Grant Opportunities

Good Deeds Grants are made available through Good Deeds endowments, which are unrestricted endowments created by contributions from Wabash County citizens and Lilly Endowment, Inc. who had the foresight to provide for the ever-changing needs of our community. The Community Foundation named this collection of endowments the Good Deeds Endowments, because as unrestricted funds, these endowments have the freedom and flexibility to support a variety of “good deeds.”

The Community Foundation will award competitive grants to support charitable activities in a number of areas such as the arts, recreation, health and human services, the environment, education, and civic and economic development. Grants with a priority for for activities that meet a basic human need, create opportunities for people who ordinarily do not have them, and/or increase the capability of a nonprofit organization to serve people who have limited resources and opportunities. As an example, we consider the arts to be a basic need for any society. Generally, however, we will give priority to those arts projects that make the arts accessible to people with the least opportunity for exposure to the arts or the least opportunity to practice the arts. Awards can be used to fund programs or projects, train staff or members, or improve an organization’s facilities if by doing so they increase their ability to serve the basic needs of people in Wabash County.

Any nonprofit organization with a sustained and consistent presence in Wabash County or any organization doing charitable work that serves Wabash County citizens may apply to the Community Foundation’s Good Deeds Grant program. Applicants with the greatest chance of receiving a grant will have the financial and organizational capacity to carry out the proposed activity. Faith-based organizations may apply for program funding provided there are no requirements to participate in religious instruction and/or take part in religious activities.

Proposals are reviewed twice each year. The spring grant cycle is available from January 2 through February 15. The fall grant cycle is available from August 1 through September 15. Grants are announced one month after the deadline. Please note that organizations will not be awarded Good Deeds Grants more than once during a calendar year. For example, if an organization is awarded a Good Deeds Grant in the spring cycle, the organization should wait until the following spring to apply again.

• Unused grant money. Unspent money in an amount equal to or greater than 5% of the total grant must be returned to the Community Foundation. Grant recipients can spend a lesser amount of unused grant money for purposes consistent with the grant with permission from the Foundation staff. Grant recipients must account for expenses in the financial section of the final report.
• Good standing. Only organizations in good standing with the Community Foundation may apply for grants. Good standing means that the organization has followed these guidelines, submitted acceptable final reports for previous grants in a timely manner, and has returned any unused portions of grants.
• Grants to religious organizations. Faith-based organizations may apply for program funding provided there are no requirements to participate in religious instruction and/or take part in religious activities..
• National organizations. National organizations (except for local chapters serving Wabash County) are not eligible for funding through the Foundation’s grant program.
• Fund raising. Proposals for grants to cover the costs of conducting annual fund campaigns or capital campaigns or to produce programs or products for profit do not qualify for Good Deeds Grants. However, sale of items to raise money for charitable activity is permissible. For example, Junior Achievement may use a grant to produce and sell a product if all sales are used to cover the organization’s costs of doing charitable work.
• Grant limitations. The Community Foundation makes grants with the understanding it has no obligation or commitment to provide additional support to grant recipients. All grants are awarded for a one-year period. Approved grants must be used within the grant period or funds will be forfeited.
• The Foundation asks grant recipients to recognize the Community Foundation of Wabash County in grant-related publicity materials (programs, press releases, electronic communications, etc.).
• Eligible organizations. The Community Foundation welcomes grant proposals from organizations serving Wabash County defined as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code or non-501(c)(3) organizations with charitable causes.

The Community Foundation of Wabash County operates without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, or disability in its overall administration and in the consideration of the grant request.