Community Assistance Grants

*Submission Deadline for Community Assistance Grants*

**** August 1, 2010 ****

Commonweal offers funding to community based nonprofit organizations that provide educational and other support to underserved low income children and youth, primarily in grades 6-12. Our primary focus is on Montgomery County and Prince George's County, with a secondary focus on Baltimore City, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.  Organizations that become Community Assistance grantees may operate Out-of-School-Time programs for low income, underserved youth that offer excellent supplemental academic enrichment programs combined with arts, sports, recreation, life skills, community service and employment and training programs. Many provide in-school programs that reach low income children and youth during school hours that enhance their development of academic and life skills. All successful organizations demonstrate excellence in their programs that show positive results for low income youth.

Program Guidelines
The following guidelines help direct the funding decisions of the Community Assistance Grants Program:

• All programs must have a 501(c )(3) private/public non-profit tax-exempt status with the IRS.
• The Foundation will consider requests that increase the possibilities for academic and life success of disadvantaged children and youth (primarily ages 11-18).
• We are particularly interested in helping organizations that implement strategies that foster partnership building.
• We consider requests for general operating and project specific support.
• Programs should be located in Montgomery County, Prince George's County, or Baltimore City in Maryland, Washington, DC or Northern Virginia.
• The organization's annual operating budget should not exceed $2,500,000. Please refer to expense information provided on line 18 of your most recent IRS Form 990.
• The maximum grant award is $50,000.
• Organizations may submit a proposal once within a 12-month period.
• Organizations that have received funding for three consecutive years must skip a year before re-applying. For example, if you received funding for an application submitted on August 1, 2006, 2007 and 2008, you are not eligible to apply until August 1, 2010.
• The Foundation does not consider grants for:
  • Individuals
  • Capital Campaigns
  • Endowments
  • Special Events or Tables for special events
  • Political organizations or lobbying activities
  • Local organizations that raise funds to send to other countries
  • Multi-year support

 

© Commonweal Foundation 2009