Search Through Housing Grants in New Hampshire in the U.S.

Community Facilities Grant Program in New Hampshire

What does this program do?

This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.

How may funds be used?

Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

• Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
• Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements.
• Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing.
• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment.
• Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools.
• Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment.
• Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses.

Grant Approval

Applicant must be eligible for grant assistance, which is provided on a graduated scale with smaller communities with the lowest median household income being eligible for projects with a higher proportion of grant funds. Grant assistance is limited to the following percentages of eligible project costs:

Maximum of 75 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 5,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 60 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 55 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 12,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 70 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 35 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 80 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 15 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 90 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income. The proposed project must meet both percentage criteria. Grants are further limited.

Investing in Our Communities

A hallmark of our philanthropy is the hundreds of community donations we make each year supporting local needs and events important to our neighbors across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Our commitment as a good corporate citizen starts with listening to community members.

Eastern Bank Foundation (EBF) is committed to helping our neighbors and communities prosper. Last year, we invested over $16 million in nearly 1,500 local organizations providing vital services across Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Impact Grant

Support for organizations that are advancing Economic Inclusion and Mobility in our communities in five strategy areas: 

• Advancing equity in the small business ecosystem
• Enriching early childhood development (Children ages 0-5)
  • This area is not focused on initiatives aimed at people in grades K-16.
• Meeting the demand for safe, supportive, and affordable housing
• Promoting workforce development for “untapped talent” that provides family-sustaining wages.
  • "Untapped talent" refers to working age individuals who desire to work or to work more or at higher levels than they currently do because they face obstacles to achieving that goal. This includes immigrant workers and workers with disabilities, among others.
• Innovating (i.e., testing new methods, approaches, or tools) to advance economicmobility and inclusion which connect in some way to the four areas of focus listedabove.

Impact Grants must be focused on individuals and families who are Low to Moderate Income (LMI). Grant sizes generally range from $50,000 to $100,000, and sometimes more.

How we decide who receives funds

To decide where funds should go, we consider the organization’s relevance to our Community Promise goals, how the service it offers impacts our community, other support the group receives in the private and public sector, and the community’s general need.

As many typical fundraising avenues disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been especially proactive in reaching out to partners as vital societal needs have only increased across communities.

We receive so many requests, and every category offers invaluable services and activities. Here’s a quick sample of the kinds of organizations that receive assistance.

Five categories of organizations

Our dedicated Social Responsibility team considers requests from five categories of organizations. We award grants and sponsorships on a rolling, year-round basis in support of the following causes:

Health and Wellness

Community organizations and programs that promote mind, body, and financial wellness align very strongly with our corporate and community values. We sponsor races, sports teams, and other wellness programs and initiatives.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Hospitals and Community Health Centers
• Nutrition Programs
• United Ways
• Community Action Agencies

Community & Economic Advancement

Community spaces that create access to resources for community members of all walks of life get our attention. We want to empower everyone in the community who has ideas that can help make it better.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Libraries
• Chambers of Commerce
• Affordable Housing
• Public Transportation

Arts & Culture

A vibrant art scene in our communities drives tourism and commerce and serves a higher purpose – fostering understanding, creating empathy, and moving a community forward. We want to support the arts whenever we can.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Visual and performing arts programs
• Museums
• Historical Societies
• Theaters

Education & Innovation

Investments in education and youth programs create the future of the community. As parents ourselves, we support youth programs that address food insecurity, technology, wellness, and trauma prevention to help children succeed beyond their dreams.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Education Foundations
• Literacy Programs
• Leadership Development
• Social Entrepreneurship

Environment & Animal Welfare

We all deserve a healthy environment to live in and enjoy, our furry friends included. We work with land trusts, animal shelters, animal agencies and more to make that happen.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Land Trusts
• Marine Resource Conservation
• Animal Welfare and Rescue

What does this program do?

Provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project.

What is an eligible area?

Utilizing the USDA Eligibility Site you can enter a specific address for determination or just search the map to review general eligible areas.

How may funds be used?

• Give technical and supervisory assistance to participating families
• Help other organizations provide self-help technical and supervisory assistance
• Recruit families, help them complete loan applications and carry out other related activities that enable them to participate

Our Purpose

To make New Hampshire a more just, sustainable and vibrant community where everyone can thrive. We achieve our purpose by:

• Supporting nonprofit organizations that advance health and well-being, environmental protection, education, housing and other basic needs, arts and culture, civic health and economic security.
• Helping New Hampshire students fund the education they need to fulfill their dreams and potential.
• Connecting generous people with pressing community needs and effective ways to give.
• Collaborating, building relationships and learning from all of our community partners.
• Advocating and using our voice on important public issues.
• Investing charitable assets in alignment with our purpose and values and to ensure a perpetual source of philanthropic capital.

The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund

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

Requests that support projects and activities focused on the people and places of Coös County and surrounding communities are invited to apply. Projects should not extend past a year in length, however extensions can be granted.

Examples of awards:

• to provide marketing materials for a one-time community event
• to sponsor a school field trip
• to hire a consultant to support a project or activity
• to purchase or replace equipment or furniture

If you already have an award from the Large, Local or Empower Coös Youth Grants Program, you are still eligible to apply to the Dash – Grants Program.  There is no limit to how many times you are eligible to apply, but if you apply more than twice for the same project you may want to consider a different funding source.

Dash-grants program provides rapid grant awards ranging from $250 up to $2,000 to eligible organizations

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire.

Championing the North Country

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

Grantmaking Goals

We want — as Neil and Louise Tillotson wanted — the North Country and surrounding regions to flourish.

We’re funding systems-change-level projects while, at the same time, supporting basic community needs.

Tillotson Funds work to:

• Revitalize population hubs and strengthen community gathering places;
• Enrich people’s sense of place through connection to their communities and one another;
• Promote and enhance cultural and social assets throughout the region;
• Enhance the region’s natural resources by promoting sustainable use of the region’s forests, farms and waterways;
• Address gaps in basic needs for underserved, low-income residents.

What We're Funding

Economic development

In addition to ongoing funding to strengthen communities and the region’s economy, the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund is taking a systemic approach to supporting two industries with significant potential for growth: Energy efficiency and non-motorized outdoor recreation (from hunting and fishing to hiking, biking and skiing).

Community resiliency

The Tillotson Fund invests in organizations and projects that strengthen communities and connect people with one another, and with the region.

• Regional planning and capital improvements that emphasize vibrant and walkable downtowns, community gathering places, cultural enrichment and revitalization of existing infrastructure.
• Efforts that ensure that the region’s rural landscapes are healthy, intact and available for public use and long-term community benefit.
• Youth development and leadership. The fund supports and is helping expand youth development and leadership programs, such as Youth Leadership Through Adventure, that help young people become more engaged with their communities, take leadership roles in their schools, and make healthy choices throughout their lives.
• Basic needs. The fund supports efforts ensure that everyone in our communities can thrive and contribute, including expansion of affordable and safe housing; increase in access to critical health care services, including services for substance use disorders and access to dental care; increased access to healthy, fresh and locally produced foods, and efforts that address the causes of increased need for food assistance; and access to legal services regardless of income.

Education

The Tillotson Fund is supporting education from early childhood through adulthood.

Grant Amount

Large Grants Program applicants may request between $20,000 and $300,000 (multiyear grants may request up to $100,000 per year for up to 3 years) and require a pre-application consultation with Tillotson Fund Community Partner.

New Hampshire Housing’s Partnership Grants Program is intended to encourage and support housing education and advocacy at the local and regional level that promotes the relationship between an adequate and balanced housing supply and economic growth and stability, leading to changes in municipal and state land use regulations and other processes that encourage the creation of a diverse housing stock.

Impact Grants

Grants of up to $40,000 are available to non-profit economic development or community development organizations that have existing workforce housing education and advocacy programs, or non-profit organizations whose primary mission is workforce housing education and advocacy. Organizations must be established for at least one year and dollar-for-dollar matching funds are required. Grant awards are based on a review of the work plan and the funding resources needed to fulfill the organization’s work plan.

New Hampshire Housing has four grant opportunities available through the Housing Partnership Grant Program to assist groups and municipalities working to advance discussions about housing in the state as well as expand access to housing. 

Partnership Grants are intended to increase opportunities for housing education and improve advocacy efforts at the local and regional level that will lead to changes in municipal and state land use regulations, as well as other processes that encourage the creation of a diverse housing stock. These efforts should increase awareness of the relationship between an adequate/balanced housing supply and economic growth and stability. 

Incubator Grants

This grant program has funds available for two types of organizations: established nonprofit economic/community development organizations that are going to create a new workforce housing education and advocacy program (maximum award of $50,000) or a start-up organization whose primary mission will be workforce housing education and advocacy (maximum award of $20,000).

The application will require submission of a detailed Work Plan that shows how the organization/program will develop support for changes and actions to reduce community resistance to housing development, especially in relation to land use regulations. 

Incubator grants are one-time-only grants with no matching funds required. 

Any organization interested in applying should email grants@nhhfa.org with a brief summary of your organization and the intended use of funds. Please limit to 2-3 paragraphs. In your submission use subject line: Request for Application, followed by the specific grant program you are interested in (example: Request for Application – Incubator Grant).Your request email will be reviewed, and a response will be provided within two weeks. Requests for all Partnership Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis.New Hampshire Housing has four grant opportunities available through the Housing Partnership Grant Program to assist groups and municipalities working to advance discussions about housing in the state as well as expand access to housing. The grants include the Incubator Grant, Impact Grant, Mini Grant, and a reimbursement grant through the Harvey Schwartz Housing Policy Education Fund.

Partnership Grants are intended to increase opportunities for housing education and improve advocacy efforts at the local and regional level that will lead to changes in municipal and state land use regulations, as well as other processes that encourage the creation of a diverse housing stock. These efforts should increase awareness of the relationship between an adequate/balanced housing supply and economic growth and stability.

Mini Grants

Mini Grants are made in amounts of up to $5,000 and are available to a variety of groups that support housing education and advocacy efforts. Examples of eligible groups include local or regional business groups, economic development groups, ad hoc groups, business and community leaders, service organizations, nonprofit organizations, regional planning commissions, and local governments.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES:

• Consultant led technical assistance to explore housing friendly land use regulations.
• Researching the feasibility of starting a local or regional housing advocacy initiative, which may include strategic planning efforts.
• Hosting community engagement events and activities to further increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of housing’s important role in community development.
• Developing informational and educational materials related to housing educations and advocacy.
• Limited, locally focused research activities related to housing education and advocacy. (Mini grant funds may not be used for Master plans or general planning purposes).
• Other innovative or unique methods of reducing community resistance to housing development.

NH Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Economic Development Grants

CDFA administers the State of New Hampshire’s annual federal allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds for eligible municipalities. The primary objective of the program is the development of viable communities by improving economic opportunities and meeting community revitalization needs, particularly for persons of low and moderate income.CDFA directly awards Community Development Block Grant resources to New Hampshire’s cities, towns, and counties, which often sub-grant the money to a nonprofit agency or other entity conducting the work. Funding for the Community Development Block Grant program is provided to New Hampshire through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.New Hampshire’s CDBG program focuses on funding projects in the following areas:

• Public Facilities GrantsHelp finance water and sewer system improvements, transitional and homeless shelters, municipal infrastructure, handicapped access, and neighborhood or community centers that provide public services to low- and moderate-income people.
• Housing GrantsSupport affordable housing and housing rehabilitation efforts that benefit low- and moderate-income homeowners and tenants.
• Economic Development Grants and LoansCreate jobs in your community that provide good wages, benefits, and training programs. Funds can also be used for acquisition of land and buildings, construction of commercial buildings, purchase of machinery and equipment, employee training, and public facilities improvements.
• Microenterprise GrantsThe Microenterprise Program helps foster economic development by supporting organizations that provide a full range of entrepreneurial training and technical assistance services to low- and moderate-income micro-business owners and start-ups (those with fewer than five employees).
• Planning GrantsUp to $25,000 to support planning and feasibility related activities to determine whether a proposed project is viable. Municipalities can apply for funding to conduct activities like income surveys, preliminary architectural and engineering design, cost estimates and market analysis.

NH Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Housing and Public Facilities Grants

CDFA administers the State of New Hampshire’s annual federal allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds for eligible municipalities. The primary objective of the program is the development of viable communities by improving economic opportunities and meeting community revitalization needs, particularly for persons of low and moderate income.

CDFA directly awards Community Development Block Grant resources to New Hampshire’s cities, towns, and counties, which often sub-grant the money to a nonprofit agency or other entity conducting the work. Funding for the Community Development Block Grant program is provided to New Hampshire through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

New Hampshire’s CDBG program focuses on funding projects in the following areas:

• Public Facilities Grants: Help finance water and sewer system improvements, transitional and homeless shelters, municipal infrastructure, handicapped access, and neighborhood or community centers that provide public services to low- and moderate-income people.
• Housing Grants: Support affordable housing and housing rehabilitation efforts that benefit low- and moderate-income homeowners and tenants.
• Economic Development Grants and Loans: Create jobs in your community that provide good wages, benefits, and training programs. Funds can also be used for the acquisition of land and buildings, the construction of commercial buildings, the purchase of machinery and equipment, employee training, and public facilities improvements.
• Microenterprise Grants: The Microenterprise Program helps foster economic development by supporting organizations that provide a full range of entrepreneurial training and technical assistance services to low- and moderate-income micro-business owners and start-ups (those with fewer than five employees).
• Planning Grants: Up to $25,000 to support planning and feasibility-related activities to determine whether a proposed project is viable. Municipalities can apply for funding to conduct activities like income surveys, preliminary architectural and engineering design, cost estimates and market analysis.

Funding Priorities

HUD requires that states establish priorities for CDBG among the types of eligible activities. Municipalities’ applications for funding must be consistent with the identified funding priorities, listed below:

• Emphasize solving community problems with long-term community development benefits and innovative solutions.
• Strengthen the resiliency and vibrancy, facilitate financial stability, and attract capital to the state’s communities.
• Provide additional resources for the development of affordable housing and rehabilitation of existing affordable housing.
• Preserve and promote existing neighborhoods and community centers.
• Provide improved housing and public facilities or employment opportunities primarily to low- and moderate-income persons or households. (Grants shall not benefit moderate-income persons to the exclusion of low-income persons).
• Build partnerships with municipalities and nonprofits with limited capacity and leveraging private and other public funding sources where feasible.
• Fund needed projects for which other private or public funding is not available.

Volunteer NH

Who We Are

Volunteer NH envisions our state as a place where people volunteer together to build strong and connected communities. We bring our vision to life by engaging those communities to solve local challenges through volunteerism.

NH Volunteer Engagement Program

Volunteer NH, thought the assistance of American Rescue Plan funds provided through the State of New Hampshire, are able to offer grants to eligible organizations looking to increase their capacity to recruit, utilize, manage, and retain volunteers.

Mini-Grants

These smaller grants are for a specific, one-time need and can be used for categories like volunteer training, purchasing of volunteer management technology, and volunteer program development.

Volunteer NH intends to offer multiple rounds of these grants per year. Some rounds may have additional eligiblity requirements for the type of organization that can apply or the focus of the project.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects MUST support a volunteer program that addresses one of the following areas (as identified in the 2023–2025 NH State Service Plan):

• Affordable Housing
• Mental Health
• Food Security

The purpose of these grants is to increase the capacity of organizations to recruit, retain, and manage volunteers. As such, requested projects or purchases must directly support the volunteers and the volunteer program only. Additionally, as a capacity building grant, projects and purchases requested through this grant must be new.

Criteria

Funding decisions are made at the discretion of Volunteer NH and are based on the following criteria:

• Availability of funds
• Eligibility of applicant organization
• Completeness of application
• Allowability of costs requested (based on guidance in this Notice)
• Alignment of application project to identified Volunteer NH priority area(s)

Funding

Award Range: $1,000 – $4,000

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.

Our Mission

The mission of the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund is to enhance the quality of life in communities where the Group conducts business, by providing financial support to worthy community organizations.

Where We Give

The Charitable Giving Fund is designed to benefit organizations within the marketing territories of Vermont Mutual Insurance Group that aim to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Giving Focus

The Fund provides financial support to organizations that help to build, maintain and enrich healthy lives and strong, vibrant communities. The Fund's primary focus is to contribute to non-profit organizations that serve communities through any of the following four initiatives:

• Promote Education: Examples may include traditional and non-traditional opportunities focused on inspiring academic excellence, leadership and community service
• Foster Youth: Examples may include teaching and modeling positive life skills
• Community-based: Programs that build better communities in which to live and work
• Satisfy Basic Needs: Examples may include affordable housing, homelessness and hunger

AmeriCorps in New Hampshire

Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding

AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

Volunteer NH

Volunteer NH (VNH) is a nonprofit organization that envisions our state as a place where people volunteer together to build strong and connected communities. We bring our vision to life by engaging those communities to solve local challenges through volunteerism.

Volunteer NH Focus Areas

As New Hampshire’s State Service Commission, Volunteer NH administers its own AmeriCorps State selection process and submits the applications it selects to compete for funding directly to AmeriCorps. Volunteer NH Focus Areas Volunteer NH Priorities, as identified in the State Service Plan, are programs that would seek to address:

• Affordable Housing
• Access to Mental Health Resources
• Food Security

Our Mission

First, to preserve and maintain the legacy of the Horne Family in Massachusetts’ Greater Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire regions by supporting various community efforts that specifically relate to Human Services, Environment and Wildlife.

Secondly, the Foundation seeks to broaden its impact by supporting national initiatives aimed at the Environment, Wildlife Preservation and Animal Welfare.

Greater Merrimack Valley Efforts

Human Services Causes In Massachusetts’ Greater Merrimack Valley And Southern New Hampshire Regions

The Horne Family will continue to support Human Services in the Greater Merrimack Valley region. The Foundation has a long history of funding community service groups targeting at-risk youth through various after-school and summer programs. In addition, we actively support human services organizations that provide aid to homeless, underprivileged and aging populations as well as victims of domestic abuse and trauma.

Types of Funding

Recognizing that the organizational infrastructure is a necessity, the Foundation welcomes requests for general operating support and efforts designed to increase organizational capacity. We also encourage requests for specific program initiatives or improvements. Areas of Interest As of the 2017 funding period, we have refined our mission to enable us to grant requests that are most closely aligned with the core values of the foundation:

• Conservation of Land and Wildlife,
• Human Services, and
• Animal Welfare.

Geographic Focus

The Foundation distributes regional grants in Massachusetts’ Greater Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire and on a national basis. While our primary interests are with regard to our regional and national focus, we will extend support to international initiatives as it specifically relates to disaster relief for people and animals and species preservation on the African continent.

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

The State Arts Council was established in 1965 as the official state arts agency with legislation (RSA 19-A) designed "to insure that the role of the arts in the life of our communities will continue to grow and play an ever more significant part in the welfare and educational experience of our citizens." The NHSCA is advised by a 15-member council that meets at least four times a year. Councilors are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Executive Council.

Funding for competitive grants and program services to benefit New Hampshire's citizens is made possible through appropriations from the New Hampshire State Legislature and from a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The State of New Hampshire also accepts private, tax-deductible donations and bequests that may be designated for the sole purpose of helping the Arts Council fulfill its enabling legislation.

The NHSCA carries out its mission based upon a strategic plan developed through public input. The plan is reviewed and revised periodically to insure that the agency is responsive to changing economic, social, and cultural circumstances.

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.The grants, programs, and services of New Hampshire State Council on the Arts are guided by our Strategic Plan for the Arts, which is developed through a process that factors in the voices of the people we serve; the economic, social, and cultural circumstances of the times; and aligns with the resources we have available.

Conservation License Plate Program

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) provides grants under the Conservation License Plate Program, commonly called the “Moose Plate” program, for the conservation of publicly owned artworks, artistic elements of publicly owned historic cultural facilities that serve as sites for arts programming, projects that improve public access to significant publicly owned artwork or arts documents, and projects that make publicly owned historic cultural facilities and the arts programming that takes place in them, more accessible to the public. 

The NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) receives a percentage of the “Moose Plate” funds raised from the sales of Conservation License Plates. These funds are directed back into communities through grant programs facilitated by the State Library, Division of Historical Resources and the State Arts Council to promote, conserve, and protect New Hampshire's natural, cultural, and historic resources. Interested applicants should apply for funding from the Division whose criteria and eligibility requirements best match their project activities. In any given fiscal year, an organization can only apply to ONE Division (State Library, Historical Resources or State Arts Council) for a single project.

Sample Projects

• Conservation cleaning and treatment for a Civil War memorial in a national historic site located in New Hampshire.
• Conservation and exhibition of 19th century White Mountain School oil paintings and pencil sketches owned by a town library.
• Purchase of archival materials to store a collection of historic recordings of a contra dance caller from the 1940s donated to a state college or university archives.
• Preservation of original hand-painted stage curtains or scenery designed in the early 20th century for local opera houses or town halls

Background

The Franklin Savings Bank Fund for Community Advancement was formed in 1997 to provide support for substantial projects that will significantly enhance the lives of people in the communities that make up the primary market area of the bank. The Fund for Community Advancement has been established as a fund within the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Grant Categories

The Fund is very active in supporting a broad range of community activities.

Categories of support include but are not limited to:

• Affordable housing,
• health care,
• social services,
• arts and humanities,
• human services, and
• programs or services addressing the needs of children, adolescents, elders, and single parent families.

Priority consideration will be given to those programs and services that address the needs of low to moderate income families and individuals. The minimum grant award will be $1,000 and the maximum will be $10,000. An organization may submit an application for a given project a maximum of two (2) times.

HOPE Foundation

The HOPE (Hypertherm Owners’ Philanthropic Endeavors) Foundation was founded in 2010 as a public grant-making nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation to formalize the U.S.-based financial giving we had been doing for decades across a handful of focus areas. In New Hampshire, a dozen volunteer Associates, representing a cross-section of areas within our company, comprise the Upper Valley HOPE Team and make all grant allocation decisions on behalf of the Foundation. We have similar shared decision-making HOPE teams in all our regional offices, each serving their respective communities. 

Our Mission

Enriching our Associate owner communities as a catalyst for collaboration and compassion, inspiring solutions for sustainable positive change.

Our HOPE Teams have awarded millions of dollars in grant support to hundreds of nonprofit organizations working on our shared mission of creating sustainable, positive change in the community and environment.

HOPE Foundation Grant

Hypertherm’s philanthropic mission is enriching our Associate-owner communities as a catalyst for collaboration and compassion, inspiring solutions for sustainable positive change.

HOPE Foundation grant decisions are made by the HOPE teams, which are comprised of Hypertherm Associates from all areas of the company. We have teams based in the United States in the Upper Valley of NH/VT, Lockport, NY, New Brighton, MN, and Kent, WA. Additionally, we have a North American Team comprised of remote Associates in the US and Canada.

If approved, you can expect to receive funds within two months of notification. It is important to note that depending on when your application is submitted within our quarterly review cycle, it could take four months before funds are received by your organization. Please plan your request accordingly based on your needs and our review cycle.

Focus Areas:

• Disaster Relief
• Early Childhood
• Education
• Environment and Transportation
• Food
• Health and Wellness
• Shelter and Housing
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
• SUD (Substance Use Disorder)
• United Way

 AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation Grant

Mission and Focus Areas

The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation is dedicated to preventing and mitigating adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which will help drive positive outcomes for children's health and help set a stronger foundation for a lifetime of wellness. In addition to preventing and mitigating ACEs, it promotes protective and compensatory childhood experiences (sometimes referred to as “PACEs”), which can counteract the effects of ACEs.

Grants are made based on three pillars:

• Empowered families - Work to ensure that families have the resources they need to thrive through:
  • Skills development
  • Safe communities
  • Stable housing
  • Connection to vital resources
• Healing behaviors - Work to ensure that families can meet challenges and improve well-being by addressing:
  • Mental health
  • Substance use
  • Physical abuse and violence
  • Emotional abuse
• Access to health care - Work to ensure that families receive equitable, high-quality services, including:
  • Better access to care
  • Culturally-appropriate services
  • Maternal health

Learn more about these pillars and the Foundation's commitment to addressing aces.

To promote these pillars, the Foundation prioritizes nonprofit organizations that work to end ACEs by supporting families and children and equipping them for an emotionally healthy future.

Get more information about the types of projects the foundation funds.

Funding

The Foundation expects to make one-year project-specific grants totaling up to $1.945 million, with awards ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.

Volunteer NH

Who We Are

Volunteer NH envisions our state as a place where people volunteer together to build strong and connected communities. We bring our vision to life by engaging those communities to solve local challenges through volunteerism.

NH Volunteer Engagement Program

Volunteer NH, thought the assistance of American Rescue Plan funds provided through the State of New Hampshire, are able to offer grants to eligible organizations looking to increase their capacity to recruit, utilize, manage, and retain volunteers.

Purpose: Volunteer NH invites eligible organizations to apply for a NH Volunteer Engagement Mini-Grant for a specific, one-time need. These subgrants are meant to increase the capacity of organizations serving NH to recruit, utilize, manage, train, and retain volunteers.

Project Grants

The purpose of the NH Volunteer Engagement Project (VEP) grants is to develop the capacity for community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers through a specific and goal-oriented project.

VNH seeks to fund effective projects that:

• Strengthen the capacity of volunteer programs to recruit and retain volunteers.
• Develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve problems.
• Expand volunteering.
• Can be developed, executed, and demonstrate progress towards identified goals within two years.

These grants are intended to fund a project that will develop, improve, or expand the organization's capacity to utilize volunteers. They cannot solely supplement current staffing. The application narrative must demonstrate how the proposed project will increase capacity and be sustainable beyond the funding period.

Examples of Eligible Projects and Activities

Some examples could include, but aren’t limited to:

• Developing and implementing a pilot volunteer program.
• Developing and implementing a series of online volunteer trainings.
• Conducting a detailed program evaluation and then implementing changes based on the results.
• Creating and implementing a comprehensive recruitment and onboarding plan, including outreach materials, orientation, and training plans.
• Developing and/or delivering a volunteer training curriculum. 
• Developing or redesigning websites and social media strategies focused on volunteer recruitment.
• Performing a needs assessment and/or piloting new strategies for utilizing volunteerism to address community needs.
• Creating and implementing a statewide or community-based disaster volunteer plan (including outreach, trainings, etc.) such as a volunteer preparedness initiative, disaster volunteer training, preparations to serve as a disaster volunteer reception center, etc. 
• Developing and executing projects on National Days of Service such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and/or September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. 

Criteria

Funding decisions are made at the discretion of Volunteer NH and are based on the following criteria:

• Availability of funds
• Eligibility of applicant organization
• Alignment to outlined Volunteer NH priority areas.
• Completeness of application
• Allowability of costs requested (based on guidance in this Notice and applicable regulations)
• Quality of the proposed project and its alignment to purpose of the NH Volunteer Engagement Project grants.
• The organization’s program and financial capacity to steward a federal grant.

Funding

The typical grant will run from October – September.

Award Range: $15,000 – $25,000

Background

In May of 1997, Merrimack County Savings Bank established the Foundation with an initial investment of $1,000,000. Five Trustees, selected from among the Bank’s Corporators and Board of Trustees, were chosen to administer the Foundation and its activities. The Trustees anticipate distributing 5% of the Foundation’s endowment, each year, in the form of grants to not-for-profit organizations.

Mission

The mission of the Merrimack County Savings Bank Foundation is to provide financial support to not-for-profit organizations that enrich and improve the quality of life of the residents living in the bank’s service areas. It was the donor bank’s intent to see that regardless of economic ups and downs, funding to these organizations be made available. While the bank’s service area at inception was Merrimack County, as the bank grows it will serve more communities, and, therefore, the Foundation’s geographic reach may continue to expand as the bank enters new markets.

Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation Grant

The AV Roy Foundation has historically supported a broad range of organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, churches, education, environmental education, food access, health, land trusts, museums, and social services. The Trustees prioritize grants serving greater Boston and underserved rural and urban communities in Massachusetts, with some additional grantmaking in other areas of Northern New England.

In an effort to ensure that applications to the Foundation closely match current giving priorities, the Trustees will give priority to Massachusetts and Northern New England applicants focused on the following:

• Environment: requests focused on land conservation, in particular projects close to completion and projects resulting in easements held by accredited land trusts; environmental education; and climate change
• Health and Welfare: basic human needs (with priority given to food security and housing); hospice and home health care
• Arts and Culture: in particular, arts access and education for disadvantaged, elderly, or youth populations, and historic preservation
• Education: schools serving youth from low income backgrounds, including independent schools
• Churches providing basic needs support and other social services programming, as well as capital needs for facilities or historic preservation

Funding

Grants typically range from $2,500 to $10,000. In 2023, the average grant was $3,800. The Trustees anticipate a slightly higher average grant size this year, and fewer grants in total.

Mission

The Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and well-being and reduce the burden of illness of people in Strafford County and surrounding communities.

The Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation (“GRCHF”) is a supporting organization of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. It was established with the proceeds from the sale of the nonprofit Frisbie Memorial Hospital to HCA Healthcare, Inc. Its mission is to improve health and well-being and reduce the burden of illness of people in Strafford County and surrounding communities. 

Small Grants Program

The focus of this grant program is to provide general operating support related to access to care. This program is open to nonprofit organizations that serve Strafford County residents and work on access to care challenges. Access to care may include: substance use disorder services, food security, housing, senior services, transportation and logistics, culturally appropriate care, awareness of services, care coordination and patient motivation. Priority will be given to collaboration projects along with applicants targeting maternal health. If your organization is seeking project-specific support related to mental health/behavioral health/substance use disorder services; early education/childcare or housing/transportation, please apply to the targeted grant program.

Grant Amount

Up to $10,000 of general operating support. These are nonrenewable, one-year grants.

About Us

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire.

Our Purpose

To make New Hampshire a more just, sustainable and vibrant community where everyone can thrive. We achieve our purpose by:

• Supporting nonprofit organizations that advance health and well-being, environmental protection, education, housing and other basic needs, arts and culture, civic health and economic security.
• Helping New Hampshire students fund the education they need to fulfill their dreams and potential.
• Connecting generous people with pressing community needs and effective ways to give.
• Collaborating, building relationships and learning from all of our community partners.
• Advocating and using our voice on important public issues.
• Investing charitable assets in alignment with our purpose and values and to ensure a perpetual source of philanthropic capital.

Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation - Targeted Grants Program

The Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation (“GRCHF”) is a supporting organization of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. It was established with the proceeds from the sale of the nonprofit Frisbie Memorial Hospital to HCA Healthcare, Inc. Its mission is to improve health and well-being and reduce the burden of illness of people in Strafford County and surrounding communities.

This grantmaking program awards up to $25,000 to nonprofit organizations focusing on increasing access to dental, maternal and mental/behavioral health care, serving Strafford County residents. If your organization provides services other than dental, maternal or mental/behavioral health care, please apply to the small grants program.

Grant Amount

Up to $25,000 for project support. These are nonrenewable, one-year grants.

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.

What is IPM?

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is "... a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining the use biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tactics in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks." (New Hampshire Statue RSA 430:50)

IPM programs use current, scientific information on the life cycles of pests and their habitats when management options are being considered. Examples of these options include using beneficial predatory insects, using pheromones to disturb insect reproduction patterns, limiting access of pests to food and shelter by sealing entries around sinks and light fixtures, and the judicious use of the safest and most efficient pesticides. Nationwide, integrated pest management programs are proving to set trends in the reduction fo environmental hazards and economic costs. 

IPM Grant Funds

Since 1998, the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food has been awarding grants to projects promoting integrated pest management practices. "The purpose of the program shall be to bring about the broadest possible application of the principles of integrated pest management to agriculture, horticulture, arboriculture, landscape and building maintenance, and any other areas in which economic poisons are employed" (RSA 430:5). 

The purpose of the Program is to encourage the principles and practices of integrated pest management in all areas pesticides are used. The goals of the Department are to contribute funding to further the education of the public, including those applying pesticides, minimize the use of pesticides, and improve the health, environment, and economics of New Hampshire citizens. The Division of Pesticide Control manages the IPM Program.