Community Impact Grant

Geographic Scope: Fountain County (Attica, Covington, Southeast Fountain school corporation boundaries) and Vermillion County

Focus Areas: Health, charitable service, education, cultural affairs, and community improvement

Eligibility:

• Tax exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code
• Non-501(c)(3) organizations with charitable causes
• Organizations serving Fountain or Vermillion Counties
• Organizations must be in good standing with the Community Foundation

What WICF Will Fund:

• Startup costs for new programs
• One-time projects
• Capital needs beyond an organization's capabilities
• Projects that affect a broad scope of people
• Projects that fill a gap in service or meet a need
• Projects that enable an organization to better serve people of Fountain or Vermillion Counties
• Projects that demonstrate cooperation or partnership with other organizations when possible

What WICF Will NOT Fund:

• Projects that do not affect people locally
• "Third party" projects (e.g., someone wanting to bring a performance to schools without receiving invitations from administrators or teachers)
• Projects whose effectiveness can't be measured or for which there is no evidence of need
• Requests from individuals (except scholarships; does not include professional CEUs) or proposals designed to support a named individual
• Requests to support regular operating budgets or provide long-term funding
• Post-event situations or reimbursement requests for expenses incurred before application
• Projects for political organizations
• Projects for religious purposes (with limited exceptions for faith-based organizations providing community programs)
• Organizations not in good standing with the Community Foundation
• Projects not core to an organization's mission
• National organizations (except local chapters serving Fountain or Vermillion Counties)

Grant Requirements:

• Organizations must sign a grant agreement
• Organizations must carry out the plan within the estimated timeframe
• Final reports required, including narrative and financial reports
• Photographs must be provided where appropriate
• Credit to Western Indiana Community Foundation must be given in any publications or publicity
• Unspent grant money equal to or greater than 5% of the total grant must be returned
• Grant recipients can spend lesser amounts of unused grant money for purposes consistent with the grant with written permission
• Grant recipients must account for expenses in the financial section of the final report
• Approved grants must be used within the designated grant period or funds will be forfeited

Contact Information:

• Kim Eaton, Director of Community Engagement
• Email: keaton@wicf-inc.org
• Phone: (765) 793-0702, ext. 3
• Western Indiana Community Foundation, Inc.
• 135 S. Stringtown Rd.
• P.O. Box 175
• Covington, IN 47932
• Federal Tax ID: 35-1814927

Note: A conversation with WICF staff is recommended to discuss your project via phone or in-person visit.

How to Apply

Application Timeline and Deadlines:

• Apply by January 15 for a decision in March
• Apply by April 15 for a decision in June
• Apply by July 15 for a decision in September
• Apply by October 15 for a decision in December

Application Process:

1. Contact WICF staff to discuss your project (recommended)
2. Go to the online grant application portal
3. First-time users: Click "Create New Account" to complete registration and create login credentials
4. Returning users: Log in with email address and password
5. Complete the Community Impact Grant application form
6. Submit online (paper applications are NOT accepted)

Application Requirements:

• General information: Organization name and address, Tax ID# (if 501(c)(3)), contact person name and title, funding amounts per Foundation area
• Detailed project information:
  • Purpose of the request
  • Who will benefit
  • Project goals and measurable objectives
  • Estimated timeline for start and completion
  • Detailed budget
  • Information on other funding sources or partnerships
  • Plans for promoting the grant if awarded
• More detailed information required than Rapid Response grants due to higher funding amount

Application Materials:

• Application preview available at: https://www.wicf-inc.org/grants-application
• All applications completed online only
• Applications are not accepted by mail or hand delivery

Post-Award Requirements:

• Organization must sign a Grant Agreement before funding is released
• Organization must complete final report with narrative and financial information
• Photographs must be provided where appropriate

Support:

• Contact WICF office at (765) 793-0702 for questions
• A conversation with WICF staff is recommended (though not required) to discuss your project