3Rivers Credit Union Foundation Grant

The 3Rivers Credit Union Foundation, established in 2015, is the charitable arm of 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, a community-focused financial institution that has served local populations since 1935. The Foundation's mission is to enhance lives within the communities 3Rivers serves, focusing support on three primary initiatives: financial literacy, education, and health and wellness. With over $1.5 million awarded to 142 nonprofits, the Foundation continues to drive positive community impact through structured, purposeful grantmaking. Funding through the Foundation is available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve counties within 3Rivers' footprint: Adams, Allen, Auglaize, DeKalb, Delaware, Hancock, Madison, Noble, Steuben, Union, Wayne, Wells, and Whitley. To be considered eligible, organizations must ensure that at least 80% of the requested funds directly benefit individuals in these counties. Funding requests must align with at least one of the Foundation’s focus areas—financial literacy, education, or health and wellness—and be accompanied by defined goals, with measurable qualitative and quantitative outcomes. While requests for capital expenditures may be considered, they are discouraged unless prior consultation with Foundation staff is conducted. Grants typically do not exceed $7,500, though the Foundation reserves discretion to award more or less depending on the proposal’s merit. The Foundation does not support general operating expenses, capital or endowment campaigns, individual-based requests, religious or political entities, or debt-related expenses. All funding must be directed toward programs or initiatives that clearly fulfill the Foundation’s strategic priorities and contribute to local impact. The application process is conducted entirely online and is designed to be completed in a single session, as progress cannot be saved. Applicants must prepare several key documents in advance: an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, a completed W-9 form, a list of the organization’s Board of Directors, a project/program-specific budget, and the organization's operating budget. Applications should be submitted using Chromium-based browsers, and applicants are encouraged to draft responses in a separate document to prevent data loss. Support and clarification can be requested via email at foundation@trfcu.org. Applications are accepted quarterly, with the following cycle deadlines: February 5, April 23, July 16, and October 15. All deadlines fall at 11:59 PM local time on the specified dates. As of the reference date of September 1, 2025, the next upcoming deadline is October 15, 2025. The Foundation’s grant program is recurring, following a consistent quarterly cycle. Each application is reviewed based on its alignment with mission priorities, community benefit, program design, budget justification, and projected impact. Applicants are expected to provide a detailed narrative outlining the scope and objectives of the proposed project, a budget rationale, quantitative and qualitative measures of success, and documentation of previous funding outcomes if applicable. Additional application elements include information on the requesting organization, relationship to 3Rivers (if any), and the percentage of funds used for programs, fundraising, and administration. Successful applications demonstrate clear local relevance, outcome-driven strategies, and alignment with the Foundation’s core priorities.

Have all documents ready before starting; the application must be submitted in one sitting; use Chromium-based browsers; avoid using Internet Explorer.