You must be a tax-exempt organization
While each grant process has its own criteria, all applicants must be defined as tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) or any applicable statute of the Internal Revenue code. While grants are occasionally made to governmental agencies, local nonprofits receive priority. Requests will be considered from groups that do not have tax-exemption status, provided that they have a fiscal agent with the appropriate tax status. In projects involving a partnership of agencies, a single agency with the appropriate tax status and financial management capacity must assume the role of lead organization.
Individuals are not eligible for grants except for applicants to academic scholarships.
You must provide services within our 5 town area:
- Ansonia
- Derby
- Oxford
- Seymour
- Shelton
You must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal anti-discrimination laws on the basis of:
- age
- sex
- religion
- national origin
- sexual preference
This pertains to all aspects of organizational operations including hiring, leadership and service provision.
Unless otherwise noted by a specific grant program, projects that do not generally receive consideration:
- activities that include the practice or promulgation of any faith or ideology
- endowment campaigns
- previously incurred expenses
- funding deficits
- sports groups/leagues that do not provide academic and/or other social supports
- organizations that have a fiscal sponsor that is outside the TCF region and do not have a local Advisory Board or Board of Directors
- LLCs with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor
- Nonprofits closely affiliated with a for-profit business that offers similar programs and/or shares leadership
- PTSOs, PTOs, PTAs, Sport/Club booster clubs of PK-12 academic programs
Grants available for capital campaigns are limited
Amounts available for capital campaigns are limited. Requests for capital projects (building, equipment, vehicles, and other depreciable items) will be evaluated as to their ability to enable the organization to more significantly serve its constituency.
The Valley Community Foundation does not provide permanent funding for projects. Most grants are made for one to three years, with continuing support contingent upon availability of support and achievement of stated measures and benchmarks. There are times, however, when requests for longer-term funding are considered and supported, in accordance with the Foundation's strategic goal to put community assets on solid ground.
