The Special Project Challenge Grant process encourages projects in the following areas:

• Community development & urban affairs
• Health & human services
• Parks, recreation, & environment
• Youth & education

Nonprofit organizations serving the citizens of St. Joseph County are eligible to submit the Special Project Challenge Grant Cover Sheet with required attachments.

** Please note that a temporary but important change in the Community Foundation’s Special Project Challenge Grant process has been made. The Community Foundation has decided to relax our customary restriction against requests for operating support of effective existing programs through March 1, 2011 due to the effects of the current economic challenges. This change applies to our Special Project Challenge Grants Guidelines only. We trust that in two years, as the economy recovers, the fundraising environment will improve and demand for certain services will moderate.

Please understand that by broadening our guidelines to permit program operating support, the process is likely to be much more competitive, and tough decisions will have to be made. We will be working hard to discern the best and most appropriate use of scarce dollars in these difficult times and, as always, will focus on the ability of the organization to move forward and sustain the programs as the economy improves. The track record that existed before this downturn will likely be relevant.

Please review the guidelines carefully before submitting as changes have been made.

Application Deadlines: March 1 and October 1

Application:

1. Download the full Special Project Challenge grant Guidelines (PDF). Email submission required.
2. Download the Special Project Challenge Grant Cover Sheet as a Word Form. Fields within the document expand to accommodate multiple lines of text. You are strongly encouraged to fill out the document using this form.
3. Per the guidelines, the application also requires submission of an Agency Budget Performance Report for two periods of time: the most recently completed fiscal year and the current fiscal year-to-date. To make sure the desired information and format is adhered to, you can either download 1) a sample document or 2) a template to help you create the information if your financial software does not already do so.

Please contact the Foundation's if you experience problems with the document or you need it in another format.