Search Through Dutchess County Grants for Nonprofits in New York

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Mid-Hudson Valley Grantmaking Program

The Dyson Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Hudson Valley (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties) that are addressing basic human needs including housing, family stability, youth development, health care access including behavioral health, food access, and other human services, with a special focus on organizations working with those who are economically disadvantaged or otherwise marginalized.

After-School and Summer Programming for Children and Youth

The Dyson Foundation considers grants for out-of-school time programs including after-school, summer, and year-round activities. Applications for programs located in the Mid-Hudson Valley counties of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster will be considered, with a focus on enabling the participation of economically disadvantaged children. Funding priority will be given to programs operated by organizations whose mission and expertise is focused on youth development, and that conduct targeted outreach to low-income families and children, offer program schedules that support working families, and those that give consideration to and make efforts toward providing transportation assistance and meals.

Mini-Grant Program

The Dyson Foundation’s mini-grant program funds Mid-Hudson Valley organizations interested in capacity building projects to improve administrative, governance, and/or programmatic functions. Mini-grants enable nonprofit board, staff, and volunteer leaders to develop new skills through consultant-led capacity-building activities, or through conferences, seminars, and other training opportunities.

Mini-grants are available for:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
  • Assessment, consulting, and policy development
• Operational enhancements
  • Fiscal systems
  • Human resources
  • Organizational assessments
  • Policies and procedures
  • Program development and evaluation
• Planning
  • Communications
  • Resource development
  • Strategic
  • Succession
  • Technology
• Professional development
  • Executive coaching
  • Conferences, seminars, and training

Mini-implementation Grants

Following the completion of a mini-grant funded consultancy or training, grantees may apply for a follow-up mini-implementation grant of up to $3,000 to cover the costs of enacting the results or recommendations of the project (including continued consulting, marketing materials, web design, etc.).

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Culture Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Mid-Hudson Valley Grantmaking Program

The Dyson Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Hudson Valley (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties) that are addressing basic human needs including housing, family stability, youth development, health care access including behavioral health, food access, and other human services, with a special focus on organizations working with those who are economically disadvantaged or otherwise marginalized.

Designated Grants

Designated Grants are grants made for a specific purpose or program. These grants are available towards:

• Activities that align with our priority funding areas but operate within an organization with a broader mission
• Youth after-school and summer programs (see our specific guidelines)
• Economic development with a clear charitable purpose, public benefit, and a direct link with our priority funding areas
• On a very limited basis, arts councils and/or arts organizations that have demonstrated significant job creation and local economic impact

Mid-Hudson Valley Grantmaking Program

The Dyson Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Hudson Valley (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties) that are addressing basic human needs including housing, family stability, youth development, health care access including behavioral health, food access, and other human services, with a special focus on organizations working with those who are economically disadvantaged or otherwise marginalized.

General Operating Support Grants

General operating support, or “unrestricted” grants, are flexible funds that can be used by organizations at their discretion. These grants are available to organizations working on priority funding issues if they:

• Meet our principles of best practice for nonprofit governance, finance, public disclosure, and programming
• have at least three years of stable executive leadership
• have received a designated Dyson Foundation grant within the last three years.

Unrestricted grants are aligned with the grantee’s fiscal year; submit an initial letter of inquiry no later than six months prior to the start of the fiscal year. Organizations with annual budgets in excess of $20 million are generally not eligible for unrestricted grants.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

We have strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Our focus areas include basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. In addition to our philanthropic investments, we also encourage our employees to make a difference by offering robust employee giving and volunteering programs, including the opportunity to direct funds to organizations they support through volunteer efforts, and a matching gifts program that doubles their individual giving to causes they care about. Last year, we invested $350 million in the communities we serve, and employees contributed more than 1 million volunteer hours and directed $65 million through individual giving and matching gifts to support nonprofits.Through our regional U.S. sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities.Sponsorships supporting communitiesBank of America welcomes your sponsorship proposal for opportunities that make our communities a better place to live and work. We are particularly interested in providing support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on:

• preserving neighborhoods;
• educating the workforce for 21st century jobs;
• addressing critical needs such as hunger and emergency shelter;
• arts and culture;
• the environment; and
• diversity and inclusion programs.

Grants are made at the Foundation’s discretion based on our current funding strategies focused on housing, jobs and hunger. 

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborate with a wide range of nonprofit organizations that align with our strategic funding priorities. We prioritize our funding to activities and programs that have a broad reach and support the needs of underserved communities. We aspire to have a positive impact on the communities we serve by using our financial and volunteer resources and business expertise in collaboration with community organizations to help solve complex societal problems.

• Financial health
• Housing affordability
• Small business growth
• Sustainability

We may also support other local needs in eligible communities such as disaster relief, arts and culture, civic engagement, education, human and social services, and workforce development. However, opportunities are limited as our intent is to direct the majority of our giving within our major focus areas.

Gupta Family Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, USA. Our mission is to support organizations that provide focused intervention in the lives of people who have been disadvantaged in some way to help them become self-reliant. We take a very broad view of “disadvantage” to include anything that holds a person back from realizing their potential, such as poverty, physical or mental disability, social alienation, etc. The foundation also supports relief agencies that serve people affected by emergencies such as natural disasters.

The foundation evaluates and awards annual and multi-year grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000 (USD). Our focus is on funding smaller organizations all around the world that are led by individuals with a deep personal commitment to their missions. 

Our selection criteria include:

• Mission alignment
• The organization is run by the founder or, if not, by a successor who embodies the original inspiration, passion and commitment of the founder.
• At least 90% of grant monies reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• The organization is non-sectarian, i.e.,
  • It does not, directly or indirectly, support or condone the proselytization of any religion,
  • It is not supported by or affiliated to a religious organization.

The Jeannette F. Schlobach grant program is open to nonprofit organizations serving residents of Dutchess County, New York who are impacted by poverty.

Organizations involved in providing programs and services to individuals, families and their pets to support and improve economic stability, health and educational opportunities, are encouraged to apply. This may include, but not be limited to:

• comprehensive case management services, including those that work to increase access to public benefits and community resources
• homelessness prevention and affordable housing services,
• educational opportunities, job readiness and job training services to youth and adults,
• access to critical health services for individuals and children; and
• access to low-cost services to family pets, etc.

The Community Foundations’ goal is to support programs that have proven to be effective, demonstrate increasing demand and to encourage and support innovative solutions to those facing economic adversity.

Funding Focus

The Foundation will focus its grantmaking on making awards of General Operating Support for organizations that address:

• Support for existing or expanding programs and services that are proven effective in assisting individuals and families improve their economic stability, health and educational access and opportunity;
• Equipment and capital support to improve organizational infrastructure and enhance capacity to deliver services;
• New program pilots may be considered if organizations demonstrate the capacity to effectively carry out the program and sustain it beyond initial funding; and,
• Requests that meet the above criteria and leverage existing resources and additional funding sources are encouraged.

Important: This grant program is intended to support organizations in achieving enhanced impact. Requests should be structured to demonstrate how a single grant from this program will grow and improve your programs. Annual funding should not be anticipated, multi year requests may be considered.

Background

The Community Foundations exist to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in the Greater Hudson Valley, now and for generations to come. Created by community leaders as the Area Fund, the Community Foundation is a public nonprofit charitable organization established as a permanent resource to make our region a better place for all of us to live and grow…today, tomorrow and always.

Cleopatra Fund - Funding Focus

The focus of the Cleopatra Fund is to support organizations involved in providing programs or services that promote animal welfare. When awarding grants, the following priorities will be followed:

• Programs or services that benefit cats;
• Programs or services that benefit dogs;
• Programs or services that benefit retired circus animals; and
• Programs or services that benefit retired farm animals.

Funding Amount

Grants made through this program will not exceed $3,000.  Awards range from $500-$2,000.

The Foundations provide superior donor services, awards grants and scholarships, ensures sustainability of philanthropic resources and serves as a leader, catalyst, and resource to positively impact our community. The Foundation practices and encourages diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as fundamental values of community life.  

A percentage of the Ann and Abe Effron Donor Advised Fund’s value will be awarded in the fall as grants to local nonprofit organizations. Applicants are encouraged to review the grant criteria and may contact the Foundation if they have questions.  

Funding Focus

Funding priority will be given to organizations involved in arts, culture and education with special consideration being given to grants that would make facilities and events more available to young people and senior citizens.

The Foundations provide superior donor services, awards grants and scholarships, ensures sustainability of philanthropic resources and serves as a leader, catalyst, and resource to positively impact our community. The Foundation practices and encourages diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as fundamental values of community life. A percentage of the Irving and Gloria Schlossberg Family Fund’s value will be awarded as grants to local nonprofit organizations. Applicants are encouraged to review the grant criteria and may contact the Foundation if they have questions.  

Funding Focus

 The Irving and Gloria Schlossberg Family Fund was primarily established to preserve and strengthen Jewish culture and Jewish institutions in Dutchess County. Grants will be given for programs and organizations that promote this goal.

 Requests will be accepted for programs that educate the community about Jewish heritage, history, customs and culture through lectures, music, arts, literature, theater, etc. Applications that involve two or more Jewish/non Jewish organizations in collaboration are encouraged in order to reach out to the broadest-based secular community.

In awarding a grant to a synagogue or temple, priority will be given to programs that would appeal to the entire community or the Jewish community regardless of temple or synagogue affiliation. Funds granted to local chapters of national or international organizations must be used locally. Non-Jewish organizations (e.g. Poughkeepsie Public Library District, Dutchess County Historical Society or any educational institutions in Dutchess County) would be considered eligible recipients of grants. 

Specific areas of interest include:

• Jewish culture, heritage, etc. as outlined above
• The Holocaust/genocide education
• Israeli culture and history

Grant Information

Artist’s Resource Trust was established in 1996 to provide support to the creative work of mid-career (aged 35 and older) visual artists who have demonstrated substantial commitment, development who have demonstrated substantial commitment, development and quality in their work. ART’s focus is on visual artists who live in New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) and in the towns in NY that are part of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s catchment area as of 2015.

A.R.T. provides funds annually for New England, and Columbia and Northeast Dutchess Counties, NY nonprofit organizations for the commission, purchase or engagement of mid-career artists meeting the above geographic criteria.

NEDCorps 2.0 Immigrant Support Grant

NEDCorps 2.0, an initiative of the Northeast Dutchess Fund, seeks to reduce poverty by supporting educational attainment and increasing short- and long-term financial self-sufficiency among individuals and families in northeast Dutchess County. This includes the region’s growing immigrant population for which there is a special emphasis on outreach and delivery.

NEDCorps 2.0 offers a competitive grants program to nonprofits, municipalities, community organizations or civic entities serving residents in northeast Dutchess to develop new programs or expand services to the immigrant community living in these communities. The grants program will place emphasis on supporting collaborative projects and encouraging existing programs to expand into northeast Dutchess County. By incubating new programs and encouraging expansion of existing ones, we believe we can initiate a process of strengthening the nonprofit infrastructure serving immigrants. The grants may be used for any number of purposes that will serve the immigrant community in northeast Dutchess County.

Awards

A total of $35,000 is available and individual grant awards will range up to $10,000. An assessment of the project’s outcomes will be required once the program or service funded is completed and before any applications are submitted to the Northeast Dutchess Fund for further funding.

The Webutuck Quest for Excellence Fund Grant

The Webutuck Quest for Excellence Fund is an endowed fund whose purpose is to support efforts in the Webutuck Central School District that: create a culture where academics are respected; cultivate an atmosphere of high expectations of achievement; encourage student initiative, creative thinking and innovation; and inspire a love of learning. Quest wants to ensure the highest level of achievement for the students and enhance their capacity to achieve excellence both in school and in the community.

Possible projects include, but are not limited to:

• independent study, new programs;
• extracurricular activities,
• individual creative projects in or outside the classroom,
• visiting speakers, artists-in-residence;
• professional development for teachers that will directly impact a broader number of individuals,
• library resources, and
• class field trips. 

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria: 

• Excellence: Is the project or service truly of a high quality and creativity? Is it the right time for the project? Does it involve qualified individuals/groups?
• Impact: What is the potential impact of the project or service on the school community? This does not mean the number of people involved, but rather the quality of the impact?
• Ability: Is the project well thought out and feasible?

Available Funding

Through this RFP process, UWDOR seeks partnerships with nonprofit organizations during the time period of July 2025 to June 2026. Our intention is to invest sufficient funding to achieve significant results. United Way’s Community Fund is divided into two funding categories: 

For previously funded programs, please indicate the amount you are requesting (maximum request of $30,000).

For programs not previously funded, United Way has allotted funding in increments up to $10,000 for these requests. Please indicate your request here (maximum of $10,000). If United Way selects your program for funding you may be eligible for additional funding next year. This is contingent that your organization remaining in good standing with regard to all United Way contract requirements. Future additional funding is not a guarantee.

Grant Focus

Health

United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region (UWDOR) issues this Request for Proposal as a part of our cohesive strategy to address the needs of children, families, and individuals with limited income in Dutchess and Orange Counties. This RFP is designed to reduce hunger and increase access to healthy food. In some cases, we may support pilot initiatives that have the potential to be expanded upon with future funding. UWDOR is seeking to support partners who share the following commitments:

•  A commitment to community-level outcomes focused on demographics and geographic locations with the greatest need;
• A commitment to cross-agency and cross-community collaboration in developing effective strategies; and
• A commitment to strategies that demonstrate success using evidence-based or evidence-informed models.Education

Education

In partnership with our community, United Way utilizes a cohesive strategy to address the needs of children, families and individuals with limited income in Dutchess and Orange counties. This RFP is designed to establish a foundation for the educational success of local students through furthering literacy and out-of-school learning opportunities and adults seeking workforce development opportunities, and, in some cases, may involve innovative initiatives that have the potential to be expanded upon with future funding. UWDOR is seeking to support partners who share our commitment to the following:

• A commitment to community-level outcomes focused on demographics and geographic locations with the greatest need;
• A commitment to cross-agency and cross-community collaboration in developing effective strategies; and
• A commitment to strategies that demonstrate success using evidence-based or evidence-informed models.

Financial Stability

United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region (UWDOR) issues this Request for Proposal as a part of our a cohesive strategy to address the needs of children, families, and individuals with limited financial resources in Dutchess and Orange Counties. This RFP aims to establish a foundation for financial stability of our neighbors and may involve pilot initiatives that will be expanded with future funding. UWDOR is seeking to support partners who share our commitment to the following:

• A commitment to community-level outcomes focused on demographics and geographic locations with the greatest need
• A commitment to cross-agency and cross-community collaboration in developing effective strategies; and
• A commitment to strategies that demonstrate success using evidence-based or evidence-informed models.

Veterans

In partnership with our community, United Way utilizes a cohesive strategy to address the needs of children, families, and individuals with limited income in Dutchess and Orange counties. This RFP aims to establish a foundation for veterans’ overall stability with particular focus around enhancing housing and legal service opportunities. UWDOR is seeking to support partners who share our commitment to the following:

• A commitment to community-level outcomes focused on geographic and demographic locations with the greatest need as defined by data;
• A commitment to cross-agency and cross-community collaboration in developing effective, cohesive strategies; and
• A commitment to strategies that demonstrate long-term success using evidence-based or evidence-informed models.

Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Grants

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is a not for profit organization established in 2004. The Fund provides programs and support services for women and families in the Hudson Valley, New York, affected by breast cancer. All funds raised for the Foundation are used in the Hudson Valley.

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is currently offering grants for projects in the areas of breast health and breast cancer education, outreach, screening, treatment and support projects in the counties of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Westchester and Ulster.

Projects Will Be Funded in The Following Areas:

• Breast cancer education
• Educational outreach to special populations
• Support programs (including complementary medicine programs)
• Financial aid for social support and ancillary services

The Hudson Valley Animal Shelter Fund was established through a generous bequest from Jean Rowe to the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan. In Jeans memory, this fund will provide financial assistance to nonprofit animal welfare agencies throughout the Hudson Valley in perpetuity.

Funding priority will be given to nonprofit organizations in Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam, Sullivan and Rockland Counties that are dedicated to rescuing, sheltering and defending animals.

Program Information

To help our region’s nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers better achieve their missions, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation regularly offers grant funding, workshops, learning opportunities and leadership development.

In addition to this support, we also recognize that from time to time nonprofits have a need or an opportunity to engage in a capacity building project that requires immediate additional resources. These projects can range from strategic planning assistance, board development, organizational assessments, evaluating business models and fundraising strategies, to website and database enhancements.

In response to this need, the foundation is offering a Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance grant program with approximately $60,000 available funding. In addition, through funding from our Arts Build Community initiative, $45,000 is available for Berkshire County based arts and culture organizations.

We seek to provide flexible funding to allow an organization to seize an opportunity to refine their strategy, invest in board development, and evaluate and refine program delivery at a time when their missions are needed most by the communities they serve. We particularly seek projects that strengthen the governance and diversity of smaller nonprofit boards.

Organizations with defined projects approved by their boards are encouraged to apply. Project proposals should be able to illustrate how investing in this capacity building strategy now will result in enhanced organizational strength, resiliency, or effectiveness and how this hoped for outcome will result in the ability to advance their mission.

Project Examples

For information purposes only (similar projects are not guaranteed funding):

• Hire a consultant to assist your organization in strategic planning
• Hire an outside facilitator to conduct board listening sessions on roles and responsibilities
• Pay for technical assistance training in building organizational capacity (finance, HR, fundraising)
• Hire a consultant to do an organizational assessment
• Training for current staff to implement new technology (CRM, website, database, etc.)

Program Information

To help our region’s nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers better achieve their missions, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation regularly offers grant funding, workshops, learning opportunities and leadership development. 

In addition to this support, we also recognize that from time to time nonprofits have a need or an opportunity to engage in a capacity building project that requires immediate additional resources. These projects can range from strategic planning assistance, board development, organizational assessments, evaluating business models and fundraising strategies, to website and database enhancements. 

In response to this need, the foundation is piloting a Planning and Technical Assistance grant program with a rolling deadline that will remain open until approximately $60,000 in funding is expended.

We seek to provide flexible funding to allow an organization to seize an opportunity to refine their strategy, invest in board development, and evaluate and refine program delivery at a time when their missions are needed most by the communities they serve.   

Organizations with defined projects approved by their boards are encouraged to apply. Project proposals should be able to illustrate how investing in this capacity building strategy now will result in enhanced organizational strength, resiliency, or effectiveness and how this hoped for outcome will result in the ability to advance their mission.  

Priority will be given to organizations with operating budgets under $1 million annually. Foundation staff in making decisions will also seek to ensure there is proportional funding across the foundation’s region.

Project Examples

For information purposes only (similar projects are not guaranteed funding):

• Hire a consultant to assist your organization in strategic planning
• Hire an outside facilitator to conduct board listening sessions on roles and responsibilities
• Pay for technical assistance training in building organizational capacity (finance, HR, fundraising)
• Hire a consultant to do an organizational assessment
• Training for current staff to implement new technology (CRM, website, database, etc.)

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed fairly and competitively on a rolling basis using the following criteria:

• Impact of the organization on the residents of the Berkshire Taconic region.
• Potential impact of the proposed capacity building project on the longer-term effectiveness of the organization.
• Demonstrated need for BTCF funding at this point in time.
• Readiness of the organization to implement proposed project, as communicated by the applicant (e.g., organization history, organization health and/or capacity goals, or significant changes to the organization).

Awards

Grants range up to $10,000 for a single year.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, through a grant from the NoVo Foundation, is pleased to offer the Hudson Valley Farm Fresh Food grant program for 2023-2025. This grant program is designed to distribute multi-year grant funds in amounts up to $20,000 a year for 3 years to nonprofit organizations in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Ulster counties, The focus of the program is to fund programs and organizations that work to increase access to local, farm fresh food for individuals who are considered food insecure.

Funding Focus:

The Foundations will focus its grant making on applications that effectively increase access to local, farm fresh food to the food insecure, including but not limited to:

• Support of programs and services that provide effective, creative solutions to increase access to local, farm fresh food, address the issue of food insecurity, leverage existing resources, and expand existing services- whether delivered independently or collaboratively
• Support of programs and services that provide educational services and resources related to nutrition and health
• Equipment to increase capacity to grow, collect, distribute, and serve local, farm fresh food and meals to those in need
• Support for evaluation of health and related indicators to assess outcome data related to the effectiveness of the farm fresh food program
• Support of programs that thoughtfully integrate equity and social justice components to the farm fresh food program
• Support for food systems solutions

Awards

Grants made through this program will not exceed $20,000 per year for individual organizations. There may be opportunities for collaborating organizations with broad impact to exceed $20,000 in funding. Multi-year funding requests will be considered with appropriate documentation in the application for additional years.

Who We Are

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley works to strengthen our community by helping individuals, businesses and organizations establish and administer funds that support vital causes and charities. Partnering with our generous donors, we address current and emerging community needs through effective grantmaking to improve the quality of life for all. Additionally, we provide technical assistance to help nonprofits operate more effectively.

Community Grants

The Community Foundations Community Grant Program is an annual opportunity to provide nonprofits with unrestricted General Operating Support (GOS). GOS grants are flexible and allow funds to support an organization’s ongoing administrative and infrastructure costs and to provide support to maintain existing, effective programs, organizational development and capacity building in Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster County.

Funding Focus:

Funding will support a broad variety of organizations and programming, including; effective and innovative programs in the areas of:

• human services,
• arts and culture,
• education and youth,
• health,
• the environment and
• civic affairs.

Funding will have a focus on benefiting people who are from historically marginalized and under-funded communities or populations based on their race, ethnicity, age, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, health status, abilities or geographic location.

General Operating Support grants will provide unrestricted support to the organization but can include specific support including:

• planning and/or the direct implementation of the program
• technology, equipment, or material costs
• strategic planning, staff/board development and/or succession planning
• management systems (financial, HR)
• marketing and communications
• investments to increase organizational capacity

Awards:     

Grants made through this program will not exceed $5,000.