Grant Opportunities for Community Foundations

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 software training of general ledger, donor or grants management systems. This option is limited to 50% of the total cost, with a maximum of $2,500 available per request. 

Team-up Grants: Up to $5,000 in support is available for a group technology/software project that benefits at least three community foundations. This support could be used for group training or software development. 

Transition Support: Support is avaialble for key staff turnover or for a transition to a third-party accounting provider.  This support may be used to assist in the purchase, migration and or training costs related to these transitions. a maximum $5000 is available.

Cybersecurity Audit: Support for community foundations with assets under $50 million is available to support the Digital Elevation Information Technology Security Assessment process. Foundations should first contact Scott Montgomery at Digital Elevation to receive an estimate and include their estimate with this grant application.

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

Equipment Purchase: Support up to $2,500 for the purchase of equipment such as laptops, printers or other electronic devices (i.e. OWL cameras). This option is limited to foundations with assets under $25 million and should be used for one-time purchases such as staff expansions or emergency replacements only.

Other: Limited funds to support other training or technology-related investments are available on a case-by-case basis. In your request, please provide details as to how the funds will advance your foundation’s work.

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.