Core Mission Grants from Community Foundation, GRB

Due Date: May 15 and November 1 each year
Eligible Entity: Applying nonprofit organizations must reside in Mercer, Rock Island, Knox, Henry, Whiteside, or Carroll County
Maximum: $15,000
Web Link: http://www.cfgrb.org/core-mission-grants-new.html

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Core Mission Grants will be awarded to help build nonprofit organization capacity, improving the organization's effectiveness and ability to deliver services to the people who need them. Applying nonprofit organizations must reside in Mercer, Rock Island, Knox, Henry, Whiteside, or Carroll County.

 Amount of Core Mission Grants

Grants are available for up to $15,000. Grants may be structured as either a single year or multi-year distributions (up to 3 years) - again with a $15,000 total maximum.

Organizations may only receive one Core Mission Grant every three years. If an organization is awarded a Core Mission Grant, they may not apply for an Impact Grant until the following calendar year.

Deadlines for Core Mission Grants

The Core Mission Grant application starts with a Letter of Interest qualifying process. Letters of Interest are completed through a web-based system. There are two Core Mission Grant cycles; with the Letters of Interest deadlines of March 15 and September 1 of each year. If the project concept meets the Core Mission guidelines, the organization will then be invited to complete the online application. The full applications are due by May 15 and November 1 each year.

Types of Grant Applications That Will Be Considered

Capacity-building grants topics include:

• Strategic planning
• Board training and education
• Staff training
• Succession planning
• Collaborative work/partnerships with other agencies
• Critical equipment needs
• Technology/software needs

 All Core Mission Grant applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Application: Well-written.
2. Capacity Building intention: Clearly stated.
3. Project plan: Achievable.
4. Clear Measures: Goals and outcomes are clear and measurable.
5. Broad Reach: The project will benefit a large number of people.
6. Inclusion: The project will reach vulnerable and diverse populations.
7. Volunteer Leverage: The project engages and utilizes volunteer resources.
8. Financial Leverage: The project engages other funding sources.
9. Partnership: The project uses partnerships to accomplish project goals.
10.Overall Impact Potential: The project does important work in the community.

Examples for capacity building projects may be found at the links below. These documents are offered to generate ideas for how to frame capacity building applications, not to limit possibilities. (The lists under each link indicate target areas for the Core Mission Grants)

Building Non-Profit Capacity: Findings from the Compassion Capital Fund Evaluation

1. Organizational Development (Strategic Planning, Financial Management, & Management and Administration)
2. Program Development
3. Leadership Development

Organization Capacity Assessment Tool

1. Board of Directors
2. Strategic Planning
3. Financial Management
4. Program Monitoring
5. Technology

Follow this link to the online Core Mission Grant Application. If it's your first visit to this link, you will be asked to create a new account. If you have questions or problems, please call us at (563) 326-2840.