COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM

The Scott County Community Foundation offers the opportunity once per year for nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities to apply for unrestricted grants in order to respond to community needs and opportunities. Applicants must provide services to Scott County residents to be considered.

Applications for our 2021 Community Grants Program will be available in late January/early February and are due at the end of April. Grants are awarded mid-June.

Areas of Interest

• Grant Guidelines

  1. The broad purpose of the Scott County Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life of the residents of Scott County.
  2. The Foundation will strive to maintain both a proactive focus and an ability to respond to creative ideas from grant seekers.
  3. Grant funding will focus on the encouragement of programs that enhance cooperating and collaboration among institutions within our community. Foundation funds ordinarily are not given to agencies for the purpose of meeting routine budgets.
  4. Funding will seek to offer leverage funds through the use of “seed money,” match and challenge grants.
  5. Funding will focus on effectiveness of special non-recurring projects which enrich health, education, cultural or recreational situations in Scott County.
  6. Special consideration will be given to agencies that partner with other organizations to complete a unified project.
  7. Although the Foundation does not typically fund the following, depending upon an organization’s particular needs compared to applications submitted by other organizations during the same cycle, the board, at their discretion, may allow some of the below listed items:
     • Ongoing operational expenses
     • Existing obligations
     • Services primarily supported by tax dollars or responsibility of a public agency
     • Multi-year grants or repeat funding
     • Religious or sectarian purposes
     • Loans or endowments
  8. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals or for advocacy/political purposes.
• Grant Policies

  1. Grants will be made only to organizations whose programs benefit the residents of Scott County.
  2. Grants from the Scott County Community Foundation must meet legal and tax requirements as to the purpose and may be made only to charitable organizations and/or causes.
  3. Grantees may be required to attend an interview by the Grants Committee.
  4. Grantees must submit a final grant evaluation report. Future grants will not be awarded to an organization that does not submit a timely report. Grant money must be used for the specific purpose as stated in the line item budget provided in the grant application. Any changes in purpose must be requested in writing and approved by the Foundation prior to any changes being made. Any portion of the amount granted which is not used for the purpose of the grant will be repaid.
  5. Grants will only be made to organizations, that as required by law make equal opportunities available to all persons without regard to race, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, citizenship status, or any other category protected under state or local law.
  6. After evaluation, the Grants Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors, which makes all funding decisions.