Community Foundation announces competitive grant program, online workshops

QUINCY — The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri will distribute more than $175,000 in grants to local nonprofits through its annual competitive grant program, which opens March 1. Grants of up to $7,500 will be made to nonprofit organizations advancing arts and culture, community betterment, education, health and human services in the Community Foundation’s 12-county service area.

Charitable organizations interested in seeking grant funds are encouraged to attend one of three online informational workshops that are meant to inform nonprofits of the competitive grant program’s funding priorities, guidelines and updates to the application and evaluation process. 

The online workshops will be hosted via Zoom video conference. Login information will be emailed to participants upon their registration at www.mycommunityfoundation.org/competitive-grants. Workshops will be held on:

Tuesday, March 1: Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 2: 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, March 3: 3 to 4:30 p.m.

People unable to participate in a virtual workshop are encouraged to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Community Foundation Development Officer Kaylee McFarland. Contact her at kmcfarland@mycommunityfoundation.org or 217-222-1237.

To register or for more information, visit the competitive grants page at the Community Foundation’s website, www.mycommunityfoundation.org/competitive-grants or call the Community Foundation at 217-222-1237. 

Online applications for the competitive grant program will be available March 1 on the Community Foundation’s website. Grant applications must be submitted online by June 1.

Grants are made for charitable purposes to organizations that have IRS 501(c)(3) classification or are government entities. Organizations must be Adams, Brown, Hancock or Pike counties in Illinois, or Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Knox, Shelby or Monroe counties in Missouri.

The Community Foundation has made more than $12 million in grants since 1997. It has IRS 501(c)(3) status. Contributions made to the Community Foundation generally qualify for the maximum allowable deductions for income and estate tax purposes. 

For more information, call 217-222-1237, go to mycommunityfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/mycommunityfoundation.