Foundation announces first of two grant cycles for 2008

Friday, January 4, 2008

The Putnam County Community Foundation announces the availability of just more than $29,000 in its first of two grant cycles for 2008 to fund charitable projects in Putnam County.

Preliminary grant applications are due to the Community Foundation office by Feb. 1.

To date, more than $1.75 million has been awarded for Putnam County charitable projects through the Community Foundation's grant programs to enrich the quality of life and strengthen community for this and future generations.

The mission of the Community Foundation is broad and includes support of all charitable activities in Putnam County.

However, based upon community research, funding priority will be given to organizations serving Putnam County citizens in six areas -- increasing literacy and educational attainment, combating obesity and promoting fitness, increasing economic development, supporting senior citizens, non-profit capacity building, and increasing access to transportation.

Applications will be evaluated based upon project innovativeness, community impact, and the ability of the organization to accomplish the project.

Applications are also being accepted for charitable projects serving the terminally ill and their families, the hungry and homeless, and for projects in the area of education. Funds for these three general areas are derived from special endowments at the Community Foundation established to support these fields of interest and the application process is the same for these grants with the preliminary application due Feb. 1, as well.

In general, grants from the Community Foun-dation will not be made to the following: individuals; projects that do not serve Putnam County citizens; projects normally fully funded by units of government; the building or funding of an endowment outside of the Community Foundation; salaries, rent and utilities; religious activities or programs that serve only one denomination; political organizations or campaigns; national or state-wide fund raising projects which do not directly benefit local citizens; projects that could be considered discriminatory; projects operated by for-profit companies; and projects requesting retroactive funding.

The Community Foundation welcomes all eligible organizations to apply.

Contact the Community Foundation office at 653-4978 to receive an application.

For questions about the grants program and process, contact Eric Wolfe, Community Development Director, at the foundation office.

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