Competitive granting initiative to award grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has opened the grant application for its annual Community Impact Funding Initiative. Grants funded through this initiative aim to strengthen the community by supporting innovative projects with lasting impact and enable organizations to address pressing problems or pursue compelling opportunities in Monroe County. The 2018 grant initiative, co-funded by Smithville Charitable Foundation, will award grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to area nonprofits.
Local 501(c)(3) organizations and other organizations exempt from filing for 501(c)(3) status may apply for the 2018 grants. Grant funding is designed to support a broad range of community needs such as arts and culture, social and health services, education, recreation, beautification and preservation, animal welfare, the environment, and community development opportunities.
Priority in the evaluation of grant proposals will be given to projects that incorporate and embrace the following:
- Innovative or transformative solutions to critical community issues
- Collaboration across organizations and/or sectors to increase impact and effectiveness
- Projects/programs that plan for long-term sustainability (when applicable)
To be considered for funding, applicants must first submit a two-page letter of intent and verification of tax-exempt status to the Community Foundation by 5 p.m. on September 19. Following a review of the letters of intent, selected organizations will be invited to submit full grant proposals, which will be due November 6. Grants will be awarded in January 2018.
“Over the last few years, the Community Foundation has focused its competitive grantmaking on a couple of critical community needs: empowering youth to achieve their potential and nonprofit capacity building,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson.
“As we surveyed the landscape this year, it seemed appropriate to broaden our approach, and we will not have a specific focus area for 2017-18 grants,” she added. “We look forward to working across the nonprofit continuum to support compelling opportunities and pressing needs from organizations serving the community in many different arenas. The Community Foundation continues to focus on solution-based grant making. As always, this initiative will fund projects that are innovative, forward thinking and transformative for our community.”
A few examples of recent Impact Grant projects include:
- Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools – development of curriculum to enable Grandview Elementary to become Bloomington’s first state-accredited STEM school.
- LifeDesigns – support for the Employment First project, building LifeDesigns capacity to support clients’ pursuits of careers in the community.
- WonderLab – utilization of a museum-planning consultant to reimagine its environment and exhibits to enhance visitor experience and add science learning throughout.
- Girls Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana – funding to expand and strengthen the Girls Inc. mentoring program. The program matches 50 high-risk girls with 50 caring Big Sister adult mentors.
- Centerstone – funding to support three certified mental health first aid instructors to train 200+ concerned Monroe County citizens to support children, adults and veterans facing a mental illness or substance use disorder.
- Bloomington Hospital Foundation for the Bloom360° program – designed to give infants a healthy start through prenatal and postpartum care, as well as encourage and support healthy behaviors among children and adults throughout their lives.
- Sycamore Land Trust – creation of a 30-acre nature preserve within the Bean Blossom Conservation area, a parcel that is part of larger effort to connect already protected areas between Lake Lemon, Griffy Lake and the White River.
Guidelines and instructions for the 2018 grant initiative are available online at https://cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-grant/community-impact-grants/. For more information on eligibility and application procedures, contact CFBMC Program Director Marcus Whited at (812) 333-9016 or [email protected].
“We’re incredibly grateful to be able to offer community impact grants again this year,” added Peterson. “This funding initiative would not be possible without the generosity of the Community Foundation donors and partners like the Smithville Charitable Foundation.”
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County:
Created by individuals, families and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $24 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $30 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes and community resources.
About Smithville Charitable Foundation: Inspired by altruism, The Smithville Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 as a desire to enrich lives by creating opportunities and bringing necessities to the communities served by Smithville Communications. As a private foundation, Smithville Charitable Foundation works closely with community foundations in the 17 counties of its service territory to support a variety of causes related to religion, education, health, the arts, relief of poverty or distress, and various public organizations.