The Vermont Community Foundation’s Spark Connecting Community grant program is designed to support grassroots initiatives throughout Vermont that build and strengthen community connections. These grants prioritize emerging projects that enhance social capital—defined as the value derived from collaboration, shared experiences, and connection across differences. The Foundation acknowledges the important correlation between social capital and improved health, education, civic participation, and resilience.
In 2025, the program emphasizes inclusivity and regional equity by prioritizing applications from underrepresented counties in past grant rounds, particularly Essex, Grand Isle, and Franklin counties. Spark Connecting Community seeks local champions who collaborate with others to turn visionary ideas into reality, especially in areas where small grants can create meaningful change.
The program welcomes hyperlocal, place-based projects (involving a single community or closely linked towns) as well as statewide or regional efforts that unite communities through shared identities or interests. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit organizations, municipalities, or similar entities, including those with fiscal sponsors. The program particularly supports projects from groups with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less and encourages first-time grant seekers to apply.
The grant size ranges from $500 to $5,000. Funding can cover community-based projects such as public art for revitalization, outdoor educational trails, and inclusive community events. However, Spark does not support capital campaigns, annual events, scholarships unrelated to community building, religious instruction, indirect expenses (including fiscal sponsor fees), or repeat funding for the same project. The grant term covers activities from June 2025 through June 2026.
Applications will be accepted from April 22 to May 27, 2025, with a deadline of 5 PM on May 27. Notifications will be sent by late June via email. For more information, applicants can reach Jane Mulcahy, the grant contact, at jmulcahy@vermontcf.org or 802-388-3355 ext. 381.
