CFTHC Community Impact Fund Grant

The CFTHC Community Impact Fund Grant supports organizations in Bandera and surrounding counties, focusing on Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Environment, and Youth Development. Grants up to $15,000 can be used for general operating or program support. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with a minimum of 12 months operating history. The fund prioritizes organizations that promote community welfare and address critical needs such as hunger, education, and environmental stewardship.

Background
The Community Impact Fund is a responsive, open, competitive application process with one annual deadline. The Fund invests in four areas: Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Environment, and Youth Development. The Foundation considers funding for both general operating support and program support. Organizations are eligible to request funding annually. Prior recipients may reapply after a final report has been submitted to the Foundation.
Community Impact Areas
The Community Impact Fund invests in four focus areas: Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Environment, and Youth Development.
Arts & Culture
In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support arts and culture by funding organizations that present, produce, or provide arts programming for the public; art forms supported can be dance, design, folk arts, literature, media arts, music, opera, performance arts, theatre, public art, and visual arts. Additionally, organizations that promote and/or preserve the Hill Country’s history and culture will be considered.
Basic Needs
In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support basic needs by funding organizations and programs that address hunger, poverty, literacy, neglect, family violence, lack of access to basic medical care, homelessness, the needs of seniors and veterans, the needs of those with disabilities or chronic illness, and animal welfare.
Environment
In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support the environment by funding organizations and programs that address environmental stewardship and/or education. Nature education, energy and water conservation, land stewardship, wildlife protection, recycling and repurposing, and maintaining dark skies are all priorities that will be considered.
Youth Development
In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support the next generation by funding organizations and programs that work with children and youth, from birth through age 21.
Two Types of Support
Applicant organizations should decide whether to apply for general operating support or for program support; either type of request is eligible for the Community Impact Fund. Requests should not exceed more than $15,000.
General Operating Support is unrestricted funding. Organizations may use the funds for administrative purposes, to meet monthly obligations, to support programming, pay salaries, or to meet other organizational needs. For general operating support requests, organizations must submit a current strategic plan that covers two or more years of operations.
Program Support is funding for a specific program of an organization. Funds can be used for any element of the program’s budget. For program support requests, organizations must submit a program budget.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be located in or providing services to residents in Bandera, Blanco, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Real, or Uvalde counties.
• Be classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by the Internal Revenue Service.
• Have a minimum of 12 months of operating history after 501(c)(3) determination.

Demonstrate that 100% of the applicant organization’s Board of Directors have given to the applicant organization during the last completed fiscal year. Giving is defined as a personal cash donation or financially measurable in-kind contribution.
Have filed grant evaluation reports for previously awarded Community Impact Fund grants.
Present required financial statements, determined by an applicant organization’s annual operating budget:

• Budgets under $250,000 - most recently completed fiscal year’s financial statements
• Budgets between $250,000 and $749,999 – recently reviewed financial statements issued by a CPA
• Budgets $750,000 and above – recently audited financial statements issued by a CPA

Ineligibility

Community Impact Fund grants do not support the following:Capital campaigns Special events, fundraising events, or sponsorships Retroactive funding, as in, activities that are completed prior to when funding becomes available