Emerging Needs and One-Time Costs
- Purchases for program or service delivery enhancement
- Modest capital improvement projects
Deadline: Bi-monthly; last Wednesday of even months
Decision: Proceeding mid-month
Range: $1,000- $4,000
*Faith-Based organizations may apply for funding consideration through the General Grant application.
Click here to preview a pdf copy of the application.
Eligibility
Organizations are eligible to receive up to two General Grant awards per year.
Under Pricing Documentation, please provide more than one estimate or source for each expense to demonstrate where items have been priced from. If you have not provided more than one, please explain why.
The following are not eligible for consideration:
- Expenses that have occurred or are scheduled to occur before a funding decision is known (see 2024 Decision Schedule).
- Expenses for consumable or giveaway items (food, t-shirts, backpacks, promotional items, trophies etc.).
- Expenses related to ongoing programming, general operational support (see Community Impact Grants).
- Sponsorship of one-time events, banquets, dinners, fundraisers, or one-time trips (travel, accommodations, registration fees, etc.).
2024 Decision Schedule: 12/27/ mid-January decision; 2/28/ mid-March decision; 4/24/ mid-May decision; 6/26/ mid-July decision; 8/28/ mid-September decision; 10/30/ mid-November decision.
*The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation reserves the right, at any time and in its sole discretion, to decline a grant request that could be viewed as having a specific political, partisan, or religious agenda.
Criteria
The General Grant opportunity is for emerging needs and one-time costs; expenses that are outside of the annual operating budget. In addition, the following criteria are used in consideration of funding:
- Mission
- Impact
- Timing
- Clear and Realistic Project Budget
Information is obtained from a combination of the grant application and further discussion with the volunteer assigned to your request.
Review
Once an application is submitted it will be reviewed for eligibility and completeness by staff. Staff will contact you if additional information is needed.
This is our most responsive grant opportunity with a quick turnaround, application materials are finalized and sent to the volunteers within days of being received. If staff are unable to finalize your submission, it may delay consideration of the request.
A standing committee of volunteers review General Grants throughout the year. One volunteer will be assigned to your application. The volunteer will contact you to discuss your application and ask any additional questions. This information is brought back to the full committee where funding recommendations are made as a group.
Their recommendations are then presented to the Foundation’s Board of Directors for approval. You will receive a funding decision following this meeting.
Staff
Staff are here to help you navigate the grant application process and provide any technical assistance, please contact us at 716-661-3390.
- Julia Niles, Grants Manager [email protected]
- Liz Jones, Community Impact Officer [email protected]