The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund’s Dash Grants Program, facilitated by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, is dedicated to grantmaking within Coös County, NH, and its bordering communities in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. This program aligns with the foundation's mission to support the people and places of these specific regions, fostering local initiatives and addressing community needs. The "Dash" aspect of the grants indicates a focus on rapid awards, suggesting a strategic priority for timely and accessible funding for smaller-scale, impactful projects.
The target beneficiaries of the Dash Grants Program are tax-exempt organizations, state or local government agencies, and grassroots organizations (with a fiscal sponsor) that operate within the designated geographic area. The impact goals center on supporting projects and activities that directly benefit Coös County and its surrounding communities. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed for all outcomes, the examples of awards, such as providing marketing materials for a one-time community event, sponsoring school field trips, hiring consultants for projects, or purchasing equipment, illustrate a focus on tangible, project-based improvements and community enrichment.
The program prioritizes projects that do not extend past one year in length, though extensions can be granted, indicating a preference for discrete, achievable initiatives. The funding information specifies rapid grant awards ranging from $250 up to $2,000. This smaller grant size suggests a strategic focus on supporting numerous, localized efforts rather than large-scale, long-term endeavors.
The Tillotson Fund explicitly outlines what it does not fund, which further clarifies its strategic priorities and theory of change. Excluded categories include operating/ongoing program expenses, recurring programs, capital campaigns, expenses already incurred, out-of-region projects, sectarian/religious programs, community foundations (unless fiscal sponsors), individuals, endowments, budget shortfalls, political activities, and discriminatory organizations. This list reveals a commitment to funding new or specific project-based work that has a direct, non-discriminatory community benefit, avoiding long-term operational support to ensure a broader distribution of resources for varied initiatives within its target communities.
