Follow these steps to successfully submit your application for a grant.
What we look for:
In reviewing proposals, we look for projects that:
- Meet well-defined community needs
- Use data to define needs and measure impact
- Encourage cooperation and collaboration among service providers
- Promote community involvement
- Foster self-reliance
- Focus on preventation. as well as treatment
- Build on programs that have proven successful elsewhere or provide new models or approaches
- Help non-profit agencies operate more efficiently.
Who is eligible:
To be considered for a grant, an organization must be a public charity located in or serving
the people of Vermont, which is exempt from income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
(and not classified as a private foundation), or be a public agency/unit of government in the State of Vermont.
When to Apply:
Decisions for grants requests over $5000 are made three times a year; February 1, June 1 and October 1.
We will notify you of the result of your application within six weeks of the deadline. Requests under $5000 can be submitted
at anytime. We will notify you within six weeks after submitting your request.
How much to ask for:
Requests for support exceed our capacity to fund them. Therefore, requests should be appropriate to
the project, reflect realistic expectations and show diversify funding sources. Also keep in mind, 80% of the grants awarded
are under $5000.
Submitting your application:
We have tried to make our application process simple, straight-forward and flexible to allow you the
freedom to tell us what you are trying to accomplish. However, we need to have you provide some basic information to help us
fairly assess the many requests for support we receive.
If you are requesting a grant for under $1000, please refer to the Application for Grants Under $1000 document.
For grant requests $1000 and over, please submit the following:
- 1. Completed cover sheet
- A one to two page narrative (in no less than 12-pt font) that briefly outlines
- the need you are addressing,
- how you know it is a need (evidence/data),
- what activities you plan as a response to the need what you will measure or count to know you are successful,
- people who will benefit,
- sustainability of your response to the need,
- the project’s timetable,
- personnel involved and their qualifications.
- Project Budget including income (in hand and expected) and expenses
- List of your Board of Directors
- Letter from IRS verifying your public charity status as a 501(c),(3) tax exempt organization
- Most recent audited financial statement
How your application will be evaluated:
These are the major considerations we will use to evaluate your proposal:
- Is it compatible with our guidelines?
- Is the need being addressed well-documented?
- Is there a base of support for the agency addressing the need?
- Is there evidence of collaboration with others?
- Is there committed leadership available?
- How does the project foster healthy and vital communities in central Vermont?
Apply for Grants Under $1000
Download and Print Application (PDF)
Apply for Grants Over $1000
Download and Print Application (PDF)
