3 Rivers Community Foundation Project/Program Grant

The Three Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF), a private philanthropic organization serving Benton and Franklin counties in Washington State, offers an annual grant cycle aimed at strengthening community-serving nonprofits. The foundation provides two primary types of grants: Program/Project Grants for specific initiatives and Impact Grants for more flexible support that directly contributes to an organization’s mission. This cycle is targeted at 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in the Benton and Franklin counties, encouraging innovative and community-responsive projects. Applications for the 2025 grant cycle are accepted from August 1 to September 15, 2025. Eligible applicants must submit one application per organization. Those applying for Impact Grants must have received a 3RCF grant in 2022, 2023, or 2024 and demonstrated timely reporting and a flexible, responsive operating structure. Impact Grant candidates should also be capable of communicating clearly how funds supported their mission and have a diversified funding base. Grant awards generally range from $500 to over $10,000, with an average of approximately $4,000. Organizations seeking more than $10,000 are advised to contact 3RCF staff before applying. All funding must be used for eligible programmatic or project purposes, with exclusions including capital campaigns, debt reduction, endowments, fundraising events, religious proselytizing, schools, political lobbying, and purchases made before grant awards are issued. Grantees are notified of awards in November 2025 and receive recognition at the Celebration of Philanthropy luncheon on December 3, 2025. 3RCF may conduct applicant interviews as part of its evaluation process. Applicants must use the designated 3RCF grant portal to access and complete either the Program/Project Grant or Impact Grant application. The application requests detailed information, including organizational mission, financial position (balance sheet and operating budget), project goals, population served, implementation steps, collaborations, and contingency planning for partial funding. Required uploads include the project budget, recent financials, and a list of board members. The foundation emphasizes community impact and responsiveness to evolving local needs. Resources like BentonFranklinTrends.org and WA211.org/community-data are suggested to applicants for contextualizing their proposals. While the funding is not nationwide, its geographic scope is clearly defined and consistent with 3RCF’s regional mission. There is no matching funds requirement, simplifying access for smaller organizations. For application-specific inquiries or if planning to request over $10,000, applicants should contact 3RCF directly through the information provided on their website or through the portal links to the Program/Project or Impact Grant applications.

Contact 3RCF staff if applying for over $10,000. Use local data sources (bentonfranklintrends.org, wa211.org) to support application.