Grants

Grants2024-06-09T21:30:46-05:00

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As defined by the Internal Revenue Status, the term charitable “is used in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; erection or maintenance of public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.” A broad definition of charitable activities would include any activity that benefits large groups or communities, where no personal or private benefit is gained, and involve no lobbying or electioneering.

Organizations eligible for grants from Our Community Foundation are those that hold public charity status as determined by the IRS. This includes organization described in section 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the tax codes. Grants may also be made to government units for public purposes. In some cases, grants may be made to other nonprofits organization who do not hold 501(c)(3) status if the proposed project or program is deemed charitable and addresses a community need. Any grant made to a unit of government, school, or non-501(c)(3) organization must be in support of a specific project or program. General operating grants will typically not be made to non-501(c)(3) organizations.

Our Community Foundation will not grant to any entity outside the United States. Grants will be focused on nonprofit organizations that benefit residents of Daviess County, Indiana and are established in the community.

Before any grant is made from Our Community Foundation, due diligence will be completed to determine:

• The grant is being made for charitable purposes

• The recipient organization is well managed, fiscally, and pro grammatically

• The organization can carry out the purpose of the grant

• No substantial benefit is gained by any involved party, either from individuals involved in grant activities, or from any donor or subcommittee recommending the grant.

Organizations seeking funding from Our Community Foundation will be expected to provide certain information to the Foundation for due diligence procedures. Information needed will vary depending on the size and nature of the grant.

Our Community Foundation protects financial and personal information that applicants submit to it. This includes information provided by applicants for grants. The Foundation may disclose the identity of grantees and the amount awarded.

Our Community Foundation follows a non-discrimination policy in the selection of all grantees and all persons or organizations who assist, advise, or collaborate with the Foundation. The selection of grantees and selection and participation of persons or organizations who assist, advise, or collaborate with Our Community Foundation are made without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, pregnancy veteran status, military obligations, and marital status.

Our Community Foundation awards grants from funds it administers to charitable, educational, religious, or public entities to address the charitable goals of the donors it serves and the charitable needs of Daviess County, Indiana. The Board of Directors holds final authority to award grants to eligible organization for charitable purposes in alignment with the organization’s mission.

2024 Teaching Innovator Grant Program

Our Community Foundation wants to support innovative Daviess County teachers to prepare Daviess County youth for the future.

Our new 2024 Teaching Innovator Grant program provides grants of up to $250 to support teachers in our Daviess County schools. The Foundation believes providing grants to teachers for innovative in-school or in-class projects is a strategic investment in the education of Daviess County youth. By empowering educators to create dynamic learning environments that meet the diverse needs of their students, our Daviess County youth are better prepared for success in our ever-changing world.

The Teaching Innovator Grant program has two grant cycles – one for projects to be completed during the first semester of the 2024-25 school year and the second for projects to be completed during the second semester of the 2024-25 school year.

The first grant cycle of the Teaching Innovator Grant program is now accepting applications for first semester 2024-25 in-school or in-class projects that take an imaginative and innovative approach to teaching Daviess County students. Applications are due June 1, 2024. Please note that funding for field trips or regular classroom costs like textbooks is not available.

How to get started:

  1. Find a project.
  2. Get principal approval. As part of the application, you will be asked to upload a signed form from your school’s principal, approving the project.
  3. Fill out the simple fillable pdf application and submit the application and the signed principal approval form via email to mary@localforever.org or print and mail to Our Community Foundation, PO Box 84, Washington, IN 47501. Emails and postmarks must be on or before June 1,2024. Please note that handwritten applications will not be accepted.

Please note that teachers may receive one award per school year.

For more information, contact Mary Smith, Executive Director at mary@localforever.org.

2024 Fast Grants

The Foundation accepted applications for Fast Grants in April 2024 to receive funding from the Foundation’s unrestricted funds. The competitive grant cycle accepted requests of up to $750 to provide one-time assistance for unplanned charitable projects that were small in scale but helped the organization meet an unanticipated need or opportunity, or provided support for new and innovative projects that positively impact the lives of people living in Daviess County. Requests were accepted for charitable activities serving Daviess County people from existing 501(c)3 organizations in good standing with the IRS, existing government/quasi-governmental agencies applying for an extraordinary project that is not funded by tax revenue, faith-based organizations requesting funding for non-sectarian activities,  and civic groups that are not 501(c)3 organizations but submitted requests for funding a charitable community cause.

Daviess County Partnership/Connections

A $700 Fast Grant was awarded to Daviess County Partnership/Connections. The grant funds the restart of a community program designed to help families transition away from public assistance programs. The program was initially launched in October 2018 but was put …

Senior and Family Services

The Foundation awarded a $750 fast grant to Senior and Family Services for emergency roof repair. Jodi Rook, Co-director of the organization, says the grant came at just the right time. “Our kitchen started leaking during heavy …

Odon Christian Church

Odon Christian Church received a $750 Fast Grant for their daycare/preschool program. The grant will address the needs of their growing daycare/preschool program by providing funding for the purchase of …

2023 Grant Program – Housing Stability

Through Our Community Foundation’s 2023 Daviess County Stable Housing Grant Program, a $10,000 grant was awarded to the Salvation Army – Daviess County Service Extension – to help Daviess County residents with rent, lodging, or utility bills during times of financial setbacks and emergencies that may cause them to lose their homes.

During the program, the Foundation accepted proposals from charitable organizations that provided housing assistance, emergency rent assistance, rent vouchers, household repair programs, and other forms of support. After a detailed review by the Foundation’s Grant Committee, the 22-member local Board selected the Salvation Army’s proposal for funding.

Travis Schaffer, Foundation Board member and Chair of the Grant Committee says the Foundation selected the focus of the grant program based not only on national trends but on trends in Daviess County. “We reviewed data and trends and that told us there are more and more people in our community who are at risk of losing their home. That’s because of increased costs for the basics, like rent, food and household supplies, transportation, and childcare. This need for stable housing for families and seniors is a pressing need. Because Our Community Foundation is flexible, we can direct funding to causes like this one, where it is most needed in Daviess County.”

Mini Grant Recipients

Rotary Club of Washington

The Rotary Club of Washington received a $250 mini-grant for the construction of the new Rotary Park located on the southwest corner of Meridian Street and National Highway in Washington. The grant will help provide improvements to …

Little Warrior Wishes

Little Warrior Wishes received a $250 mini-grant to provide memories, moments and connections to families and children ages 0-5 with a terminal or life-limiting diagnosis in Daviess County. The grant assists families in creating lasting memories when …

Daviess County Partnership

A $250 mini-grant awarded to Daviess County Partnership expanded their ability to track assistance provided to residents living in Odon and Elnora by adding the services provided by St Vincent DePaul in Bramble to their Charity Tracker database. The Bramble …