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GRANT GUIDELINES AND POLICIES

The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation (NPCF) conducts a broad-based grant-making program that provides vital funding for all aspects of community wellbeing. Resources are concentrated geographically to preserve and enhance the quality of life to residents of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison and Rappahannock Counties.

No person shall, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (as defined in paragraph 249(c)(4) of title 18, United States Code), sexual orientation, marital or parental status, political affiliation, military service, physical or mental ability, or any other improper criterion be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds made available by the community foundation, and any other program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds appropriated for grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance administered by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation.

Donor Advised Fund Grants

The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation awards funds advised by individuals, families, and corporations. While grants from Donor-Advised Funds are typically initiated by the donor, NPCF’s Board of Directors exercises the final discretion and control concerning the expenditure of these funds. Applications are not accepted; instead, donors utilize a Donor Suggestion Form to recommend funding opportunities.

Scholarships

The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation manages scholarships, most of which are designed to assist graduating high school students with further education. However, each scholarship has unique requirements. Many have external applications.

Discretionary County Appeals

As a catalyst in addressing the immediate concerns of the four counties we serve, the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation informs its donors of current community projects so that they may join in addressing strategic needs. Although grants are generally made annually, special consideration may be made by the NPCF Board of Directors to interim requests. Questions about this may be directed to the Executive Director of the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation at:

540-349-0631 or email executivedirector@npcf.org.

Interested applicants are requested to submit by email a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which provides preliminary information on the organization requesting funding, the goals and objectives of the proposed project, the need to be addressed, and which of the four counties supported by NPCF will be served. Grants are awarded in the same manner as Unrestricted Grants.

Unrestricted Grants

While preserving NPCF’s flexibility to meet the changing needs and new opportunities in the communities it serves, the following principles guide the Foundation’s Board of Directors in all its discretionary grant award decisions.

Eligibility and Funding Principles

The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation invites proposals for projects that strengthen the fabric of the counties we serve and reflect the diverse interests of our donors. Such wide ranging programs include those that:

  • improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities, particularly in the

  • areas of basic human needs;

  • address disparities and increase opportunities for historically underserved people and communities;

  • preserve and increase access to our unique community assets;

  • meaningfully engages the voices, perspectives and expertise of the people and communities that represent their program participants;

  • promote broad-based participation in arts and cultural activities;

  • improve a student’s readiness to learn, and ability to succeed in school and other educational endeavors;

  • enhance wellness through community-based organizations; and

  • encourage environmental preservation and support.

What We Generally Don’t Fund

  • Organizations not tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

  • Organizations that discriminate with regard to age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, religious affiliation, or presence of a disability

  • Individuals (except scholarships)

  • Fundraising events (such as tickets, raffles, auctions or tournaments), annual fundraising appeals, or agency celebrations

  • Ongoing operating support

  • Political activities

  • Religious organizations when funds would be used in whole or in part to further the organizations religious purposes

  • Existing obligations, debts/liabilities or costs that the agency has already incurred

  • Scholarly research

  • National or international organizations, that cannot demonstrate an established local presence benefiting Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, or Rappahannock Counties

  • Projects normally the responsibility of government

  • Private primary or secondary schools or academies

  • Capital campaigns or other requests in which NPCF’s funds will not be expended within 12 months after award

Grants are made on an equal opportunity basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, disability, national origin or age. Funds are to be used solely for the purposes stated in your application. Any portion of the grant not used by you in accordance with your proposal must be returned to the Foundation.

Northern Piedmont Community Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, age, status as a veteran, national origin, or any other protected classes. Applicants for NPCF grants must hold similar standards in the provision of services and must provide, as part of their grant application, their organization’s nondiscrimination policy.

Applications

All grant applications must include the following information about the project:

  • A description of the specific need and how the need will be met

  • Specific information on the number and demographics of those served

  • Why the organization is the one to carry out the proposal

  • Qualifications of staff members who will work with the grant funds

  • Describe the purpose of your request, i.e. operating expense, program, etc.

  • Timetable for project

  • How the implementation of the project will be evaluated

  • Plans for financial support for effective continuation of the project

  • Future budgets or pro forma financial statements indicating the future financial impact of the project on the organization

  • List of other organizations that provide similar services in your service area

All applicants must include the following supporting documents about the organization:

  • Number and composition of full and part-time staff and volunteers along with brief bios of key staff

  • Identification of board members with affiliations or a brief (one paragraph maximum) bio

  • Copy of the most recent financial statement--including income statement and balance sheet—prepared by an outside accounting firm, if available

  • Copy of nondiscrimination policy

  • Copy of the current operating budget

  • Copy of the tax-exempt determination letter for the Internal Revenue Service

  • Most Current Tax Return 990

What is Considered?

  • The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation considers numerous criteria in reviewing grant proposals. For example:

  • Is the organization meeting an important community need?

  • Does the organization have the capacity to complete the project?

  • Does the proposed project offer a realistic approach to meeting the stated community needs without duplicating existing programs or services?

  • Is the proposed project focused, and well designed with clear and realistic objectives and measurable outcomes (where measurable)?

  • Is the proposal collaborative and/or cooperative in nature and leverages other resourcesif appropriate?

  • Does the proposed project have the potential for a long-term solution for an existing problem and therefore is the project sustainable beyond the grant period (if applicable)?

  • Is the proposed project budget realistic and is the funding request appropriate?

  • Is there a clear and measurable outcome to gauge the success of the proposed project?

  • Additional information or visits may be requested during consideration of a proposal.

  • NPCF may consider offering general operating support instead of project-focused grants, and/or may offer multi-year commitments.

Grant Follow Up

Grant recipients are required to provide follow up report(s), detailing how grant funds wereexpended, any significant difficulties encountered, what the project achieved, and any significant changes to the goal of the project. Failure to provide these reports may result in a grantee becoming ineligible for future grants.

An unsuccessful application does not reflect the worthiness of a particular project. The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation receives more requests than it can fund. Any agency whose request has been declined is encouraged to contact the NPCF office to discuss specifics.

The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation generally issues a press release about grants immediately after the awards are announced. Organizations are also asked to also provide publicity after receiving a grant that acknowledges NPCF support and the specific donor fund.

Updated October 19, 2020