Skip to main content

Grant Opportunities for Community Foundations

There are several grant opportunities available for CMF community foundation members through CMF’s Community Foundation Endowment Fund. The fund which is stewarded by CMF with the advice and support of CMF’s Community Foundation Committee provides support to CMF community foundation members in the areas of organizational capacity building, professional development, technical support and accreditations. CMF staff reviews requests and makes decisions based on the funding available and the guidance of the Community Foundation Committee. CMF members must log in to access the application.

Continue

As community foundations leverage new and innovative partnerships and approaches to build more equitable communities for all, CMF’s Community Foundation Committee has revised the endowment funding model to ensure we are effectively supporting community foundations in growing their capacity and leadership. The committee has reserved a pool of funding within the Community Foundation Endowment Fund to inspire and support new ideas and innovative practices in community philanthropy. 

In addition to the existing support offered to CMF community foundation members, funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis for the following priority areas: 

  • Advancing Racial Equity: Community foundations may apply for funding to support their needs in addressing racial equity issues. 
  • Capacity Building: Community foundations may apply for funding for training or education to increase their capacity. 
  • Technical Assistance: Beyond the support already provided for software transitions, training and team-up grants, community foundations can apply for support or other assistance needed to work remotely and adapt amid COVID-19. 

Only CMF member community foundations are eligible for this opportunity. The committee will review the funding model and priority areas regularly. 

  • All consulting services provided through CMF’s Consultant Network are eligible except services that would be eligible for the Community Foundation Technology Endowment Grant program and legal services. Please contact Randy Van Antwerp for questions regarding legal services. 

  • Eligible community foundations must be members of CMF and in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. 

  • Affiliates must have their lead community foundation submit on their behalf. 

  • Current asset level of the foundation or affiliate applicant must be less than $50 million.  

Software Training: Support for individual foundations to pay for software training of general ledger, donor or grants management systems. This option is limited to foundations with assets of less than $10 million, with a maximum of $750 available per foundation. 

Team-up Grants: Support of up to $5,000 is available for a group technology/software project that benefits a minimum of three community foundations. This support could be used for group trainings or software development. 

Transition Support: Support of up to $2,500 per foundation is available for key staff turnover or for a transition to a third-party accounting provider.  

Cybersecurity Audit: Support for community foundations with assets under $50 million is available to support the foundation’s completion of the OST Information Technology Security Assessment process. Foundations should first contact OST to receive an audit estimate and include their estimate with this grant application. For more information about the assessment and how to contact OST, visit https://bit.ly/31aX2hb

Grant levels are as follows: 

  • Assets of $1 - $10 million: $2,000 

  • Assets over $10 - $25 million: $1,500 

  • Assets over $25 - $50 million: $1,000 

Community foundations with assets under $50 million will be eligible for a $250 per person CMF Annual Conference scholarship for the first two registrants, equaling a total of $500 in scholarships.

Community foundations with assets under $50 million can apply for funds to participate in sector events and online trainings offered by other organizations, as well as for memberships to ABFE and HIP.

Support will be provided to community foundations who participate in the National Standards process.

Community foundations with $1-$10 million in assets may apply for support up to $500.

Community foundations with $10-$25 million in assets may apply for support up to $250.

X