Discretionary Grant Program – Vulnerable Individuals and Families

Indian River Community Foundation (IRCF) is a private philanthropic organization committed to improving the quality of life in Indian River County, Florida. Its discretionary grantmaking initiatives are aimed at building a more healthy, prosperous, and generous community. These efforts are grounded in findings from community needs assessments and data from Indian River Indicators. The foundation allocates discretionary funding primarily to nonprofit organizations serving the county’s most vulnerable populations. The Discretionary Grant Program for Vulnerable Individuals and Families supports projects that advance outcomes in four priority areas: health, housing, education, and economic opportunity. Two funding categories are available: proven programs and capital projects. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for proven programs operated by 501(c)(3) nonprofits that directly benefit vulnerable children, adults, or seniors in Indian River County. Grants of up to $100,000 are available for capital projects such as facility expansions or enhancements, provided at least 75 percent of the total capital campaign goal has been raised. Capital funding is similarly restricted to organizations offering services in the foundation’s priority areas. Applications begin with a Letter of Idea (LOI), which must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the last day of each month. LOIs are reviewed in the order received, and only selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals. The foundation’s Board of Directors approves grant awards quarterly, with deadlines for review falling on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Participation in a pre-application grantee conference may be required for first-time applicants or those applying for a fourth consecutive year of renewal funding. To be considered, applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities serving Indian River County and must maintain a Platinum-level profile on GuideStar. Additional application requirements include audited or reviewed financial statements depending on the organization’s annual budget size, the latest IRS Form 990, detailed program or capital budgets, income statements, cash flow statements, and meeting minutes from the past 12 months. All submissions must be made through IRCF’s online portal. Grant proposals are evaluated based on their relevance to documented community needs, the specificity and feasibility of planned activities, the qualifications of project leadership, the realism of timelines, the measurability of outcomes, and the financial integrity of the applicant organization. Required reporting includes regular progress updates and participation in site visits and knowledge-sharing activities. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend a monthly grantseeker orientation by contacting IRCF at grants@ircommunityfoundation.org or by calling 772-492-1407. Full details and application materials are available at www.ircommunityfoundation.org.

Organizations are encouraged to attend monthly grantseeker orientation sessions.