Fall Community Impact Grant Fund

The Community Impact Grant Fund is a funding opportunity administered by the Russell County Area Community Foundation, a regional philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting projects that enhance the quality of life in the communities it serves. This grant program is one of several administered by the foundation, which includes opportunities for education, public health, disaster relief, and youth-focused initiatives. The Community Impact Grant Fund specifically supports impactful projects that bring meaningful benefits to local residents and address community needs. The purpose of the Community Impact Grant Fund is to empower local nonprofits, educational institutions, government bodies, and religious organizations to implement projects that generate measurable positive outcomes for Russell County and surrounding areas. The fund emphasizes support for new and innovative projects rather than ongoing operational costs or repetitive annual programming. Proposals for activities such as general utilities, recurring programs, salaries, or routine infrastructure maintenance (e.g., HVAC systems) are typically not funded. For schools, the grant excludes expenses that should typically be covered by district funding. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, government entities, and religious organizations. Individuals are generally not eligible unless they are children 18 or younger applying for extracurricular activities funding through a different fund. Organizations not meeting the standard eligibility criteria are encouraged to seek fiscal sponsorship from eligible entities. The grant is geographically restricted to projects that serve areas within the community foundation’s service region. Grants are awarded twice annually, with a spring cycle from February 1 to March 30 and a fall cycle from August 1 to September 30. All funded projects must be completed within one year from the date of grant approval. Final reporting is mandatory and must include both receipts and photographs of the completed project. Unused funds must be returned along with the final report and should be mailed to GNWKCF at the specified address with a reference to the project name. Applications must be submitted through the foundation’s online Grant Portal, where applicants can also access final reporting templates and media upload functionalities. All submitted media must comply with the foundation's Photo Release Consent Agreement. For application assistance, potential applicants can contact the foundation at 785-734-2406. Evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed, but applicants are encouraged to propose unique, community-focused projects that can demonstrate results within the one-year performance period.

Projects should be one-time, non-recurring, and not cover regular operations or salaries. Schools must avoid items that should be funded by the district.