Grant Priorities and

Funding Categories

How Community Foundation Funding Works in a typical Grant Cycle

When you apply for a grant through the Community Foundation, you are applying for funding made available from our unrestricted funds. These funds are the most flexible dollars we steward and allow us to respond to a wide range of community needs, emerging opportunities, and innovative ideas across Grant County.

Unrestricted funds are not limited to a specific cause or organization. Instead, they empower our Board and grant committees to invest where the need—and the potential for impact—is greatest. This flexibility helps us address both urgent challenges and long-term priorities, adapt to changing circumstances, and support creative solutions that strengthen our community.

In addition to unrestricted funding, grant awards may also be supported by field-of-interest funds, which are established by donors to support specific focus areas such as education, health, arts and culture, youth development, economic opportunity, or other community priorities. These funds complement unrestricted dollars and allow us to align donor intent with impactful local work.

Together, unrestricted funds and field-of-interest funds allow the Community Foundation to be both responsive and strategic—meeting today’s needs while building a stronger future for Grant County.

Typically, funding is provided for projects that align with health and human services, education, and community development. These focus areas reflect both community needs and donor interests.

Below are examples of the types of requests that may be considered. This list is intended to be illustrative—not exhaustive—and we encourage applicants to propose projects that respond creatively to community needs and opportunities:

Additionally, funding may also be available through specific Field of Interest Funds established by donors who care deeply about particular charitable areas. These funds are designated to support work aligned with the donor’s stated focus and may be used to supplement grant awards when an application aligns with those purposes.

Please note that there is not a separate funding cycle for Field of Interest Funds. Applications are reviewed as part of the same grant process, and awards are made when a strong alignment exists between the proposed project and the donor-identified charitable area.

Anthony & Delores Bove Fund: To be used for the needs of children and the elderly.

Cochran-Miller Fund: To provide support for financial education programs for Grant County students.

Dr. Doris A. Jesch Memorial Fund: To provide grants for Grant County students.

Eugene & Marilyn Glick Fund: To provide support to youth-related projects and programs within Grant County.

Kurt Herriman Memorial Fund: To support Junior Golf. Further purposes of the fund include, but are not limited to, sports for disadvantaged youth of Grant County.

Ladislas D. Wojcik Fund: To provide funding for educational programs designed to encourage children or grade, middle, and high school age to become interested in and appreciate the physical sciences.

Law Enforcement Safety Fund: To provide body armor and safety equipment for all Grant County law enforcement agencies.

Lawrence & Otie Sanborn Educational: To meet educational needs of Grant County, as determined by the Board.

Merlin J. Loew Field of Interest Fund: To support projects or programs for African Americans, other minorities, and/or disadvantaged individuals.

Peter G. Flinn Charitable Endowment Fund: To provide support for adult services in Grant County.

Travis Simpkins Memorial Fund: To provide AED devices to public locations in Grant County.

Tri Kappa Janet Beer Music Education Fund: To provide support for musical appreciation, encouragement, and participation with recommendations from Grant County schools.

Virginia June and Lowell Byron Richards Fund: To support projects and community development in Jefferson Township.

Young Women’s Endowed Fund: To provide support for young women’s causes.