Walter Cerf Community Fund

The Walter Cerf Community Fund (WCCF), managed by the Vermont Community Foundation, was established in 2001 through a permanent endowment honoring the legacy of Walter Cerf. Cerf, originally from Leipzig, Germany, was a philosopher and philanthropist who resided in Leicester, Vermont after retiring from a distinguished academic career. Over the last two decades of his life, Cerf donated over $10 million to more than 100 organizations across Vermont. The fund continues to reflect his lifelong commitment to education, historic preservation, and social services. The WCCF supports charitable projects in Vermont, with priority focus areas including the arts, education, historic preservation, and social services. Particular emphasis is placed on serving underserved populations. The fund prefers proposals that foster collaboration and community building, and projects are encouraged to consult with the Preservation Trust of Vermont for historic preservation efforts. Importantly, WCCF rarely funds full project costs and prioritizes projects with diversified financial backing. Grants are available to organizations serving either a statewide Vermont constituency or located specifically in Addison County or the Town of Brandon. Approximately 70 percent of the funding is designated for initiatives within Addison County and Brandon, while the remaining 30 percent supports statewide projects, especially those that benefit the Addison County/Brandon area. Two categories of grants are available: small grants ranging from $500 to $5,000, and large grants of up to $25,000. Small grants can support either specific projects or general operating expenses and are open to both local and statewide organizations. Large grants must be for specific projects and are limited to organizations based in or serving Addison County or Brandon. Organizations not awarded a large grant will still be considered for a small grant. Grant activities must occur between September 2025 and September 2026. Applications are accepted from April 29, 2025, through June 24, 2025. Notifications will be issued via email in September 2025. Applications must be submitted online through the Vermont Community Foundation’s Online Grants Manager, where applicants can also preview a sample PDF of the application. For more information or assistance with the application process, interested applicants can contact Jane Mulcahy by email at jmulcahy@vermontcf.org or by phone at 802-388-3355 ext. 381.

Applicants proposing historic preservation projects are encouraged to consult with the Preservation Trust before applying. Projects with collaborative support are favored.