2024 Community Impact Fund

The Community Impact Fund is the Community Foundation’s competitive grantmaking process for local nonprofit organizations. Donor Name: Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country State: Texas County: Bandera County (TX), Blanco County (TX), Edwards County (TX), Gillespie County (TX), Kendall County (TX), Kerr County (TX), Kimble County (TX), Mason County (TX), Real County (TX), Uvalde County (TX) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Focus Areas  The Community Impact Fund invests in four focus areas: Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Environment, and Youth Development. Arts & Culture In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support arts and culture by funding organizations that present, produce, or provide arts programming for the public; art forms supported can be dance, design, folk arts, literature, media arts, music, opera, performance arts, theatre, public art, and visual arts. Additionally, organizations that promote and/or preserve the Hill Country’s history and culture will be considered. Grantees will be evaluated on one or more of the following measures: Audience participation in programming. Grantees will report on the number of audience members for supported projects. Community satisfaction with arts and cultural opportunities. Grantees will be required to submit documented efforts of reaching diverse audiences with regard to age, race, geography, and/or subject matter. Basic Needs In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support basic needs by funding organizations and programs that address hunger, poverty, literacy, neglect, family violence, lack of access to basic medical care, homelessness, the needs of seniors and veterans, the needs of those with disabilities or chronic illness, and animal welfare. Grantees will be evaluated on one or more of the following measures: Number of unduplicated residents served. Grantees will submit a record of unduplicated residents/clients served. Description of collaborative work with other organizations. Grantees will be required to document how collaboration with other entities affects operations and programming. Environment In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support the environment by funding organizations and programs that address environmental stewardship and/or education. Nature education, energy and water conservation, land stewardship, wildlife protection, recycling and repurposing, and maintaining dark skies are all priorities that will be considered. Grantees will be evaluated on one or more of the following measures: Number of unduplicated residents served. Grantees will submit a record of unduplicated residents/clients served. Number of acres or geographical areas affected by the grant. Grantees will be required to document the geographical areas its funding affected. Economic and environmental impact. Where appropriate, supported organizations will document the economic impact and the environmental impact of the grant. Youth Development  In 2024, the Community Impact Fund will support the next generation by funding organizations and programs that work with children and youth, from birth through age 21. Grantees will be evaluated on one or more of the following measures: Number of unduplicated children and youth served. Grantees will submit a record of unduplicated children/youth served. The quality of the safe and/or supportive environment. Grantees will be required to document where and how they create, provide, and/or maintain a safe and/or supportive environment for children and youth. The levels of interaction and engagement for young people. Where appropriate, supported organizations will document ways children and youth are encouraged to interact, engage, and build life or work skills. Types of Support  Applicant organizations should decide whether to apply for general operating support or for program support; either type of request is eligible for the Community Impact Fund. Requests should not exceed more than $15,000. General Operating Support is unrestricted funding. Organizations may use the funds for administrative purposes, to meet monthly obligations, to support programming, pay salaries, or to meet other organizational needs. For general operating support requests, organizations must submit a current strategic plan that covers two or more years of operations. Program Support is funding for a specific program of an organization. Funds can be used for any element of the program’s budget. For program support requests, organizations must submit a program budget.  Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must: Be located in or providing services to residents in Bandera, Blanco, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Real, or Uvalde counties. Be classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by the Internal Revenue Service. Have a minimum of 12 months of operating history after 501(c)(3) determination. Demonstrate that 100% of the applicant organization’s Board of Directors have given to the applicant organization during the last completed fiscal year. Giving is defined as a personal cash donation or financially measurable in-kind contribution. Have filed grant evaluation reports for previously awarded Community Impact Fund grants. Present required financial statements, determined by an applicant organization’s annual operating budget: Budgets under $350,000 – most recently completed fiscal year’s financial statements Budgets between $350,000 and $749,999 – recently reviewed financial statements issued by a CPA Budgets $750,000 and above – recently audited financial statements issued by a CPA For more information, visit CFTHC.