Vigo County Urgent Grants

The Vigo County Urgent Grants provide one-time funding up to $2,000 for organizations facing urgent operational needs. These grants are intended for unexpected challenges, such as natural disasters or equipment failures, that threaten an organization's ability to operate. The Wabash Valley Community Foundation oversees this program, emphasizing the importance of sound financial stewardship and community impact. Note that there is no grant cycle this year as the process is being restructured.

NOTE: Vigo County Cycle One: No grant cycle this year as Vigo County’s competitive grant process is undergoing restructuring. Please note that grant recipients  of Vigo County must wait two grant cycles before re-applying.
We go beyond simply taking charitable contributions and making grants to charitable organizations.
Grants from the Community Foundation support every imaginable area of our communities from community centers and local arts organizations to tree-planting projects and literacy programs in schools.
For a Vigo County organization with a proven track record with the Community Foundation as being sound financial stewards and successful community providers, a one-time grant of up to $2,000 is available for an urgent operational need. This grant may be used for a sudden, unanticipated and unavoidable challenge. Generally speaking, a compelling reason must exist in order to shorten and simplify the review process. Urgent grant needs are reviewed on an as-needed basis and therefore do not fall within the deadline dates applied to the typical grant cycles.
Examples of eligible requests are:
Natural or accidental disasters (fire/flood, etc.);Theft or damage to equipment required to operate core programs;Accidental or unexpected occurrences that, until resolved, cause facilities to be inaccessible or render programs unable to operate;Unexpected failure or immediate impending failure of equipment that could threaten an organization’s ability to provide programming or services.

Ineligibility

While the Community Foundation remains flexible in attempting to meet community needs, the following items generally are not funded:Operational expenses of existing programsEndowments or deficit fundingFunds for redistribution by the granteeConferences, publications, films, television and radio programs unless integral to the project for which the grant is soughtReligious purposesTravel for individuals or groups such as bands, sports teams and classesAnnual appeals and membership contributionsCommonly accepted community services, which are tax supported such as fire and police protection, welfare and library service, etc.Political campaigns or lobbying activitiesIneligible RequestsReplacement of a gradual loss of funding or declining donation income or lost government funding;Provision of interim funding while waiting for government or insurance reimbursement;Start-up support for new programs;Addressing problems resulting from an organization’s failure to adequately plan or exercise duty of care. Examples to consider: 1) waiting until a lease expires before trying to locate alternate space; 2) relying on a small number of donors for support without having developed a diversified plan to sustain programming; 3) failure to pay taxes; 4) running operating deficits over multiple years; 5) not anticipating construction contingency costs; 6) failure to pay for maintenance costs and/or replacement costs of existing equipment;Food requests.