Funding focuses on serving the next generation of Elkhart County citizens. Consideration areas are early childhood services, educational quality, mentoring, after-school programs/summer school programs, parental support and youth programming.
Funding focuses on serving the next generation of Elkhart County citizens. Consideration areas are early childhood services, educational quality, mentoring, after-school programs/summer school programs, parental support and youth programming.
Funding focuses on enhancing the living experience in Elkhart County. Consideration areas are entertainment and the arts, downtowns, blighted neighborhoods, cultural opportunities, transportation, environment, parks and other recreational assets.
Funding focuses on social service related issues in Elkhart County. Consideration areas are hunger, homelessness, care for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, health and wellness, adult education, care for animals, rehabilitation, recidivism and pathways to success for ex-offenders.
Available on
as-needed basis
Addressing emergency/urgent needs
Email Application Process
Available
monthly
Addressing Youth Development, Vibrant Community or Quality of Life Issues
General Online Application Form Process
Available
bi-annually
Addressing Youth Development, Vibrant Community or Quality of Life Issues
Letter of Intent and Application Process
Available on a case-by-case basis
Addressing Education, Development and Capacity Building needs
Phone call/Email Application Process
Available
monthly
Addressing underwriting support for community and fundraising events
NEW! Apply through Good Neighbor Grant online application
Rapid Response Grant | |
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Available | Open all year-round |
Good Neighbor Grant | |
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First Day of each Month | Application Available |
Last Day of each Month | Application Closes at 5:00pm |
*Applications are available January – December, excluding the month of May. |
Community Investment Grant | |
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April 1 | Online Letter of Intent Available |
May 1 | Letter of Intent Closes – 5:00pm |
October 1 | Online Letter of Intent Available |
November 1 | Letter of Intent Closes – 5:00pm |
Organizational Effectiveness Grant | |
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Available | Open all year-round |
Sponsorships | |
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Available | Open all year-round |
The amount available to spend each year is a standard calculation that many community foundations and private foundations use. The amount available to spend is 5% of the balance of the Fund looking back over 16 quarters (4 years).
Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Millersburg, Nappanee, New Paris, and Wakarusa.
The Community Foundation does not fund: individuals, budget deficits / debt reduction, expenses incurred prior to grant proposal period, church buildings and grounds (exceptions may be given for daycare ministries), requests to support proselytizing (*), political party activities, scholarships for post-secondary education, policy/lobbying, food requests. (**)
(*) Organizations with religious affiliation are not excluded from making grant applications but the project or program must be nonsectarian. (**) There are more than 35 food pantries and hot meal sites in Elkhart County. As such, the Community Foundation responds to food requests by a voluntary means to our local food bank and food pantries as critical needs arise. If a food pantry or a hot meal site has a request that is a non-food related request, it is welcome to contact the Community Foundation about the submission.
The Community Foundation does not typically reconsider an application for a project that has been denied funding. We do encourage organizations to re-apply for funding for a different project or program that better aligns with the mission of the foundation. Organizations are encouraged to contact our office if their request is denied and they have questions.
Yes. We will entertain requests for full, partial and/or multi-year requests. Most requests are typically funded for one year projects; however multi-year requests are supported where the need is evident. We may also edit a request and make an offer of partial or matching funding at our discretion.
Yes, after reviewing all supplemental materials such as the guidelines, timelines and FAQ’s, if you still have questions, please contact the Community Foundation’s program office, 574-295-8761.
Organizations may speak to a member of our program staff regarding their project or program. However proposals must be submitted online for review and consideration.
Organizations interested in funding for capital campaign projects should apply for funding through our Community Investment Grants.
Yes, if you are submitting a request for funding for projects such as… roofing, computers, carpeting, furnace, A/C, etc., you must submit no less than two vendor quotes. Applications missing these quotes will not be considered for funding.
Yes, however we still require financial information from you which includes a current operating budget for your organization and a project budget.
The Community Foundation desires to play an active role in providing our nonprofit community with leadership development and continuous improvement programs through our innovative Organizational Effectiveness Resource Center (OERC). Our goal is to elevate a whole community of nonprofit organizations into well-managed, collaborative agencies by providing resources and development opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations, thus helping them realize – and sustain – their missions.
2018 Opportunities
For more information on the OERC, please contact Justine Lightfoot, Director of Marketing and Communications, at 574.295.8761 or via email at Justine@InspiringGood.org.
Shannon@InspiringGood.org
574.295.8761
Karla@InspiringGood.org
574.295.8761
Amanda@InspiringGood.org
574.295.8761
Samantha@InspiringGood.org
574.295.8761