Community Grants

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley offers Community Grants to provide unrestricted General Operating Support (GOS) for nonprofits in Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster Counties. These grants, capped at $5,000, focus on supporting organizations that serve historically marginalized communities. Funding can be used for administrative costs, capacity building, and essential program maintenance, addressing needs in areas such as human services, arts, education, health, and civic affairs, promoting community well-being.

Partnering with our generous donors, we address current and emerging community needs through effective grantmaking to improve the quality of life for all.
The Community Foundations Community Grant Program is an annual opportunity to provide nonprofits with unrestricted General Operating Support (GOS). GOS grants are flexible and allow funds to support an organization’s ongoing administrative and infrastructure costs and to provide support to maintain existing, effective programs, organizational development and capacity building in Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster County.
Funding Focus:

• Funding will support a broad variety of organizations and programming, including; effective and innovative programs in the areas of:
• human services, arts and culture, education and youth, health, the environment and civic affairs.

Funding will have a focus on benefiting people who are from historically marginalized and under-funded communities or populations based on their race, ethnicity, age, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, health status, abilities or geographic location.
General Operating Support grants will provide unrestricted support to the organization but can include specific support including:
planning and/or the direct implementation of the programtechnology, equipment, or material costsstrategic planning, staff/board development and/or succession planningmanagement systems (financial, HR)marketing and communicationsinvestments to increase organizational capacity
Awards:

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

Eligibility

The following organizations are eligible to apply for grants:Tax exempt organizations (including faith-based organizations) located in or providing services to residents of Dutchess, Putnam or Ulster Counties, New YorkNonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status or an established fiscal sponsorship arrangement with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Ineligibility

Please note that grants are not given to support:IndividualsPolitical or partisan purposesLobbying activitiesLoan reimbursements for capital projects already underway or completedRetroactive expenses that were incurred prior to the grant awardEndowmentsReligious organizations for sacramental or theological purposes, however, grants may be made to support non-religious community programs provided through these institutionsSchools, however, grants may be made to support student/teacher community service programs targeted to assist broader community needsPrivate foundationsFor-profit organizations