The Foundation's most recent assessment was conducted just three months ago in partnership with Allegany Franciscan Ministries. Nonprofits and the Economy confirmed the deep and wide spread public concern about the rise in demand for emergency "safety net" social services, the decrease in financial resources available to meet those needs, and the uncertainties created throughout our region by such a dramatic economic decline. The assessment gave voice to the many challenges today facing nonprofits and warned of the growing trajectory of demand for the social services many provide, at a time when funding resources in support of their mission and purposes are declining.

The Foundation concluded, after review of the assessment, followed by extensive discussion within our own board and staff and among the foundation's donors, grantees, and community partners that extraordinary circumstances call for unprecedented action to help address the rising tide of our communities' most urgent needs. Because the most vulnerable, at risk populations in this current economic climate are children, the elderly, the homeless, and the unemployed, the Community Foundation will, effective July 1, 2009, temporarily focus funding available through its Competitive Grantmaking Program for FY 2009-2010 on the following areas of priority:

• FOOD: To improve food collection and distribution;
• SHELTER: To increase capacity to provide immediate shelter for homeless individuals and families (including prevention of homelessness among the near homeless); and,
Projects focused within the following areas will thus be temporarily eliminated from consideration of funding through the Competitive Grants Program:

• Arts and Culture
• Healthcare Services
• Other projects unrelated to Food and Shelter.

During this current year, the Community Foundation will continue to assess strategies and opportunities to strengthen its support of the nonprofit and community organizations that are in addition to its grantmaking programs.. Please do note: funding opportunities unaffected by these temporary changes in priorities include the Foundation's Small Grant Programs; and funding available through the Foundation's Environmental Endowment. Visit the Foundation's website for specific guidelines concerning eligibility to apply, purposes for which funding is available, and the terms and conditions affecting the dollar amount of awards and availability of funding.

During the Foundation's current fiscal year (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010) two competitive grant cycles will be held and proposals invited for the Foundation's Competitive Grantmaking Program. All applicants must first submit a Letter of Inquiry Form to apply. Letters of Inquiry will be carefully reviewed.

Only those applicants judged to most closely meet criteria, priorities, and guidelines for funding will be asked to submit a full proposal. Not all proposals submitted can or will be funded. Specific deadlines apply.

Organizations are eligible to submit only one application for funding per grant cycle. The total amount possible per year for programmatic support is $55,000.

Multi-year requests for systemic initiatives will be considered for a period generally not to exceed two years and with a limit of $110,000. Organizations are strongly encouraged to seek only the dollars necessary of the total Foundation dollars available. All requests require a strong case statement and program rationale, measurable outcomes, and thorough budget narrative and justification. The Foundation will give priority to requests from organizations with modest development and/or fundraising capacities.

Deadline: N/A. For more information and details please visit their web site. To download RFP and other forms please click here.

To view other available funding opportunities please click here.

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