CFMJC Competitive Grant Cycle

The Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County (CFMJC) is a philanthropic organization that manages charitable funds established by donors to support a wide range of causes in Jefferson County, Indiana. Since its founding in 1991, CFMJC has provided grants to support initiatives in areas such as animal welfare, health and safety, education, youth development, veterans services, basic living needs, historic preservation, and senior citizen welfare. The foundation's grant-making efforts are overseen by a Board of Directors and a Grants Committee to ensure alignment with donor intent and community benefit. CFMJC offers three primary types of grants: Designated, Donor Advised, and Competitive Cycle. Designated grants are directed to specific organizations and distributed annually in March. Donor Advised grants are recommended by fund representatives and are awarded throughout the year. Competitive Cycle grants are distributed once annually through an application process and are supported by the Foundation’s Flexible Community Funds and Field of Interest Funds. For Competitive Cycle grants, all communications must be directed to Kelly Miller or Bill Barnes. Contact with board or committee members regarding grant applications is prohibited. Budgets in applications must be accurate, and any variance of 10% or more in unspent funds must receive additional approval for repurposing. Grantees are required to submit final program and financial reports, which influence eligibility for future funding. Eligibility for Competitive Cycle grants is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and 509(a) agencies, as well as government entities whose programs serve Jefferson County residents. Grants are not made to individuals, for political activities, or for religious proselytizing. Applications are also ineligible for debt service or endowment creation. Preference is given to projects that are one-time, preventative in nature, involve community collaboration, and provide a high return per grant dollar. Lower priority is given to operational expenses, equipment, and applicants who received funding the previous year. The 2025 Competitive Grant Cycle opened on June 1 and the deadline for submission is Monday, August 4, 2025, at Noon. Applications must be submitted via the foundation’s online grant system. Applicants must create an account, access the dashboard, and use the "Apply" button to begin. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted, and no edits are permitted after the deadline. For assistance, contact Kelly Miller at kelly@cfmjc.org or 812-265-3327. Applicants should also add administrator@grantinterface.com to their email safe sender list to ensure receipt of communications regarding their submission. To aid applicants, CFMJC hosts annual Grant Workshops each April. These sessions are intended to help local nonprofit organizations prepare competitive applications. Workshop slides and a listing of Field of Interest Funds are available as additional resources.

Attend April Grant Workshop. Review slides and funds list. Add administrator@grantinterface.com to Safe Sender List.