Search Through Grants for After School Programs in Vermont in the U.S.

Foundation History and Purpose

Alexander and his wife Lucy founded the A. D. Henderson Foundation in 1959 to help improve the education and support systems for children to ensure that all children reach their full potential.

Our Mission

We are dedicated to improving the lives of young children and their families in Broward County, Florida and the State of Vermont.Our Values  TrustCollaborationLearningEquityImpactOur core values are the fundamental beliefs upon which our foundation and its people operate.Vermont The Henderson family has a commitment to Vermont, where some family members make their home. The State of Vermont has approximately 50,000 young children ages birth to eight. The entire state and each community are socio-economically diverse. Vermont has high numbers of new American families living in the Burlington area and other small cities, including resettled refugee families from Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.Vermont’s childcare programs are delivered in a variety of home-based, center-based nonprofit and private for-profit settings and in public schools. Other early childhood services are delivered by local and regional agencies, including under contract with the State of Vermont.Funding Priorities

The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on strengthening early childhood programs and supporting programs that enable families with young children to thrive in Broward County, Florida and the State of Vermont.

Goal One: Strengthen early childhood programs

• Support early childhood development programming so that young children are positioned for success
•  Improve the capacity of early care and education programs to serve young children so they are positioned for success

Goal Two: Support programs that enable families with young children to thrive

• Provide funding for direct services that help families care for their young children
• Improve the capacity of programs that work with families with young children

Goal Three: Engage in systems change to strengthen early childhood programs and enable families with young children to thrive

• Engage in and/or fund systems-level advocacy for early childhood learning
• Engage in and/or fund opportunities for systems change that address the needs of families with young children

Our Strategies

To guide us in our thinking, we’ve consulted with sources such as the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy’s “Toolkit for Donors on Early Education” and the Pritzker Children’s Initiative and the Bridgespan Group’s “A Funder’s Guide to Early Childhood Development.”

Our History

George Mergens, a resident of Palm Beach, Florida was a mechanical engineer, inventor and business entrepreneur. Mr. Mergens, a graduate from the Brooklyn New York Poly Technical Institute, made significant contributions in the field of color film analysis and processing during his career. The holder of numerous domestic and foreign patents, Mr. Mergens co-founded Photo Electronics Corporation in 1963 to offer advanced color analysis technology to the photographic and motion picture industries. The Video Color Negative Analyzer, which became the standard of the Professional Photography Industry, was designed by Mr. Mergens and sold world wide by the Eastman Kodak Company. Equipment and innovations developed at PEC earned a technology award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1971 and a place in the "Information Age: People, Information and Technology" collection of the Smithsonian Institute. In 1977 Mr. Mergens was recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, being named Engineer of the Year by his local Florida chapter. In 1986, the year he passed away, Mr. Mergens was awarded the title of "Fellow" by the ASME.

In 1994, George's wife Ann, along with their two children, started the George W. Mergens Foundation as a tribute to his substantial legacy. A life long board member of the Boys Club and Science Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, Mr. Mergens demonstrated a sincere commitment to youth during his life. It seemed natural that the Foundation would honor his interests by focusing its efforts on supporting educational and experiential opportunities for youth. Since our founding, we have awarded over $12 million in support of area non-profits serving our youth. We are committed to continuing this effort into the future.

Our Mission

It is our guiding principal that we can affect the greatest impact on the future by supporting programs that seek to enrich the lives of youth. We use our resources to undergird the efforts of organizations that offer a wide variety of services and opportunities to children and adolescents. In doing so, we hope to promote knowledge, creativity, leadership and good health in the next generation of Vermonters.

Areas of Support

We seek to support organizations that offer opportunities for; improved health and welfare, education, job and skills training, creative instruction and experiences, leadership roles, exposure to the natural world and unique experiences that broaden perspectives. We prefer to partner with groups that have identified consequential needs or enrichment opportunities and have articulated a thoughtful and effective approach toward addressing them. Below are the four general categories that we fund along with some specific program types that fall within each category.

Education & Training

• STEM Programs
• Job Skills/Career Training
• Literacy Programs

Enrichment Activities

• Art/Theater/Music Programs
• After School Programs
• Camps

Recreation

• Sports Programs
• Outdoor Activities
• Wilderness Training

Health & Wellness

• Programs addressing food insecurity
• Programs promoting physical & emotional wellbeing

National Life Group Foundation

At NationalLife, we believe strong connections are the ties of strong communities. We also believe being a good corporate citizen is about more than writing checks. It’s about listening to the needs of our community and offering to help however we can. 

We offer grants to nonprofits, but we also empower our employees to give of their time by making it possible for them to volunteer for and donate even more to the organizations they care about. We are proud to support nonprofits where our employees live and work (Vermont and Texas), and also of our work empowering educators and students nationwide through our LifeChanger of the Year program and the National Coalition of Safe Schools. We make a difference in many other ways too, including our Do Good Fest and our corporate cause: to help end childhood hunger in Vermont.

The Foundation’s annual budget is $2.8 million. While this is substantial, there is a lot of need in our communities, so our giving is focused. Our grants vary in size and we rarely fund an entire program.

We look for proposals that have:

• a well-planned approach to underlying issues or needs
• a base of support
• metrics to support success

Sponsorships

Sponsorships are typically for one-time events. Our expectation with a sponsorship is that we'll have the opportunity to promote our do good message in exchange for our contribution.

About the Vermont Community Foundation

The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as a permanent source of support for the state. We are a family of hundreds of funds and foundations created by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. We provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make your giving easy and inspiring. Together, our funds and programs put more than $60 million a year to work in Vermont and beyond, through grants and investments.

Our Mission

Better Together: Inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont.

Green Mountain Fund

The Green Mountain Fund was established at the Vermont Community Foundation in 1993 to support charitable activities in Lamoille County. Grantmaking has since been expanded to include Orleans County and neighboring communities and counties.

Grant Size

The Green Mountain Fund makes grants ranging from $500-$5,000.

The Vermont Community Action Teams (CATs) offer general or project support within the broad guidelines and funding provided by the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. Every month, the CATs make small grants, generally under $2,000, to various local, community-based Vermont non-profit programs and community celebrations. In addition to making small grants, the CATs plan community service projects for all employees at their sites.

Applications for the Vermont Community Action Teams may be submitted at any time and are reviewed on a monthly basis.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Grant Seeker Guidelines

The Stratton Foundation is a community based non-profit organization that cares about the health and welfare of children and their families in southern Vermont. The mission of the Stratton Foundation is to address the challenges that stand between a child in-need and the opportunity to be healthy, safe, and learn. Our vision to help children focus on their education and set them on a path to success and economic independence.

It is the Foundation’s desire to facilitate the startup of new, and advancement of critically needed programs and services by funding initiatives with a strong plan to be self-sustaining.  

What does the Stratton Foundation Fund?

The Stratton Foundation supports programs that address the challenges of poverty. These include programs that strive to care for the well-being, health and hygiene of its most vulnerable children; foster school-readiness by reducing barriers to learning; and help children develop competencies and skills necessary to lead a more productive life.

Programs must fall into at least one of following four major focus areas: 

• Food and Hunger – to end the injustice of food and malnutrition. 
• Health and Dental Health – to care for the health and wellbeing of our disadvantaged children 
• Basic Necessities – so that low income families can access services, remain safe, warm, and secure. 
• Education that helps children and teens develop a vision for a future with economic independence.

When evaluating requests, the Foundation considers the balance of geography, needs and resources in the community. It considers programs that are:

• New or existing initiatives; and
• Able to demonstrate the capacity to sustain the necessary services using good administrative and financial management.

What is the range of grants & expectations?

The Stratton Foundation does not set a minimum or maximum amount for grants, however reporting guidelines differ depending on grant size.

• $5,000 and under: End of Program Evaluation due at the end of the program year
• $5,001-10,000: Progress Evaluation due 6 months and End of Program Evaluation due at the end of program year
• $10,001 and over: Progress Evaluation due quarterly and End of Program Evaluation due end of program year: Progress Evaluation due quarterly and End of Program Evaluation due end of program year

The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund supports projects in Coös County, NH and bordering communities in the United States and Canada that focus on community revitalization.

Championing the North Country

One of the largest permanent rural philanthropies in the U.S. is strengthening communities and spreading economic opportunity.

Grantmaking Goals

The vision of the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund is “to serve as a resource for the people of Coös County and neighboring communities in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and southern Québec to forge their own pathways to well-being and cultivate a region that thrives.” The Tillotson Fund serves as a stable and consistent source of support for the people of the region to:

• Create and enhance opportunity;
• Preserve and uplift the historical and cultural assets that make the region unique;
• Hold the confidence and capabilities to foster strong communities and healthy rural landscapes.

What We're Funding

Individual and family well-being

Goal: Support individuals and families to meet their essential needs and achieve well-being.

• Meet essential needs for individuals and families.
• Strengthen systems of care.Community resiliency

Healthy workforce ecosystem

Goal: Strengthen the capacity of local employers to maintain and/or grow their operations, build and retain a dynamic workforce, stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, ensure business continuity and plan for the future.

• Attract and retain the workforce.
• Establish workforce housing solutions.
• Help companies and employees build skills and systems for sustained success.
• Link employers and employees to financial supports.
• Increase access to affordable quality childcare.

Environmental stewardship

Goal: Address the impacts of climate change by investing in mitigation and adaptation strategies, stewardship of natural resources, and efforts that foster human connection to the natural environment.

• Be good stewards of the land, air, forests, waterways and wildlife.
• Encourage/support responsible tourism and recreation.
• Build and enhance sustainable food systems.
• Promote, sustain and scale energy efficiency, clean energy and green building.
• Implement climate smart forestry solutions.

Resilient communities

Goal: Support initiatives that build trust, belonging and connection and lead to stronger, more resilient communities.

• Empower youth.
• Convene, collaborate, celebrate.
• Build skills, knowledge and approaches to advance equity.
• Support community builders and change agents.
• Revitalize population hubs and preserve cultural and historical assets.
• Improve civic health.
• Strengthen municipal capacity and leadership.

Grant amount

Local Grants Program applications may request up to $20,000 for one, two or three years.

The primary purpose of the Canaday Family Charitable Trust is to encourage and support not-for-profit organizations that work in Vermont to improve the lives of children and families, promote environmental conservation and education, and reduce economic and racial inequality. The foundation seeks to fund innovative programs with clear, measurable goals for creating unique and significant improvements in the lives of children and in the environment.

The Trustees favor programs that advance the following Canaday Family values:

• Making a difference
• Having a measurable impact
• Sustainability
• Building knowledge, skills, & values
• Promoting self-sufficiency
• Advancing racial equity

Fields of Interest

Children And Youth Services

• Grant areas include, but are not limited to, children’s education, health, housing, and insofar as it is in keeping with the Trust’s charitable nature, advocacy for children. Projects may directly benefit Vermont children, or might engage in public education on children’s issues or in research to identify, characterize, and measure children’s needs.

Environment

• Grant areas include, but are not limited to, quality of land, water, and air, land use, waste disposal, biodiversity, sustainability, community involvement, and education.
• Vermont already has some of the most stringent environmental laws in the country; research into non-regulatory means of achieving environmental goals is encouraged.

Economic Opportunity

• Consistent with its support for programs that benefit Vermont’s children, the Trust’s newest area of interest makes grants to programs that increase the standard of living for Vermont families.
• This has included job training programs, community organizing for affordable health care, and programs that encourage affordable housing and development. Programs supported share the Trust’s value of responsible environmental stewardship

The trustees have established a set of informal guidelines:

• When a project has activities partly inside and partly outside of Vermont (for example, the project’s boundaries are watershed-driven, as opposed to political), we will consider funding the Vermont portion of the project, but other funding must be found for the non- Vermont portion.
• We provide operating funding for existing organizations by invitation only. Proposals for funding for capital purchases (e.g., equipment) are considered.
• We are open to experimental projects even when a successful outcome is not assured, provided the impact of the projects is significant.
  • We believe that a failed project that discovers why it failed may in the long run be more valuable than a successful project that learns nothing from its success.
• Specificity, clarity, and brevity are encouraged.
• A proposal for a school curriculum project should identify teachers, administrators, parents, and others who have requested and will be prepared to support the project.
• Familiarity with programs previously funded by the Canaday Family Charitable Trust is assumed and proposals for similar work should explain how that work expands or improves previously-funded work.
  • For example, proposals for restorative justice programs should incorporate the policy work by Voices for Vermont’s Children in this area.
• We provide operating funding for existing organizations by invitation only.
  • Proposals for funding for capital purchases (e.g., equipment) are considered.

Our Funding Focus

The Turrell Fund supports:

• Increasingly strong focus on early childhood, prenatal-3.
• Within prenatal-3, we have increased our funding to policy and advocacy initiatives.
• Additional focus areas include:
  • Arts and music education
  • K-12 education
  • Direct social services for children and families

Early Childhood (0-3)

Early investments open up a lifetime of potential and opportunity

Healthy development for children ages 0-3 provides the building blocks for strong communities, lifelong health, and educational and career success. This period represents a time of incredible growth and potential for young children and families. Early relationships with caregivers can promote healthy development and encourage early literacy for infants and toddlers.

In addition, early experiences, positive and negative, impact the developing brain and make it vital that we address issues societal and racial disparities, support the whole family, and treat caregivers and early educators as equal partners in widespread social change.

K-12 Education

A solid, high-quality K-12 education is essential for long-term college and career success, as well as for general well-being and personal growth.

We know that students succeed when teachers have real-time support; schools are well-resourced; and schools take a compassionate, strengths-based approach to engaging kids. We want all students to gain entry to college or career training programs, and to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their entire educational experience. To create upward mobility for children, we need to improve and align the institutions that serve them.

Music & Arts

At the Turrell Fund, we believe that music and the arts change lives

Learning an instrument, developing artistic skills, and being part of a community of practice instills self-esteem and new pathways for connecting with others. We believe the potent benefits of arts education extend past the early years for children and families across the age range. All children, regardless of socioeconomic background or zip code, deserve access to high-quality arts education opportunities.

Social Services

Direct services are essential to providing support to children and families who need them.

From shelters, to food banks, to mental health services, these programs improve the well-being of individuals in their communities and respond to all types of need.

Every family is entitled to nutritious food, high-quality early care, compassionate healthcare, diapers, and every resource necessary to give their children a strong start. Ultimately, these services promote equity and opportunity in communities, providing a safe space for individuals to garner expert support and overcome hardship.

Systems Change

Systemic racism, entrenched poverty, and flawed policy decisions punish BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) families, stifle social mobility, and hold our communities back.

We fight alongside our partners to ensure access to high-quality, affordable child care, enhanced pediatric care, and trauma-informed service delivery. We also work to ensure equity and compassion in the child welfare system.

About the Allison Keller Education Technology Program

Realizing the gains that many people with autism have achieved using the iPad, the Allison Keller Education Technology Program was created in honor of Flutie Foundation Board Member Kevin Lane Keller's daughter Allison. The goal of the program is to help fill the financial and technological gap for schools and organizations that assist individuals with autism. Since 2012, the Flutie Foundation has granted over $820,000 to 177 schools and organizations for programs specifically serving individuals with autism that have an established technology program in place or have expressed an interest in starting a program using the iPad or other technology tools.

Applications will be considered for any technology tools and/or training that improve learning outcomes or performance. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Tablets & Accessories
• Apps
• Smartboards
• Laptops
• Technology Training
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational activities & access to STEM studies

The Flutie Foundation is seeking innovative partners who are using technology to address real needs facing the autism community. One program per public school district is eligible to be awarded an Allison Keller Education Technology grant annually. Think outside the box!

About School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN).

Utilizing a unique framework of funding systems offered by the Department of Health and Human Services, managed care organizations, health insurers, and private donors, SBHSN promotes a system of care model (Coaching Model℠) offering a mix of evidenced-based intervention, prevention, and care coordination services to children in grades K-12. The Coaching Model aims to expand quality mental healthcare access on public school campuses and improve children's social, emotional, behavioral, family, and wellness outcomes.

School-Based Mental Health Implementation Grant

In response to the growing number of students who need mental health counseling, the School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN) is accepting applications from Local Education Agencies (LEA), Public and Private Universities, State and local Colleges, Charter School Management Companies, Public Schools, Charter Schools, and Non-Profit Organizations (501c3) to implement and expand mental health program services on local school campuses. Grantees will receive direct funding and reimbursement to support the following activities: 

• Expanding access to School-Based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Coordinating mental healthcare services with school administration and staff. 
• Delivering mental healthcare services and coordinating academic-support activities to students with a history of attendance, behavior, and poor academic performance.

FUNDING

5-Years, renewable based on meeting performance goals 5-year award ceiling is $5,500,000.

Vermont Children's Trust Fund Grants

The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation Grants are for primary prevention programs, serving children ages 0-18. These programs strive to reduce the likelihood of juvenile delinquency, truancy, substance abuse, child abuse and other socially destructive behaviors before intervention by authorities, through strength-based activities in a community-based setting. These programs:

• Affirm and promote positive family functioning;
• Work to positively impact societal forces that affect parents, children and youth;
• Strive for coordinated and effective youth services, including service to at-risk youth;
• Promote racial equity and reduction of race disparities. 

State Outcomes and Protective Factors for Proposals

VCTF funding will support proposals that address one of the following State Outcomes:

• Vermont’s families are safe, nurturing, stable, and supported.
• Vermont’s children and young people achieve their potential.

In addition to the State Outcomes, applicants should incorporate one or more of the following Strengthening Family Protective Factors or Youth Thrive Protective and Promotive Factors in their grant application: 

• Parental Resilience
• Youth Resilience
• Social Connections
• Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
• Knowledge of Adolescent Development
• Concrete Support in Times of Need
• Cognitive, Social and Emotional Competence of Children

Program Grants

The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation Grants are for primary prevention programs, serving children ages 0-18. These programs strive to reduce the likelihood of juvenile delinquency, truancy, substance abuse, child abuse and other socially destructive behaviors before intervention by authorities, through strength-based activities in a community-based setting.

These programs:

• Affirm and promote positive family functioning;
• Work to positively impact societal forces that affect parents, children and youth;
• Strive for coordinated and effective youth services, including service to at-risk youth;
• Promote racial equity and reduction of race disparities.

VCTF funding will support proposals that address one of the following State Outcomes:

• Vermont’s families are safe, nurturing, stable, and supported.
• Vermont’s children and young people achieve their potential.

In addition to the State Outcomes, applicants should incorporate one or more of the following Strengthening Family Protective Factors or Youth Thrive Protective and Promotive Factors in their grant application:

• Parental Resilience
• Youth Resilience
• Social Connections
• Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
• Knowledge of Adolescent Development
• Concrete Support in Times of Need
• Cognitive, Social and Emotional Competence of Children

Types of VCTF Program Grants:

One Year Program Grants

These grants are available to support the planning and implementation of new prevention programs in planning or assessment to determine if the community wishes to explore a program in the future. Think pilot program. If successful, organizations may later apply for a three year grant to sustain programming. These grants are up to $12,000.

Three Year Program Grants

These grants are up to $15,000 for the first year, with a possibility for continued funding for up to two (2) additional years. These grants are provided to organizations that have conceptualized a program idea and have confidence in their ability to create and sustain the program into the future. The amount of funding provided in years two and three of these grants will be reduced by approximately 15% each year as it is expected that the organization will obtain funding from additional sources as the program expands. For example - if you are awarded $12,000 in your first year, your second year will be reduced by 15% ($1,800) to $10,200 and year three will be $8,670.

Please note: If you apply for a three year grant for a pilot program, VCTF may decide to fund for one year at a maxmum of $12,000 and ask that you reapply for a three year grant during the next grant cycle.

Guidelines

The Hilles Fund prioritizes grants to programs that serve those with the greatest needs in Philadelphia and the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia counties. 

Grants from the Hilles Fund support both proven approaches and also new approaches and can include direct services as well as systems change activities. We seek to support organizations for whom our modest grants of between $4,000 and $10,000 will have an impact.

The Hilles Fund makes grants to organizations that provide children, youth, and women with pathways to economic independence. Examples of strategies we fund are those that:

• Facilitate the development of children and youth (Ages 3-24 years) through:
  • High quality learning opportunities both in and out of school time
  • High quality early education, school readiness support, and literacy programs
  • Youth leadership development
• Social services for women in the areas of health care access, education, legal assistance, housing, employment, workforce development, and financial services.

In addition to direct service programs, the Hilles Fund supports advocacy efforts consistent with its priority areas (children, youth women).

Priority is given to organizations with operating budgets under $2 million.

About the Vermont Community Foundation

The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as a permanent source of support for the state. We are a family of hundreds of funds and foundations created by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. We provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make your giving easy and inspiring. Together, our funds and programs put more than $60 million a year to work in Vermont and beyond, through grants and investments.

Our Mission

Better Together: Inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont.

Spark Connecting Community

Spark Connecting Community grants put building and nurturing community front and center. We aim to support emerging grassroots projects with the potential to build social capital—the connective tissue of our communities. Social capital can be described as the value developed from working together, connecting across differences, and sharing common place-based experiences. Higher levels of social capital are correlated with better health outcomes, higher educational achievement, increased civic engagement, and greater resilience—all of which help build community vitality.

This is a grant round for local champions who are collaborating with others; we want to help you turn your idea into a reality! This grassroots grantmaking model focuses on strengthening community connections that lead to action and impact. While we are looking to fund projects throughout Vermont, this year we will prioritize projects from under-represented counties in grantmaking. Spark applications from Essex, Grand Isle, and Franklin counties will receive priority consideration.

We are looking for projects where a small grant can make a big difference.

We want to collect stories and share them widely, to help create even more sparks that inspire more philanthropy. 

Grant Size

Grants will be in the range of $500-$5,000.

Couch Family Foundation

The mission of the Couch Family Foundation is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of children and their families by creating quality and equitable opportunities to help them learn, thrive, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

The Couch Family Foundation partners with organizations serving the Upper Valley Region of New Hampshire and Vermont. We support people and programs working to improve children’s health and well-being, early learning and development, family resiliency, and community vibrancy.

Cherished Communities: Upper Valley and Martha’s Vineyard

Given the Couch Family has deep ties to the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire (Grafton and Sullivan Counties) and Vermont (Orange and Windsor Counties) and the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, the Foundation prioritizes nonprofits serving these localities that are focused on ensuring child and family well-being and promoting healthy communities. 

Furthermore, the Foundation provides grants in these cherished communities to organizations that align with its mission, have demonstrated impact and strong leadership, implement a collaborative approach to community change, and a focus on racial equity and justice.

Within this priority, the strategy is to strengthen organizational capacity and services to:

• Enhance early childhood (Prenatal-5 years) through early learning and development, health and mental health, and family support services to promote the well-being of young children and their families.
• Nurture vibrant communities to fulfill a significant community need, address an emerging issue and/or promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Eligibility Parameters

The Foundation prioritizes grants to organizations that have strong leadership, deep community relationships, a collaborative approach to community building and that have demonstrated focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

The Foundation provides the following types of grant support:  

• Unrestricted (i.e., General Operating)
• Project
• Capital
• Event Sponsorships

Please note for Capital Support and Event Sponsorship, contact a member of the Foundation staff prior to applying for support. The Foundation only considers such applications that are closely aligned with the Foundation’s mission and priorities. Event Sponsorships are only supported for organizations that have an established relationship with the Foundation.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

National Life Group Foundation

At National Life, we believe strong connections are the ties of strong communities. We also believe being a good corporate citizen is about more than writing checks. It’s about listening to the needs of our community and offering to help however we can. 

We offer grants to nonprofits, but we also empower our employees to give their time by making it possible for them to volunteer for and donate even more to the organizations they care about. We are proud to support nonprofits where our employees live and work (Vermont and Texas), and also of our work empowering educators and students nationwide through our LifeChanger of the Year program and the National Coalition of Safe Schools. We make a difference in many other ways too, including our Do Good Fest and our corporate cause: to help end childhood hunger in Vermont.

What We Fund

The Foundation’s annual budget is $2 million. While this is substantial, there is a lot of need in our communities, so our giving is focused. Our grants vary in size and we rarely fund an entire program.

We look for proposals that have:

• a well-planned approach to underlying issues or needs
• a base of support
• metrics to support success

We do not fund new programs. We instead focus on proven programs. We favor programs that focus on childhood hunger and children and families, but we also consider those in the health and human services, the environment, education, and the arts and recreation.

New England States Touring (NEST) funds performances, readings, and screenings of work by regional, national, and international artists presented by New England-based nonprofit organizations.

Program Goals

• Expand direct access to high quality artists and aesthetic diversity for all New England communities by artists from New England, the nation, and across the globe.
• Stimulate opportunities for collaboration and partnerships among New England cultural organizations and between artists and organizations.
• Encourage projects that provide meaningful interaction between artists and communities, extending beyond the stage.

NEST Artists

NEST artists are professional artists from New England who meet the NEST artist requirements. They represent a wide range of disciplines, including dance, folk art, interdisciplinary work, media, music, musical theater, opera, poetry, storytelling, and theater. NEST artists must be available for public performances and must maintain a permanent residence in New England.

About the New England States Touring Grant Program

There are three distinct grant opportunities for New England nonprofit organizations: NEST 1, NEST 2, and NEST 3. Organizations serving rural communities and/or deeply engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are encouraged to apply.

NEST 1

Funds the public presentation and engagement of a New England artist presented by a New England nonprofit organization based in a different New England state from the artist’s home state. 

NEST 2

Funds the public presentation and community engagement activities of a New England artist presented by two New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include one presenting organization based inside of the artist’s home state and one other organization from outside of the artist’s home state.

NEST 3

Funds tours, including public presentation and community engagement activities, of regional, national, or international artists presented by New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include a minimum of three New England organizations in different communities presenting the same artist. The organizations applying must be from at least two different New England states. 

• Each organization is responsible for reviewing the program goals and criteria, negotiating the terms of the engagement with the artist, and completing a NEST 3 application.
• Organizations may submit up to three NEST 3 applications.
• The annual deadline is the first business day of March.
• Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee to a maximum of $10,000.
  • Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee.
• New England artists must be listed as NEST-eligible on CreativeGround.
• For non-New England artists, an artist work sample must be submitted by one of the touring partners.
• Grant period: Touring projects must occur between June 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026.

Deadlines

NEST 1 & 2 grant deadlines occur three times a year, as follows:

• First business day of August, for projects beginning on or after November 1.
• First business day of December, for projects beginning on or after March 1.
• First business day of March, for projects beginning on or after June 1.

The annual NEST 3 grant deadline is the first business day of March.   

Our Purpose

Innovative ideas, multi-sector partners, and creative solutions. At HRiA, we improve population health by catalyzing social change within and among individuals, institutions and communities.

As a public health institute, a belief and commitment to equity is central to our work. We believe that good health is a right, not a privilege. So, how do we as a society attain health equity? How do we ensure health and safety in the places where we live, work, and play? How do we ensure equitable access to information, fair distribution of resources, adequate investment in biomedical research, and empowerment of citizens? This is our work.

For HRiA, health equity is where population health, policy, research, and practice come together. We work at the junction of these approaches helping clients and funders in private philanthropy; local, state, and federal government; community organizations; and health care systems address and solve some of the nation’s most fundamental health challenges.

Our Vision

A world where social conditions and equitable resources foster healthy people in healthy communities.

Our Mission

To help people live healthier lives and create healthy communities through prevention, health promotion, policy and research.

Fanny Holt Ames and Edna Louise Holt Fund

The Fanny Holt Ames and Edna Louise Holt Fund (the Holt Fund) was created at Edna Louise Holt’s instructions, and established in 2000, with Bank of America as the Trustee. Miss Holt and her sister were longtime residents of Grafton, Vermont; they held a deep and abiding concern for the health and well-being of the residents in the communities where they lived. The Fund’s objective is to meet the health and medical needs of Grafton, Vermont and surrounding towns with primary consideration given to Grace Cottage Hospital. The Trustee has contracted with Health Resources in Action to support the charitable purpose of the Holt Fund.

To date, the Holt Fund has invested more than $18.7 million in programs to improve community health outcomes in Grafton, Vermont and surrounding towns.

Grant Categories

Traditional:

• Small Grants – Applicants may apply for single-year grants of up to $15,000 for discrete projects or programmatic expenses. Applicants must complete the parts of the online application required for small grants.
• Large Grants – Applicants may apply for single- or multi-year requests (up to three years) of over $15,000 for program or project support, operating expenses (for organizations with annual budgets less than $1 million), or capital support.

Program Overview

For the purpose of the Holt Fund, the term “medical needs” encompasses a broad range of activities including but not limited to: the social determinants of health (i.e., housing, education, food access, etc.); the provision of chronic, acute and long-term care services; diagnostic screening; emergency medical services; community-based prevention and health promotion activities; treatment; and health education efforts.

The Holt Fund makes grants on an annual basis to support programs and organizations that: seek to address health inequities within the Holt service area; improve access to care, particularly for vulnerable populations; and focus on prevention, health education, intervention, treatment, evaluation, and a personalized approach to care. In addition, the Holt Fund supports grants to build the organizational capacity of individual organizations or partnerships that provide health and medical services within the Holt catchment area.

Selection Critera

Applications to the Fanny Holt Ames and Edna Louise Holt Fund will be reviewed based on the following criteria for all grant categories:

• Adherence to the mission of the Holt Fund
• Significance of need
• Demonstration of how approach addresses health inequities for population(s) served
• Evidence that approach is feasible and appropriate to the proposal’s aims
• Ability of applicant to measure impact of grant funds on proposed need
• Evidence that the outcomes are well-conceived, realistic and measurable
• Ability of applicant to demonstrate sufficient experience and capacity to conduct program/project
• Use of collaborative approach(es) where appropriate

In addition, Large Grant requests will also be reviewed on the following criteria:

• Likelihood that the proposed program/project will have a lasting impact on the need
• Ability of the applicant to sustain the program/project once Holt funding ends

About the Vermont Community Foundation

The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as a permanent source of support for the state. We are a family of hundreds of funds and foundations created by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. We provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make your giving easy and inspiring. Together, our funds and programs put more than $60 million a year to work in Vermont and beyond, through grants and investments.

Our Mission

Better Together: Inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont.

Crosby-Gannett Fund

The Crosby-Gannett Fund was established at the Vermont Community Foundation in 2009 with the assets of the Crosby Foundation, which was dissolved in December 2008.

The Crosby Foundation was founded in December 1951 by Charles R. Crosby, a native of Brattleboro, to help serve community needs in the broader Brattleboro area. The name Gannett was added to the Fund in 2012 by the Advisory Committee to honor Senator Robert T. Gannett who had guided the Crosby Foundation as Secretary-Treasurer for more than 50 years.What does the Crosby-Gannett Fund support?

The Crosby-Gannett Fund has evolved its giving strategy starting in 2023. Each year the Crosby-Gannett Fund will award one three-year grant in the amount of $7,500 per year, for a total of $22,500 over the three-year period to the selected organization. The goal is to provide meaningful capacity-building support to brilliant, creative ideas that would benefit from reliable funding and enable them to take off and make a difference in the betterment of the Brattleboro area.

Grant awards can be used to fund programs, capital projects, and operating expenses. 

What does the Fund prioritize?

To maximize impact, the Fund will prioritize small community-based organizations or discrete projects within larger organizations. Organizations with budgets over $1 million must clearly describe how these funds will make a meaningful impact and why their proposal could not be supported by the existing budget.

Below are the key criteria that will be used in evaluating proposals, though not all proposals are expected to meet all the criteria:

• Defines a specific community challenge and this effort’s role in addressing it.
• Gives a clear and concise picture of how this funding will be used, with clearly defined goals and expected outcomes that identify how that will result in the betterment of the community.
• Adds substantially and specifically to the social/cultural/economic fabric and vitality of the community, building social connection.
• Has clear project leaders and champions.
• Creates a more inclusive and welcoming environment for historically marginalized groups.
• Directly supports environmental sustainability or is mindful of the environmental impact of the funded activity.
• Expands and/or improves the organization’s scope of work and/or populations served.
• Leverages other funds or partnerships.

Arts Project Grants support nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and schools in their efforts to add vibrancy to Vermont communities by providing equal and abundant access to the arts.

What We Fund

Examples of fundable projects include, but are not limited to:

• performances, exhibits, screenings, readings, fairs, public art projects, and festivals that focus on including new audiences
• public art projects that commission an artist for the creation of new work where the community is engaged in the planning, presentation, and/or fabrication
• creative experiences that are designed to include a specific group of a certain age, income, gender, race, or ability, or to encourage interaction among these groups
• accessibility accommodations that enable people with disabilities to participate in arts programs

Priority Areas

We are especially interested in projects and organizations that respond creatively to the following:

Expanding access to the arts and cultural activities for all Vermonters

This might include, for example, projects that engage individuals with limited access to the arts due to age, ability, income, race, geography, or other factors. This can also include the removal of barriers to participation such as accessibility accommodations for your arts activities (e.g., sign language interpreters, audio describers, captioners, translators/interpreters, print materials in alternative formats, etc.)

Creative placemaking

We welcome projects with cross-sector partners that re-envision public spaces and strengthen community identity through the arts.

Addressing issues related to the impact of recent flooding

This might include, for example, projects that help communities to reflect on, heal, and/or recover from a disaster; or projects that help revitalize flood-impacted downtowns, villages, and neighborhoods.

About the Vermont Community Foundation

The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as a permanent source of support for the state. We are a family of hundreds of funds and foundations created by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. We provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make your giving easy and inspiring. Together, our funds and programs put more than $60 million a year to work in Vermont and beyond, through grants and investments.

Our Mission

Better Together: Inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont.

Northeast Kingdom Fund

The Northeast Kingdom Fund is a permanent philanthropic resource that makes annual grant awards to support the people and communities of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties.

For the Kingdom, by the Kingdom.

The fund was established in 2011 by the Community Foundation and local partners with the strong belief that this region exemplifies the best of Vermonters’ aspirations for their communities, and through its annual grantmaking, offers opportunities for people in the Kingdom to help each other.

More than 90 nonprofits, municipalities, and schools in the region have received grants from the fund since 2012. A committee of local residents carefully reviews all proposals and chooses the grant recipients. This is the philanthropic equivalent of the “buy local” movement—philanthropy for the Kingdom and by the Kingdom. In most cases, grants are awarded to small-scale projects where a modest philanthropic investment makes a big difference. In some cases, more established organizations are also included in the awards. In all cases, grantees must demonstrate that their projects are led by Kingdom residents and support people living in the three counties.

The fund’s assets are invested by the Foundation to support the region’s current needs while providing resources for future generations to address emerging needs. Five percent of these assets are invested in Vermont, including the Northeast Kingdom.

 Grant Size

The Northeast Kingdom Fund funds grants up to $5,000. We continue to value small, community-based projects and intend to fund a range of grant types and sizes.

About VCTF

Our Mission

The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation promotes the well-being of children and families in Vermont by raising funds for community-based prevention programs.

Ensuring that every child in Vermont has a fair chance at success is what drives our work. The money raised by the Foundation supports community-based prevention programs, a ground up approach to making sure children are safe and secure, they make wise choices, they are prepared to be good students, and are encouraged to feel good about themselves.   

Funds are granted to programs that meet the following outcomes:

• Vermont’s families are safe, nurturing, stable, and supported.
• Vermont’s children and young people achieve their potential.

Examples of the types of programs supported by VCTF include:

• After-school programs
• High quality child care and preschool
• Literacy initiatives
• Parenting education
• Mentoring programs
• Teen Centers
• Substance abuse prevention programs

Special Program or Project Grant

The Vermont Children's Trust Foundation is pleased to offer a special program or project grant in the amount of $50,000 to a non-profit organization serving Vermont Children.

We seek to fund a well-conceived, primary prevention program or project, conceptualized locally.  A successful grant application shall clearly explain how a community need will be addressed and how the children served will benefit.  We will consider construction projects.

The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation supports primary prevention programs, serving children ages 0-18. We fund prevention programs or projects aimed to reduce the likelihood of juvenile delinquency, truancy, substance abuse, child abuse and other socially destructive behaviors before intervention by authorities, through strength-based activities in a community-based setting.  The program or project shall:

• Affirm and promote positive family functioning;
• Work to positively impact societal forces that affect parents, children and youth;
• Strive for coordinated and effective youth services, including service to at-risk youth
• Advance the equity and inclusion of underrepresented populations you serve.

Background

New Hampshire's nonprofit organizations help make New Hampshire a great place to live.

Through our competitive grant programs, we fund programs and operations of qualified nonprofits working in the areas of health and well-being, civic engagement, education, economic development, environmental protection and arts and culture. 

We also make grants to nonprofit partners working in specific areas of strategic Foundation priorities – like fighting substance use disorders and increasing youth opportunity.

Community Grants Program - Project Grants

This competitive grants program awards project support (a set of activities conducted during a specified period of time and with clearly stated deliverables that further the organization’s mission).

Strong applications should demonstrate the following:

• Clear community need for the project 
• Timeliness: Why is this a strategic time to invest in this project?
• A clear workplan
• A project budget that clearly corresponds with the work in the project description and work plan
• A strategy for how the work, if ongoing, will be sustained beyond the grant period

Grant amount

• $5,000 – $20,000 for organizations serving one region
• $5,000 – $25,000 for statewide organizations (serving more than two regions)

Autism Community Impact Grant

The Flutie Foundation recognizes not-for-profit organizations who share our mission to help individuals and families with autism live life to the fullest. For our 2023 Autism Community Impact Grant, we will continue granting these organizations with a particular emphasis on supporting traditionally under-served, under-funded, culturally diverse communities.

Our Autism Community Impact Grant cycle will consider requests that will help fund programs and projects showing potential to make an IMMEDIATE impact in the community and align with the Flutie Foundation priorities as stated in our Seven Key Dimensions described below. We especially encourage organizations with programs serving those most profoundly affected by autism to apply and share their stories.

Grant Funding Priorities

Work/School

Providing a path for educational opportunities, vocational skills programs, employment, housing, transportation and healthcare delivery for individuals on the autism spectrum.   

Active/Social

Support for recreational and sports programs, aquatic programs, social skills training, family events and summer camps for all individuals on the autism spectrum.

Safe/Supported/Informed

Funding for community organizations and schools who are providing vital resources and actively assisting individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families through advocacy programs, diagnostic and clinical services, direct family support, safety equipment, emergency care, respite services and other opportunities that will enhance the quality of life for those affected.

About the Vermont Community Foundation

The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as a permanent source of support for the state. We are a family of hundreds of funds and foundations created by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. We provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make your giving easy and inspiring. Together, our funds and programs put more than $60 million a year to work in Vermont and beyond, through grants and investments.

Our Mission

Better Together: Inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont.

Hills Fund

The Hills Fund was established at the Vermont Community Foundation in 2003 to support educational opportunities, children and families, and efforts that foster the future sustainability of Poultney and its nearby communities. 

Grant Size

Hills Grants ($1,501 - $7,500)

The larger grants from the Hills Program consider projects that address long-standing local needs as well as immediate situations. We encourage fresh ideas that engage Poultney residents in their planning and implementation. Special attention is given to proposals where our grant will leverage additional dollars and resources for the project from the community.

About the Vermont Community Foundation

We are a collective of more than 1,000 funds and foundations, created by Vermonters to fulfill their charitable aspirations.

Our Mission

Better Together: Inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont.

Special and Urgent Needs Grant (SUN)

The Special and Urgent Needs (SUN) grant program supports Vermont nonprofits with unexpected expenses that impact their ability to meet their mission.

A SUN grant can help an organization manage an unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive emergency or take advantage of an unanticipated opportunity that will enhance its work.

Grant Size

Grants of up to $5,000 are typically awarded from this fund.