A community grants timeline

The Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) has recently awarded Community Grants for the spring grant cycle. While we announce these grant awards twice each year, perhaps you are unaware of how the process works. These grants are available to any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization including churches, units of government or other organizations working to benefit Putnam County and its citizens. These grants are made using the Community Foundation’s combined payouts from its 40 unrestricted funds.

PCCF is blessed to have numerous committees comprised of board members and other volunteers from around Putnam County. Our Grants Committee, made up of 10 of these volunteers, is tasked with soliciting applications, reviewing requests, and recommending grant awards during spring and fall grant cycles. The application asks the applicant to provide a brief history of the organization, the proposed project or need and a financial narrative that supports their request. Applications for Community Grants are accepted until Feb. 1 and Aug. 1 for the spring and fall grant cycles.

The ten members of the Grants Committee review and score the applications and determine which applications they would like to review further. At least two members of the committee are then tasked with meeting with representatives of that organization to clarify any questions, determine how a grant would fit in the organization’s funding plan and if the proposed request is feasible. After this fact-finding, members report the findings to the committee and make a recommendation to fully fund, partially fund or deny the request.

Dean Gambill

After receiving the fact-finding reports, the committee meets to discuss and recommend which applications to fund and the level of funding from the available funding pool. These recommendations are sent to the PCCF Board of Directors for approval, and applicants are then notified of the decision.

Those organizations receiving grants sign a Grant Agreement which lays out the approved uses for the grant and the requirements for reporting progress and completion. Upon receipt of the signed agreement, checks are disbursed to the grantees to benefit Putnam County. The entire process from grant application to funding takes about three months.

While grantmaking might sound easy, it is difficult. The Grants Committee takes their responsibility of wisely stewarding the funding available to them very seriously, working to ensure that funding is used in the best possible way. The Community Foundation may fully fund projects, but most often the applicant will have other funding available to complete the project. We know that every applicant is passionate about their project, making grants decisions even harder.

The Grants Committee is entrusted with a difficult task and continually seeks to do the best job of helping improve Putnam County and the lives of its residents. If you know a member of the committee, give them a smile and a big thanks.

The Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) works alongside individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to build a stronger Putnam County. To learn more about the PCCF, visit www.pcfoundation.org or call 653-4978.