Otsego Community Grant Program

The Otsego Community Grant Program, managed by the Otsego Community Foundation, enhances local nonprofit capacity through four grant types: Expansion, Capacity, Sustaining, and Seed grants. The program particularly supports projects that fill significant gaps in the community and emphasizes the importance of multi-year grants for sustainable impact. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and local government units.

NOTE: We realize that a need or opportunity may arise for your organization outside of the Community Grant Program. Funding opportunities are available and made on a case-by-case basis.
Otsego Community Foundation
The Otsego Community Foundation manages over 90 charitable funds established by generous individuals, businesses and families that want to give back to Otsego County. From each fund, grants are distributed back to the community based on the charitable intention of the fund. Some funds are designated for a specific cause or organization such as the Otsego County Historical Society or Little League, others known as Field of Interest Funds, target a specific area of the community such as youth, educators, homelessness or cancer. Funds for the Community are undesignated funds designed to support multiple local charities.
Since 2015, The Otsego Community Foundation has administered the Community Grant Program, a collaborative effort of local funders that increases the effectiveness of grantmaking and grows the capacity of local nonprofits. Collectively, we can make more of an impact on projects and programs. As the administrator of this program, the OCF will serve as your contact through the grant-seeking process. This program addresses the limited capacity of organizations to apply to multiple funding sources.
The Community Grant Program offers four types of grants for Otsego County nonprofits:
Expansion Grant – This grant funds an increase in the size or scope of an existing program.Capacity Grant – This grant is an investment that strengthens nonprofit performance or outcomes such as new strategies, improved processes/efficiencies, or staff development.Sustaining Grant – This grant funds an established program or project that isn’t altering its size or scope.Seed Grant – This type of grant funds a new concept or pilot program.
Areas of Interest
All funding partners are particularly interested in supporting applications that:

• Focus on projects that pilot, scale, accelerate, or fill significant gaps.
• Build capacity and support the incredible work of our nonprofits.
• Fully fund grants and champion projects actively addressing identified local needs.
• Support multi-year grants to promote effective planning and programming.
• Leverage greater funds from outside our community through matching grants.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?501 (c) (3) organizationsSchoolsGovernment Units that serve the residents of Otsego County

Ineligibility

The Community Grant Program does NOT fund the following:Capital campaignsMembership campaignsEvent sponsorshipsRetroactive fundingDebt retirementGrants to individualsGrants for medical, scientific, or academic researchGrants that promote political and religious ideologies and doctrines