The Foundation receives and maintains separate accounts for some funds which are restricted to a particular use. Other unrestricted funds are given by donors who leave the decision on distribution to the CFGSWC Board of Directors to use in meeting the changing and emerging needs of the South Wood County area. It is for these unrestricted funds that grant seekers apply and to which the following policies, procedures and guidelines are directed.
In dispensing these funds, it is the mission of the CFGSWC to exercise leadership on charitable issues, while advancing the cause of philanthropy throughout our area and promoting effective delivery of services from nonprofit organizations.
The Community Foundation of Greater South Wood County gives priority to programs which:
- Address emerging needs not being met by existing government or private charitable agencies or by existing revenue sources
- Strengthen internal management capabilities of existing organizations
- Reach a broad segment of the community or serve those not being adequately served by the community’s resources
- Promote collaboration and avoid duplication of service among charitable agencies
- Test or demonstrate new approaches and techniques for solving problems
- Generate matching funds or attract contributions from other donors to the community or agency
- Promote volunteer participation and citizen involvement in community affairs
Typically, grants are not awarded to individuals or for routine operating needs, annual fund raising, deficit financing, religious purposes, capital fund drives, or endowment funds.
In general, the Community Foundation is less likely to grant funds for the following types of requests and organizations:
- Annual operating expenses of established agencies.
- Travel, tours, trips.
- Research projects.
- Publications and videos.
- Conferences, workshop, seminars, symposia, etc.
- Replacement of local tax support.
In general, the Community Foundation will not grant funds to the following types of organizations or projects:
- Religious activities or programs that serve, or appear to serve, specific religious groups or denominations. However, if a proposal submitted by a church-based or similar organization is intended to serve a broad segment of the population as the program of a comparable non-religious organization, the Community Foundation will consider the proposal on the same basis as proposals from other agencies.
- Political lobbying or legislative activities.
- Establish or enhance endowments.
- Debt retirement, deficit financing, reduction of an operating deficit or to liquidate debt or to replenish resources used to pay for such purposes.
- National, state or local fundraising activities, i.e., annual fund drives, courtesy advertising, benefit tickets, telephone solicitations. (General solicitation letters will not be acknowledged.)
- General operating expenses for United Way agencies. A United Way agency with a new or expanded project may be considered.
- Umbrella funding organizations that would distribute requested funds at their own discretion.
- Individuals.
Quarterly: February 28, May 31, August 31, November 30.
- To apply for a CFGSWC grant, you may contact Mary Wirtz, Vice President-Community Philanthropy, to discuss your program and ensure that your request fits Community Foundation guidelines.
- For a Grant Application (in Word Document format) click on the link at the top of this page.
- Grant applications must be received before close of business on the deadline date above.
- The Grant Review Committee of CFGSWC will review all grants, establishing eligibility, and report upon all grant applications to the CFGSWC Board of Directors.
- Grantmaking policy and grant award decisions are the responsibility of the Grants Committee and shall be decided by a majority vote of the Committee at a meeting where a quorum is present and confirmed by the Board of Directors, according to Community Foundation bylaws.
- Under normal circumstances, only one request from an organization will be reviewed in a twelve-month period.
- All grant recipients must report on the expenditure of grant funds and results of the project within one year of the grant award.
- Any funds not spent for the specific purpose of the grant must be returned to the Community Foundation and cannot be diverted to other uses without the express approval of the Community Foundation's Board of Directors.
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