Overview – Community Grant Making Program

The programs considered for support by the Shenandoah Community Foundation (the Foundation) are located in Shenandoah County or will directly benefit the citizens of Shenandoah County, unless otherwise requested by the advisee of a donor-advised fund.  Currently we will consider grant awards in six broad areas: arts and culture, civic affairs, education, environment, health and social services.  However, we also welcome good ideas emerging from the community.  In these six funding areas the Foundation is interested in working with organizations and associations to build on community strengths and find solutions to community problems.

In the early years of our Foundation, unrestricted grant program areas may be rotated until funding is adequate to make grants in each program area annually.

 
At the discretion of the Foundation board, unsolicited grants may be made to qualified charities or organizations known to be meeting needs in the Foundation’s service area.

Arts and culture priorities

•  Improving public awareness and support of arts and culture
•  Increasing access to--and awareness of--the arts
•  Supporting effective arts in education

Civic affairs priorities

•  Improving neighborhood quality of life
•  Encouraging preservation/education of area history
•  Supporting appropriate community development planning
•  Promoting workforce development
•  Advancing Leadership training for youth and adults
•  Supporting emergency preparedness and disaster planning and 
        education

Environment priorities

• Building citizen awareness and participation in responsible 
        growth
• Strengthening environmental organizations
• Supporting education about environmental issues

Education priorities

•  Supporting career planning and career awareness initiatives
•  Strengthening community/education/parent involvement
•  Bolstering awareness and support of early education initiatives and community involvement

Health priorities

•  Supporting health care for the indigent and uninsured
•  Improving care for people with chronic medical conditions
•  Supporting preventive disease management
•  Animal Welfare issues

Family, Child, and Social Welfare priorities

•  Assisting the chronically poor
•  Building organization capacity to meet area housing and social
                  welfare needs
•  Helping agencies respond to public policy changes
•  Strengthening families and meeting needs of at-risk children

We look for creative programs designed to meet the community needs, address public policy issues, or test new ideas.  As the needs for Shenandoah County change and evolve, we may also adjust our grant making priorities.

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must:

1.         Be a tax exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code), or a public entity described in sections 170 and 2055 of the Code, such as school districts and municipalities. Organizations who derive their tax exempt status from a formal affiliation with another organization may be considered.

2.         Provide services within Shenandoah County, Virginia. In certain cases, proposals from organizations serving the larger region of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia may be considered as long as Shenandoah County residents are served too.

3.                Be organized and operated so that there is no illegal discrimination on the basis of race, religion gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.

Equal Opportunity Statement

·                  The Shenandoah Community Foundation seeks to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in Shenandoah County as our dynamic community continues to grow and change.

·                  The Shenandoah Community Foundation’s board recognizes the future strength of this community rests firmly on its commitment to value, respect and fully embrace the richness of a diverse citizenry.

·                  The Shenandoah Community Foundation values organizations within our community that reflect and promote diversity in Shenandoah County and surrounding areas. We seek grantees that incorporate diversity into their work and strive to create diverse governance boards, relationships with partner organizations and to serve diverse constituents.

·                  The Shenandoah Community Foundation believes no person should be excluded from agency services, employment or volunteer participation because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief, or for any other discriminatory reason.

·                  The Shenandoah Community Foundation’s Unrestricted Grant Making Program requires grant applicants to hold similar standards and provide a written statement documenting their agreement. Grant applications from organizations known to have discriminatory policies will not be considered.