grant guidelines
Below are The Community Foundation’s grantmaking guidelines. Please note, each competitive fund may have additional guidelines, such as a focus area target population. Please visit the Competitive Grants Opportunities page for this information.
Grant Application Guidelines
Who We Are
The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region works with individuals and families to create permanent gifts for our community. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.
For more than 25 years, The Community Foundation has been a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River region. Our vision is to be a trusted leader in engaged charitable giving and provide accessible, inclusive and sustainable philanthropy.
Who Can Apply
The Community Foundation is committed to investing in our region’s nonprofits and supporting their work.
Eligible projects must serve individuals, groups, and/or locations within Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George or Caroline and must meet the following criteria to apply for a grant:
- Be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- For organizations or projects that do not meet the above eligibility requirements, we will consider projects submitted through a fiscal sponsor. Any applicant that is not a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization must have a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization act as a fiscal sponsor and provide a letter of support from a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.
- Be current with all state and federal reporting requirements.
- Not have any past due grant reports for previous Community Foundation grants.
What we fund
It is important for applicants and projects to demonstrate:
- Efforts that promote opportunity for underserved residents and neighborhoods
- Innovation and creativity
- Collaboration
- Commitment to inclusion, diversity equity and accessibility
- Financial and programmatic capacity
- Measurable impact
- Leadership
What we do not fund
The Community Foundation does not make grants to organizations that, in their constitution, bylaws or practices, discriminate against a person or group because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.
Grantees may target services to a particular population when the targeted groups require specialized programs to meet specific needs not shared by the general population.
Additionally, The Community Foundation will not award grants for:
- Individuals
- Requests that violate our Nondiscrimination Policy
- Requests for regranting purposes
- Fundraising campaigns or events
- Advancement of capital or endowment campaigns
- Political doctrine, political campaigns, and lobbying.
- Religious activities, proselytization or projects that exclusively serve religious or sectarian purposes. Religious organizations providing non-religious community services will be considered
- Debt payment or legal settlements
- Retroactive funding or reimbursement for completed projects, programs, and equipment
- National and statewide organizations that cannot demonstrate a strong local presence
Process
The Community Foundation’s competitive grantmaking process consists of 6 components: application, grant evaluation, funding decision notification, grant agreement, award payment, check-in call and final report.
The timelines for grant review and evaluation, award notification and grant payment vary by fund. To learn more about what to expect when applying to a particular fund, please visit our Competitive Grant Opportunities.
Application
The Community Foundation requires nonprofits to submit their grant application or Letter of Introduction (LOI) in our online grants system. Additional information may be requested once your application is reviewed.
Grant Review and Evaluation
The Community Foundation conducts a comprehensive due diligence process for all grants.
The foundation’s Donor Services Committee conducts grant reviews. Final funding decisions are made by The Community Foundation’s Donor Services Committee, Board of Governors and staff.
Funding Decisions Notification/Announcement
The foundation’s Director of Donor Services will contact all applicants regarding the Committee’s funding decisions.
Grant Agreement, Terms & Conditions
Grant Agreement: If approved, all grant recipients must sign an agreement that includes the following requirements:
- Public acknowledgment of The Community Foundation’s support through the specific fund that awarded the grant.
- Expenditure of the funds as specified in the application.
- Return of any unused portion of the grant.
- Complete final narrative and financial grant reports.
- Any special conditions as mutually agreed.
In most cases, Community Foundation grants are for a one-year period. Please note, your award letter will include information about grant requirements like a check-in call and final reporting.
Award Payments
To expedite grantmaking, all Community Foundation grant payments are made electronically by ACH transmittal. Nonprofits receiving grant awards must submit their agency’s banking information to the foundation’s Finance Officer to initiate the transfer of grant funds.
Check-In Call
Grant recipients may receive one virtual site visit and/or check-in call over the course of the funding period. Organizations should be prepared to discuss progress toward the goals and outcomes they stated in their application. Virtual site visits may be used for future foundation marketing.
Final Report
Final reports are submitted online, using The Community Foundation's grants platform. Organizations are asked to discuss the impact of their program, measure outcomes against their proposed outcomes and lessons learned along the way. Final Reports must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the grant term.