Free Community Events Grant

The Polk County Community Foundation offers grants for free community events aimed at fostering social interactions among residents. Grants of up to $3,000 are available for single events, while larger gatherings can receive up to $8,000. All events must be free and open to the public, encouraging local residents to connect and engage. Previous events funded include family-friendly activities, concerts, and educational workshops, promoting community building and inclusion.

The Community Foundation is pleased to offer grants for free community events, an initiative of the Foundation's Board of Directors to support face to face social interactions that build community in ways small and large. Gatherings funded by these grants are intended to benefit residents who have chosen to make this community their home, to give people an excuse to strike up a conversation and get to know your neighbors. Past grants have funded free entertainment at the Upstairs Artspace, heart-healthy banquets in Green Creek, programs for children and Shakespeare fans at the Polk County Public Library, and a Play Day for children and families in Saluda. All events are 100% free.
Grants of up to $3,000 shall be awarded for small, single events.
Grants of up to $8,000 shall be awarded for a series of events or a large single event likely to attract a hundred or more local people.
Grant funds must be spent within 12 months of the time of the award notification. You may request a longer grant period by indicating the need for an extension of time on the cover page.
Project Examples
Past Free Community Event grants have funded a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, the Do-It- Yourself Messiah, a New Year’s Eve celebration, free concerts in Columbus, Landrum, Saluda, and Tryon, heart-healthy banquets in Green Creek, programs for children and Shakespeare fans at the Polk County Public Library, and a Play Day for children and families in Saluda.
Additional ideas for free gatherings could include:
A yoga series at a libraryCommunity nights at schoolsRecreational and sporting activitiesDancesGardening classesCommunity grill nights at public parksArts and music workshops and performancesExtraordinary learning opportunities for community members young and oldFestivals and celebrations for local residentsGrant funds may be used to help keep schools open outside normal school hours as gathering places for community building activities

Eligibility

Which organizations may apply?Local Polk County, North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofits and units of government that primarily serve the citizens of the community centered in Polk County. The Foundation awards grants to local charitable organizations that have been reviewed and approved by the Foundation’s committee and Board prior to consideration of any particular application. Please contact the Foundation with questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply for grants.Grant CriteriaAll grants are awarded to local organizations to support opportunities for local residents to gather, socialize, learn, play, exercise, celebrate, and connect with one another.Saluda events will automatically be considered for Saluda Community Fund grants.Grant ConditionsEvents must be free and open to the public.“Free” means that attendees may not be asked for contributions and the events may not include the sale of food or merchandise, or charges for entertainment. When awarding grants, the committee will consider whether people coming with money and people coming without money will have the same experience.“Open to the public” means that events must appeal and be welcoming to members of the public other than your members/clients.So that the Foundation’s support may be acknowledged in publicity before and during the event and to allow adequate planning time, events must be held at least three weeks after grant decisions are available.Work with the Foundation to include our “Community Matters” seal in your publicity leading up to the events and on signage at the event. It should be clear to anyone who sees publicity and attends the event that the event is made possible by a Free Community Events grant from the Community Foundation. The grant publicity submitted with your report for this grant will be carefully reviewed for compliance with our brand. Please call the Director of Grants to discuss this condition.All publicity for the event shall be in local media outlets and/or local venues. Local means Polk County and Landrum media outlets. Publicity shall not be designed to attract visitors from outside of our community, but to encourage local residents to attend.We encourage you to purchase your refreshments and other supplies from locally-owned businesses. The Foundation can provide banners and other signage to make it clear that goods and services provided at your event have been purchased with the Foundation’s grant funds.

Ineligibility

If nonprofits participate in the event, they shall not use the event to encourage donations. Fundraising or solicitations of any type are strictly prohibited.The following types of events shall not be funded with grant dollars:Tourism or economic development events designed to attract visitors to the area. Proposed events should encourage neighbors to meet neighbors here in our community.Fundraising events.Information Fair events, where the purpose is more promotional than social.Events that are primarily to promote your organization.Events that are primarily attended by your members or clients, staff, board, volunteers, etc.Events that are “free with suggested donation” or events that have a high barrier to participation.Events targeted to a particularly narrow demographic.Events designed to provide charitable assistance to individuals, social services, support groups, etc.Events that do not fit the guidelines outlined here and/or Foundation policies.