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 2024 Community Grants Program are due at the end of April. Grants are awarded mid-June. First-time applicants are required to meet with staff to discuss and review requests to help ensure a successful proposal.

Complete your 2024 Community Grants Program Application HERE. This application is currently closed.

Download our Community Grants Program Rubric to assist with your grant proposal HERE.

Areas of Interest

Education
Health
Community-Development

Areas of Interest

1. Community Betterment: Arts & cultural development; Community beautification, improvement, and enhancement projects; economic development efforts; leadership training; recreation; environment; general community programs and projects.

2. Health & Human Services: Public safety; elderly services; children and youth services; family services; health-related programs.

3. Education: Pre-school, secondary, post-secondary, and special education; community education.

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.
  4. Funding will seek to offer leverage funds through the use of seed money, match and challenge grants.
  5. Special consideration will be given to agencies that partner with other organizations to complete a unified project.
  6. 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: Services primarily supported by tax dollars or responsibility of a public agency; Religious or sectarian purposes.
  7. The Foundation does not make grants for the following: advocacy or political purposes; individuals; existing obligations/debt; multi-year grants; loans or endowments.

Grant Policies

  1. Grants will be made only to organizations whose programs benefit the residents of Scott County.
  2. Grants may be made to organizations defined as a 501(c)(3) organization public charity and 509(a)(1), and 509(a)(1), and must be used for charitable purposes as defined by section 170(b)(1)(A). Grants may be made to non-charities, e.g., grants to other 501(c) organizations. Grants to non-charities require expenditure responsibility.
  3. Primary data sources to verify public charity status include: IRS Business Master File, Publication 78 and the potential grantee’s IRS determination letter.
  4. Staff reviews all grant proposals to ensure completion of application and eligibility requirements.
  5. Grantees may be required to attend an interview by the Grants Committee.
  6. Grantees must submit a final grant evaluation report. The Grantee will not be allowed to participate in any future Grant Cycles until the final report is on file in the Foundation Office. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. After evaluation, the Grants Committee makes recommendations to Board of Directors, which makes all funding decisions.