Ruth McDonald Fund Grants

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About This Grant

Foundation: Alexandria Area Community Foundation

Brief Description

The Alexandria Area Community Foundation seeks to make grants that will support health and wellness in the Alexandria area – especially for the health needs of people in poverty.

What We Fund

Support Strategies:

  • Operations
  • New or expanded programs/projects

Eligible organizations:

  • 501(c) 3 nonprofit organizations
  • Schools
  • Government entities

Geographic Area: Grants must serve the residents within Douglas County

Funding Amount Range: $2,500-$5,000

Focus Areas

  • Health:
    • Provide health education to the public to prevent disease
    • Support food nutrition or nutrition education
    • Help people living in isolation to build social connections

Favorable Considerations

  • Create innovative solutions to community challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities
  • Build or support collaborative efforts and involve other community partners such as other nonprofits, government entitles, businesses, and/or citizen groups
  • Make a sustainable positive impact in the community
  • Build social capital (I.e. connectedness) across generations, cultures, and other diverse segments of the community
  • Are highly visible and have the potential to inspire additional investment in the community
  • Projects/Programs that support diversity, equity and inclusion. (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy)

Typically, we do not fund:

  • Individuals

  • Religious organizations for religious purposes 

    Please see our Funding for Faith-Based Organizations Policy

  • Political organizations or political campaigns

    This generally includes organizations with a 501 (c)(4) status that can advocate for causes and propositions and endorse specific candidates.

  • Event sponsorship or annual fundraising drives

  • Multi-year requests

    Organizations seeking continued support beyond the initial grant year are welcome to reapply in subsequent grant cycles.

  • Endowments

  • Debt retirement

    For example, grant funds should not be used to: pay off an organization’s loans, lines of credit, unpaid bills, or deficits, cover past due obligations, such as back taxes or unpaid rent, refinance existing liabilities, even if related to previously funded projects

  • Projects that have already been completed

    Applications seeking reimbursement for past work, retroactive funding, or previously concluded programs and completed capital projects are typically ineligible.

  • Individual academic scholarships for post-secondary education

  • Grants solely for the purpose of travel or conferences

    Specifically, we do not fund travel for staff of agencies or organizations

  • Government funding that has been reduced or eliminated

    Our resources are primarily intended to catalyze innovation, support sustainable solutions, and build long-term capacity, rather than substituting for public sector obligations.

Applicants who are unsure of their project or program’s eligibility are advised to reach out to our local staff prior to applying. This helps maintain an efficient review process for all.

Application Process

1)

Submit application online using the CommunityGiving Grant Management System.

2)

The Grant Advisory Committee will recommend applications for funding to the Board of Directors.

3)

The Board of Directors will make final funding decisions.

All notification about this grant will be through emails.

Payout of Grants: upon recipient of electronically signed Grant Agreement.

Grantee Required Documents: Grant Agreement and Final Report. Progress Report may be required if requested. Required follow up documents will be submitted through the CommunityGiving Grant Management System.

For questions about this grant or the online Grant Management System please call (320) 257-9715.

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