Grants

Community Grant Program

The Gordon & Mildred Jackson Foundation provides grants twice a year for a wide variety of charitable purposes in Mason County through the Foundation’s competitive grant application program. The Community Foundation of Mason County-MCCF, Inc. has grants available in the fall grant cycle.  Application deadlines are Spring-March 15th and Fall-September 15th. Click here on the Community Grant Guidelines and Community Grant Application to review and download the information needed to determine if your project or program qualifies for grant assistance and to review the directions needed to submit a grant application.

Community Connect Matching Grant Program

Community Connect Grant Writing Workshops is a three part program developed to train and collaborate ideas and spread awareness for the important community projects produced by the non-profit organizations serving our county.

Each participating non-profit organization must name a specific qualifying program to receive funding support – for example: Habitat for Humanity may raise funds to support its home building program. Each non-profit organization must apply through a competitive process to participate and submit a completed application prior to the September 15th deadline.

The Foundation’s Marketing & Development Committee works with local donors to create a pool of sponsorship funds to help MCCF, Inc. continue projects like these and create new and innovative projects to support our non-profits well into the future.

A Community Celebration Awards Reception is scheduled in November each year featuring a guest speaker where grant checks are presented to the participating non-profit organizations.

Community Foundation of Mason County – MCCF, Inc.

Community Grants Program Guidelines

The Community Foundation of Mason County – MCCF, Inc. is a county wide community foundation serving Mason County, WV.  The Foundation’s Gordon and Mildred Jackson Foundation and Mason County Community Grant Programs are a competitive application process. 

Eligibility for Impact Grant Funding

To be eligible for a Foundation grant, an applicant must be a private, non-profit organization tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a public institution, such as a public school or government agency. Requests from individuals are not accepted. The applicant must be located in Mason County, WV or the program to be funded must serve residents of Mason County. Grant requests will be considered based on the applicant’s service area and on grant funds available. Grants typically range from $1,000 – $10,000 (see exceptions discussed below).  

Funding Priorities for Community Grants

Community Impact Grants (CIG) are made in the fields of:  Arts and Culture, Education, Health and Human Services, Recreation, Youth and Family Services, and Community and Economic Development. The Foundation focuses on: Capital and Equipment Projects, Program Development, Capacity Building, and Operating Support. Eligibility criteria differ based on the type of support requested, so please review the following descriptions carefully.

Funding Priorities for Capital & Equipment Projects, Program Development, & Capacity Building Grants

Capital and Equipment Grants – support the renovation or construction of facilities, purchase of major equipment, major repairs to facilities;

Program Development Grants – support the development of new services or programs designed to respond to unmet community needs and the expansion of existing programs to serve new audiences;

Capacity Building Grants – support projects that provide an organization with technical assistance and/or training to be able to more effectively meet their mission and/or provide services.

Priority is given to projects that:  

• have significant impact on the people and communities served by the applicant organization;

• reach new audiences, expand existing programs or services, or respond to emerging needs;

• strengthen the organization’s capacity to deliver its services and meet community needs;

• are well-planned and can reasonably be achieved; 

• have a matching grant opportunity or seek a matching grant to leverage more funding;  

• have limited access to other sources of support; 

• serve the Mason County community.

Generally, Community Grants will not be made for: annual campaigns; endowments; sectarian religious purposes; political purposes or lobbying activities; retiring existing obligations, debts or liabilities; student travel or student participation in meetings, seminars or study exchange programs. Labor and wages are also not generally reimbursed through Foundation grants. Food/beverages are not funded by MCCF, Inc. Grants unless prior approval by the Board of Directors. 

Public school projects must be a Board of Education approved project and the application/financials must be signed off on by the school Principal. 

Funding Priorities for Operating Support Grants – only for organizations with 501(c)(3) status. 

Funding for operating support is considered. Priority is given to projects designed to: Increase financial stability; and Help a strong organization increase its capacity.

For all operating support requests, the applicant must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (operating support is not available to governmental entities, schools (public or private), or entities that do not have 501(c)(3) status).

• Provide essential community services or offer programs that meet basic human needs;

• Have been in continuous operation for at least five years and have a proven track record;

• Have an overall sound financial history (at least prior to the present need);

• Be able to demonstrate strong management;

Applicants seeking operating support to increase financial stability, must:

• Document increased demand for services, unexpected reduction in sources of ongoing operating support, or a specific current financial challenge for which a plan is in place to mitigate;

• Show evidence that it has gone through an internal process of cost-reduction and/or realistic revenue-enhancement analysis focused on core service preservation prior to the request.

• Demonstrate that it has completed an organizational assessment and developed a realistic plan for financial stabilization.

• Show how the operating support grant will increase financial stability and/or help the organization make significant progress toward addressing its financial challenge.

Applicants seeking operating support to increase organizational capacity, must:

• Present a realistic plan for organizational growth, outlining how operating support is critical to the growth plan (to expand services, offer new programs, reach new audiences, etc.).

• Include a plan for the organization to have adequate funding at the completion of the grant.

Organizations may request renewal of an operating support grant for up to three years (total) of support. However, grants will be considered one year at a time and renewal is not automatic. The organization must submit a renewal application annually, outlining clear progress made toward goals.  During the period in which an organization receives operating support, the organization is not eligible to request grants from the Foundation for other purposes. After an organization receives operating support for a three-year period, it may not request additional operating support for at least one year. The Foundation expects to award only a limited number of operating support grants each grant cycle.

Online Application Forms

The Foundation uses a competitive application process. The application form are available online and must be completed and submitted online.  MCCF, Inc. will not accept any other form of documentation by mail or via in person drop off.  For questions please call our office at 304-372-4500 or emailing manager@mccfinc.org

Required upload attachments are:

• List of officers and board members and their titles and contact information;

• Financial report for most recently completed fiscal year, showing income and expenses (preferably audited);

• For 501(c)(3) organizations, copy of most recent 990 tax return or 990-N postcard and a copy of your IRS 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt designation letter (not required for government agencies and public schools);  

• Current annual organization operating budget, showing income and expenses.

• Actual estimates/invoices of items to be reimbursed.

Important Information for Grant Seekers

1. Organizations may submit only one application per grant cycle. The only exception may be for organizations that have more than one physical site, with each site having its own board or governance structure. Such organizations must contact the Foundation before submitting more than one application to discuss eligibility.

2. The total amount of funds requested generally may not exceed $10,000.  Requests for more than $10,000 may be considered for projects that are highly collaborative or for projects that will have a significant impact on the community at large. As noted above, applicants must contact the Foundation prior to submitting a request in excess of $10,000. 

3. Organizations receiving a Community Grant in any grant cycle from the Foundation are not eligible for funding in the immediate next cycle.

4. When the Foundation declines to support an application, the applicant may call the Foundation to discuss their proposal and to inquire about reapplying. After an application is declined once, the organization may re-submit the application one more time; if an application has been declined twice, then the organization may not submit another request for funding of the same project. 

Deadlines

Spring Grant applications are due March15 and Fall Grant Applications are due September 15. Late applications are not accepted. Grant applications are not considered at other times in the year. 

Review & Notification Process and Timing 

Once received, your application is reviewed by Foundation staff and committees. The Foundation may contact you to clarify your proposal or request a personal meeting to discuss your application. We appreciate your prompt response to any inquiries. Final decisions on all grants are made by the Board of Directors. For the Spring deadline, applicants are notified about the status of their proposal in April.  For the Fall deadline, applicants are notified by late October.