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Guidelines

Overview
Competitive Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations and 170(c)(1) governmental units serving the 15 Middlesex County towns. Grant proposals should address a need within identified Focus Areas and demonstrate a positive impact on the organization, project, community or persons served.

While some variation is possible because of funds available for grantmaking, the Focus Areas for past grants have included: the arts, education, the environment, heritage enhancement, human services, neighborhood enhancement, safer communities, and women and girls.

Community Foundation grants typically range from a minimum of $500 to a high of $5,000, with the majority of grants in the $1,500 to $3,000 range. The Foundation does not explicitly prohibit previous grant recipients from applying for the same program in the current funding cycle; subsequent funding will be considered by the Grants Committee, but is not guaranteed.

Funding Priorities:
The Community Foundation gives priority to grant proposals that:

• address a documented need or concern of the focus area;
• build the capacity of community organizations and individuals to help themselves over the long term;
• foster cooperative approaches to community issues through collaborations based on shared visions and mutual responsibility
• serve as a catalyst for attracting other resources

Normally, the Foundation WILL NOT award grants to endowment, capital campaigns, building programs nor to fund debt reduction or lobbying. Grants will not be made to individuals or to political organizations and campaigns.