What We Fund? A Thriving Community.

Our results-based grantmaking framework enables us to make more focused funding decisions and measure their impact in our four funding priority areas:

Our Grants Process

One of the ways GCF helps to build a healthy and thriving community is through its competitive grants program, offered once a year. This program is funded by the generosity of donors who have created flexible funds to respond to community needs as they change or emerge over time. It is available to eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and agencies providing programs that directly impact Gloucester County and improve the quality of life for its residents.

In some cases, GCF may take a more proactive approach to addressing important community issues. The foundation will seek to identify community initiatives that advance solutions to our community’s greatest challenges using innovative strategies and a collaborative spirit. The foundation encourages grant requests that are innovative, collaborative, measurable, and sustainable.

Grant requests often exceed the funds that are available. In 2019, the foundation awarded just over $48,000 in community grants. Please carefully review the deadlines and grant criteria noted below.

For questions, please email Regional Affiliate Officer, Lincoln Boykin, or call 804-436-1600.

How to Apply

Eligibility

Proposals are accepted from 501(c)(3) charitable organizations serving Gloucester County.
Note: To be considered, organizations are required to upload an operating budget, the most recently filed (within the last two years) IRS Form 990, a Financial Statement or Audit, and a list of current board members. If you are an organization that does not have the required documents listed here, please contact Charles Case at ccase@cfrichmond.org with any questions or to receive further instructions.
All proposals must be submitted online to the Gloucester Community Foundation.
Organizations are limited to competitive grant support one time in a calendar year. From time to time, exceptions may be made if GCF extends an invitation or undertakes a special initiative.

Grant Priorities

We focus on four areas of community life that are most likely to produce positive and lasting change in the area served by GCF.

We work closely with our grantees to advance these goals:

Cultural Vibrancy: Our goal is for community members to access and appreciate arts and cultural opportunities.
Economic Prosperity: Our goal is for our county's resources to be sustainable and our residents to be economically stable and secure.
Educational Success: Our goal is for young people to achieve in school, engage in their community and be prepared for the workforce.
Health & Wellness: Our goal is for community members to be safe and healthy.

Grant Amount

Grants typically range from $1,00 to $5,000. Occasionally, we will identify a limited number of projects to receive grants in excess of the current guidelines.

Timeline

Proposals are due by 4:30pm on the first Friday of March.

Grant announcements are typically made in April.

All grant requests are submitted through an online grants system. Paper copies or emailed files will not be accepted.

If you have applied to the foundation in the past, please enter your email address and password to access your account and begin the application. If not, please click on "Create New Account."

For best practices in submitting a proposal, as well as understanding the grant application questions, please review "Preparing Your Grant Proposal."

Access online grants system

Questions?

Lincoln Boykin
Director of Affiliate Foundations
804-436-1600
email Lincoln