Apply

Ask the community’s checkbook to back the work.

One form. Two tracks: a regular project grant for residents or landowners of Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove, or a matching grant if you are a local 501(c). The Foundation funds both from gifts made to us — we do not raise money on behalf of other nonprofits.

Prefer paper for the rules? Print a one-page summary. The application itself is this form — not nine photocopies in the mail.

Grant rules

Project grant rules

Spring opens February 1, due April 15, 5 p.m., awards about May 15. Fall opens August 1, due October 15, 5 p.m., awards about November 15.
Applicants must be residents or landowners of Elfin Forest or Harmony Grove. The request must be not-for-profit and for the public good.
Widest community impact, rural character, new applicants, and matching cash or donated labor all help.
We generally fund materials and procurement, not labor, except in unique cases.
Finish within 12 months. Within 30 days of completion: a written synopsis and at least three photographs for Foundation communications.
Attach a detailed budget, location materials, donated labor/materials, a timeline, and — if a nonprofit — officers plus IRS determination. Residents applying as individuals or ad hoc groups also name three resident supporters. A local 501(c) in good standing does not.
Priorities are set by the community. The Foundation is the mechanism.
Awards depend on available trust income and donations that cycle. Typical project grants have ranged from about $1,000 to $9,000.

Matching grant — pilot

Spring opens February 1, due April 15, 5 p.m., awards about May 15. Fall opens August 1, due October 15, 5 p.m., awards about November 15.
For a local 501(c) organization in good standing. You run your own fundraising; the Foundation does not solicit or collect gifts on your behalf. Neighbors who want to fund the match give to EFCF.
Present your fundraising goal — what you aim to raise, from whom, and over what window. The Foundation uses that to set the match. Do not request a match dollar figure; we decide the award from the goal and the verified gifts.
Suggested campaign window: Giving Tuesday through December 31.
Match is typically 1:1, up to a cap set each year. Foundation-wide matching budget is targeted at up to $50,000 Foundation-wide. Individual donor amounts counting toward the match may be capped so a few large checks cannot dominate.
Required: IRS determination, project description, a fundraising plan aimed at many community donors (not one underwriter), governance documents, and a plan to verify donations. Three resident supporters are not required of a local 501(c) in good standing.
Funds are released only after donation verification. A post-grant report is required, including the number of unique local donors.

Choose a track

Community Project GrantSpring and fall cycles. Applicants must be residents or landowners of Elfin Forest or Harmony Grove.Matching Grant for local nonprofitsSpring and fall cycles. Local 501(c)s in good standing apply; the match is paid from gifts made to the Foundation.

Matching grant — pilot

Spring opens February 1, due April 15, 5 p.m., awards about May 15. Fall opens August 1, due October 15, 5 p.m., awards about November 15.
For a local 501(c) organization in good standing. You run your own fundraising; the Foundation does not solicit or collect gifts on your behalf. Neighbors who want to fund the match give to EFCF.
Present your fundraising goal — what you aim to raise, from whom, and over what window. The Foundation uses that to set the match. Do not request a match dollar figure; we decide the award from the goal and the verified gifts.
Suggested campaign window: Giving Tuesday through December 31.
Match is typically 1:1, up to a cap set each year. Foundation-wide matching budget is targeted at up to $50,000 Foundation-wide. Individual donor amounts counting toward the match may be capped so a few large checks cannot dominate.
Required: IRS determination, project description, a fundraising plan aimed at many community donors (not one underwriter), governance documents, and a plan to verify donations. Three resident supporters are not required of a local 501(c) in good standing.
Funds are released only after donation verification. A post-grant report is required, including the number of unique local donors.

Applicant

Organization or individual name

Primary contact

Phone

Mailing address

Campaign

Campaign or project title

Project location

Short description

Community benefit

Fundraising goal

Timeline (must finish within 12 months of funding)

Funds already pledged or raised

Attachments

PDF, JPG, or PNG. Budget, location photos or drawings, donated labor/materials, and — if you are a nonprofit — officer list and IRS determination letter. The total size of all attachments cannot exceed 10 MB.

Upload files

I can also mail paper copies if the board requests them. Online submission is the primary path; we no longer ask every applicant for nine photocopies.

Not applying this cycle? Gifts fund the spring and fall project grants.

Give instead