How can my organization apply for a grant from CACF?

Hello again! Welcome to the second post in a short series of Columbus Area Community Foundation walkthroughs! Through this series, we’ll be explaining—in more detail than you probably wanted!—the basics of how you can best use your local community foundation in Columbus, Kansas.

Our first post focused on donations; this one is all about grants! If you didn’t know, grants are the reason community foundations like the Columbus Area Community Foundation (CACF) exist. Community foundations pursue their charitable mission by providing grant funding to other charities and their projects.

Sound good? Then, you may be wondering, how do you apply for a Columbus Area Community Foundation grant?

Here’s the short answer

Visit ColumbusAreaCF.org/grant-app to access a grant portal that includes grant opportunities from us, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (of which we are an affiliate), and our friends at the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and Girard Area Community Foundation. Read and follow the directions provided there.

Here’s the long answer

Before we cover how to apply for a CACF grant, we should make sure we’re all on the same page about who can apply for grants.

Who can apply?

The Community Foundation will only award grants to:

501(c)(3) public charities

501(c)(3) public charities are organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, testing-for-public-safety, literary, educational, or other specified purposes and that meet certain other requirements.

We require applicants claiming this status to provide an IRS determination letter that shows they are exempt as a 501(c)(3) public charity. State-specific documents do not suffice.

Educational institutions

Educational institutions are nonprofit organizations focused on providing learning, research, and academic instruction. This includes primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, technical schools, and similar entities primarily engaged in education.

For school districts, the district, a school within the district, or a department within a school or the district can apply. Examples include USD 249, USD 249 – Frontenac Elementary, USD 249 – Frontenac High School – Biology Department, or USD 249 – Frontenac Middle School – Wrestling Program.

We require grant recipients to provide a W-9.

Government entities

Government entities are publicly funded organizations at the federal, state, or local levels that provide services to residents, such as municipal offices, public schools, or state agencies.

A state or city government office, a specific department within the state or city, or a department program can apply. Examples include the State of Kansas, the City of Galena, or the City of Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department.

We require grant recipients to provide a W-9.

Religious organizations

Religious organizations are nonprofits centered on religious worship, practice, and community service. These include churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based organizations typically exempt from federal income tax.

Note that grants will not be made for religious purposes or for general operating expenses for faith-based organizations, but they may be made for non-religious programs offered to the broader community. Examples of eligible programs include:

  • A program located in a house of worship but not associated with the house of worship.
  • A program that is available to people of all faiths and/or non-believers.

Projects must abstain from religious worship, instruction, or recruitment as part of the grant-funded program.

We require grant recipients to provide a W-9.

Fiscal sponsorships represent charitable projects or initiatives receiving financial-management and administrative support from an established 501(c)(3) public charity. The fiscal sponsor helps the project, typically a smaller or emerging group, receive grants for charitable purposes or manage finances, receive tax-deductible contributions, and fulfill legal requirements.

A statement of support from an administrator, board of directors, or director with the fiscal sponsor must be provided and updated annually. This statement of support acknowledges that the fiscal sponsor knows about the sponsored project and agrees to transfer or expend funds to complete the project.

The fiscal sponsor’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter must be provided or on file.

How to apply for CACF grants

Visit ColumbusAreaCF.org/grant-app to access a grant portal that includes grant opportunities from us, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) (of which we are an affiliate), and our friends at the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) and Girard Area Community Foundation (GACF). Scroll through these results. You’ll notice that some are active, but some are inactive: active grant opportunities show an Apply button in the bottom right, but inactive opportunities only show a Preview button.

Even though you’re looking for the CACF grant application, don’t forget to check what opportunities CFSEK and its other affiliates have available! Several of CFSEK’s grants are available for organizations or projects in Cherokee County, and if your organization serves the Girard area or Bourbon County, you may also be eligible for grants from GACF and FSACF.

If you want to see what our application form looks like without starting to fill it out, you can click the Preview button on the CACF grant card. You should also review our grants checklist to help you prepare to complete the application.

Once you’re ready to start your application, click Apply.

Walkthrough

CFSEK’s Program Coordinator Kara Mishmash made a helpful video walkthrough of a sample grant application. Check it out if you want to watch how to apply for a CACF grant.

Otherwise, take a look at the question descriptions below.

Organization information
  • Nonprofit status. See above or this printable version of the same information.
  • Mission statement. What is your organization’s mission statement?
  • Organization description. Include your organizational history and any qualifications to undertake this project.
  • Board of Directors list template. Use our template to upload an Excel file with your board’s details. Refer to our help video for more details.
  • CACF, CFSEK, FSACF, & GACF grant history. This is for your entire organization, not just your office or department.
  • Annual operating budget. Upload a 1-to-2-page copy of your most recent annual operating budget.
Project information
  • Does your project only serve Columbus or Cherokee County?
  • Does your project serve residents of Columbus or Cherokee County?
  • Is your project related to youth activities? Some of our grant funding is only available for projects involving youth activities.
  • Project name. How can we refer to your project?
  • Brief project description. Provide a high-level overview of what your project’s all about.
  • Anticipated number of people to be served by town. CACF prioritizes projects that serve Columbus.
  • Project start date. This can be an estimate.
  • Project end date. Most projects should be completed, and an evaluation report submitted, within 9 months of a CACF grant award.
Project narrative
  • Why is your organization requesting funding for this project? Your answer should address the following: what situation problem, or opportunity drives your project? How does your project relate to the need you’ve identified? Who will carry out the project? What resources are needed to carry out the project, and are those resources currently in place?
  • Target population. Your answer should include a description of the population served by the project; population demographics (e.g., age, race or ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, geographical area); and describe how the population will benefit as a result of your project.
  • Name the agencies you will collaborate with and describe the collaboration. Answer this question in list format instead of a narrative.
  • List your goals and expected outcomes for this project. For example, discuss the number of lives changed, short- and long-term community improvements, and any increases in organizational capacity. Include how these changes relate to the assessed needs.
  • Project evaluation. Describe how you will evaluate the success of your project. Include: who will evaluate the project? How will you define and measure success? What data will you collect? What long-term strategies will you pursue for funding this project at the end of the grant period?
  • Project-related photo. Optionally, include photos that represent your project proposal, such as a photo gallery of the items you will purchase, photos from similar projects in previous years, or a photograph of the space that will be changed by your project.
Project budget

Please note that CACF typically does not provide grants for the following types of project expenses:

  • Ongoing operating expenses
  • Salaries, stipends, or personnel costs
  • Mileage reimbursement or travel costs
  • Religious activities, unless the project serves the general public regardless of religious affiliation
  • Political activities or lobbying

Questions in this section are:

  • Total anticipated project budget. How much will your project cost overall?
  • Amount requested from CACF. How much are you requesting from CACF? This amount can be the same as or less than your total anticipated budget.
  • Budget spreadsheet template. Use our template to upload an Excel file with your budget. This makes it easier for our review committee to compare grant requests from different organizations. Refer to our help video for more details.
  • Upload financial documents or quotes. Optionally, you can upload quotes from material or service providers, contractors, or even PDF versions of online shopping carts.
  • Budget narrative. Briefly explain the rationale for your requested items or services and explain how they’ll aid your project and those your project serves.
  • Is your organization willing to receive partial funding for this project? Your project may still be fully funded even if you select yes. Check out our Foundations of Grant Writing: Making Every Proposal Count seminar for more on this question.
Names of authorization

Enter the names of your organization director or administrator and your organization’s board president or chairperson. These individuals must approve of your proposal.

Enter your name and the date.

Additional fields

Depending on your answers to the questions above, you may see additional fields. Follow the directions provided in the form.

What to expect if your project is funded

If your project is funded, you’ll be required to submit a grant agreement before any funds are disbursed. Part of that agreement requires you to follow our grant-publicity guidelines.

Then, after your project, you’ll be expected to submit a grant report. Don’t forget this step! Failure to submit a report may affect your ability to get future CACF grants in the future.

And that about wraps it up! Please feel free to contact CFSEK Program Coordinator Kara Mishmash with any further questions!