Interested applicants should read the following Grantmaking Guidelines carefully.

General and Field of Interest Grants

The Westchester Community Foundation supports nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life for Westchester’s residents by meeting emerging and on-going needs, fostering livable communities, and protecting and preserving the County’s natural resources.

As is true of all foundations, we can never fund every worthwhile organization.  We encourage applicants to read these instructions carefully to determine if their programs are eligible and how they can submit the strongest possible proposal.

Eligible Organizations and Programs

The Westchester Community Foundation makes grants to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations operating or proposing to operate programs for the benefit of Westchester residents and communities.  Agencies with a pending 501(c)(3) application may receive grants if a recognized 501(c)(3) serves as the fiscal agent. Grants may also be made to government agencies, such as school districts. Grants are not made to individuals or to fund endowment or capital campaigns; equipment purchases; routine operating expenses; deficit financing; medical research; religious activities; or events.

The Funding Process

Interested agencies should first determine in which category they will apply, and make note of the date for the information session and the due date for the Letter of Inquiry.  It is not necessary to attend the information session in order to submit a letter of inquiry, but valuable insight into the funding process can be obtained from these meetings.

Forms and instructions for the Letter of Inquiry can be downloaded on the resources page.

Letters of Inquiry are reviewed by the program officers, who select which will be invited to submit full proposals.  Please note that proposals are accepted on an invitation only basis.  Proposals are reviewed by the program officers and a review committee.  Recommendations are made to the Foundation’s Board of Advisors, which makes the final decision on funding.  The funding process is very competitive; generally fewer than 25% of invited proposals are funded. Programs are generally funded for 1 year, although 2-year grants are awarded from time to time.

Grant payment and Reporting Requirements

Grants are generally awarded in two equal payments.  The second payment is released after receipt and approval of an interim progress and budget report, usually due six months after the date of the original grant letter.  Final reports are due at the end of the 12 month grant cycle.

Once a grant has been awarded, any changes to the program’s budget must be approved by the foundation staff in advance. Funds expended in ways that do not conform to the approved proposal or approved changes may be required to be reimbursed.

Renewals

Projects are funded for one year, and may be funded for a maximum of three years.  However, renewals are not automatic.  Letters of inquiry must be submitted each year for renewal of a funded project, which may or may not be invited to the proposal stage.

What we look for in a proposed program:

Aside from the requirements for each individual category, we seek to fund programs that:

Strengthen the community by engaging volunteers and prospective clients into all aspects of program planning and implementation;

Solve problems rather than alleviate symptoms;

Work collaboratively with other community stakeholders (such as libraries, schools, recreation departments, senior centers, cultural institutions and other nonprofit agencies) and are endorsed by those organizations.  Letters of support or memoranda of agreement will be required at the proposal stage;

Strengthen the capacity of clients, customers, and constituents to make well informed decisions about options affecting their lives;

Bring together disparate groups (i.e., seniors and youth, immigrants and long-term residents);

Have measurable outcomes;

Address important and/or emerging needs;  and

Are financially sustainable.

In addition, we look to fund ethical organizations that practice principles of good governance and that have governing boards and staff reflective of the communities.