are sent to applicants within one week following the board meeting. All applicants are notified as to the final decision by the end of October.
- A grant recipient has up to 12 months following the award notification date to request the funds. If funds are not requested within 12 months of the award date the grant will be rescinded.
What are the reporting requirements?
After receipt of grant funds, grant recipients are required to submit a final report within 30 days of expenditure of funds. The final report form can be found HERE. Other materials may be submitted along with the final report, such as pictures, articles, etc. Failure to submit a final report will affect future grant requests.
