Gannett Foundation’s annual effort aims to build connections
Organizations and nonprofits across the nation were impacted by the pandemic, affecting the services they were able to provide for their communities. Organizations struggled to keep up with demand, and many people quit their jobs in what has been called the Great Resignation. Two years into the pandemic, groups are recovering, but they need assistance.
The 2022 A Community Thrives program, a $2 million initiative created by the Gannett Foundation, will award grants to groups looking to improve their communities. Gannett, the parent company of the USA TODAY Network, sponsors A Community Thrives.
Since 2017, more than $17 million has been donated via crowdfunding and disbursed to more than 500 organizations.
Starting Wednesday, A Community Thrives will accept applications for organizations looking to bring awareness to a project that focuses on community building with an emphasis on historically underserved individuals and groups.
“The program offers not only grants but opportunities for organizations to extend their networks and deepen their donor base by creating connections with our consumers,” said Sue Madden, Gannett Foundation director. “Participation in the A Community Thrives program can result in national and local media exposure. Year after year, we hear fantastic anecdotes from participants on how the program has accelerated development.”
Organizations will raise money by crowdfunding, then they will be eligible for 16 project grants: three $100,000 grants, seven $50,000 grants and six $25,000 grants, according to A Community Thrives.
There also are operating grants for eligible entrants with community operations in Gannett’s markets, incentive grants for groups that raise the most funds and bonus challenge grants for those who wish to compete.
Organizations can apply at https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/giving-events/act22/ home. The fundraising phase will take place from July 18 through Aug. 12, and recipients will be announced Oct. 5.
Why raise money?
The stories told by journalists in the USA TODAY Network helped inspire the creation of A Community Thrives. Journalists hear amazing ideas to improve American communities.
“A Community Thrives further highlights Gannett’s mission to empower communities to thrive by not only telling their stories, but also providing support to those who need it most,” said Mike Reed, CEO of Gannett and chairman of the Gannett Foundation. “This initiative organically assists quality organizations that share our desire to improve lives, and we are proud to be implementing the program for the sixth year.”
Interfaith Neighbors received a $100,000 grant in 2021 to support the expansion of the Kula Urban Farm in New Jersey that offers homelessness prevention and meal programs.
“Communities are important,” Paul McEvily, executive director of Interfaith Neighbors, said in 2021. “People who reside in that community need to understand and appreciate what makes the community thrive, and a community thrives when everyone in that community is doing well.”
Since the farm’s inception in 2014, “it has become a community gathering place for residents to come and harvest produce for use in their meal preparations, for young people to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning, for people of all ages to participate in community workshops,” according to the organization’s donation page in 2021. Its Farm to Table Dinner Series “showcases local chefs and brings residents together in a social setting for fellowship and healthy eating.”
Interfaith Neighbors planned to “purchase an adjacent vacant parcel of land that will allow us to double our hydroponic growing operations, expand our seasonal farming beds, as well as build a 3-season pavilion structure to host our community workshops and educational program in expanded space,” it wrote in 2021.