New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Community Grants

The Community Grants Program is administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, a private philanthropic organization that supports nonprofits and charitable activities throughout New Hampshire and select adjacent communities in Maine and Vermont. Rooted in its strategic plan titled "Together We Thrive," the foundation aims to foster equity, racial justice, and economic security by funding initiatives that address essential and basic needs. This grant opportunity is designed to provide flexible support to organizations that serve individuals and families in crisis, especially those who face barriers to health, safety, and belonging. The program offers both unrestricted operating support and project-based funding for organizations that align with its core mission. Priority is given to nonprofits whose work promotes health, wellness, safety, and a sense of community among underserved populations. Qualifying initiatives may include efforts to combat hate and discrimination, increase food security, expand access to housing and shelter, provide legal aid and information sharing, support behavioral and general health care access, offer early childcare and education services, advocate for people with disabilities, operate mutual aid networks, and deliver trauma support services. Nonprofits that collaborate to plan and preserve services are also eligible. Applicants may request up to $20,000 per year for a maximum of two years, with a total possible grant of $40,000. Both unrestricted and project-based support is available, but organizations may only submit one application annually. Organizations located outside the foundation's service area are eligible only for project-based grants and only for services rendered within the approved service area. Geographic eligibility includes all of New Hampshire and select bordering towns in southern Maine and eastern Vermont. Specific towns in Maine include Berwick, North Berwick, South Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, and York. Eligible Vermont towns range widely and include communities such as Bethel, Chester, Hartford, Randolph, Thetford, Windsor, and Woodstock among others. Organizations must either be recognized 501(c)(3) public charities or have a qualified fiscal sponsor. Religious-based nonprofits, municipalities, and private operating foundations are also eligible, but only for project-based activities that serve the broader public. The program is not open to schools, hospitals, colleges, universities, non-501(c)(3) organizations without fiscal sponsors, or organizations that received multiyear community grants in December 2024. The application process begins when the GrantSource portal opens on Monday, July 7, 2025. Applications can be submitted any time after this opening, and decisions will be made on a rolling basis until the final deadline on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Applicants will first be notified via email through the GrantSource portal and subsequently receive a formal grant award notification. Grant checks will be distributed shortly thereafter. All funding decisions will be finalized and communicated by the first week of December. Applicants must log in or register on GrantSource to submit applications. The process includes reading eligibility guidelines, completing the application form, and submitting it by the deadline. Funded organizations are encouraged to use the grantee press kit to share their news and must also submit final or interim reports through GrantSource approximately one year after receiving funding. Failure to submit required reports may affect future funding eligibility. For assistance, applicants can contact the Grant Management staff via email at grantapp@nhcf.org or by phone at 603-225-6641 ext. 5. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

Read eligibility information carefully, register or update a GrantSource profile, and review previous year’s application requirements.