Foundation awards grants supporting nonprofit groups
Organization marks 20 years in SFC
The St. Francis County Community Foundation helped supported 16 different nonprofit groups through its most recent Giving Tree Grant Cycle.
"We gave right at $20,000 in grants," said Foundation director Robin Jayroe.
"We couldn't have a grant reception due to Covid," Jayroe said. "This is our 20th year for the St. Francis County Community Foundation."
Jayroe said the Foundation’s board discussed possibility hosting an open house at the museum before the end of the year to celebrate the milestone, but those plans have not been finalized.
The Foundation was established in 2001, and, according to Jayroe, has supported many local charities and nonprofits, such as public schools, over the years.
"We give to a lot of people in St. Francis County," she said. “Nonprofits use the funding to help fill needs within the county. The grants range from $250 to $1,000.”
This grant season applicants had the choice to apply for funding in two categories.
“Applicants could choose between two different types of funding," said Jayroe.
Applicants had the option of either capacity building support or program/project support when completing the online Giving Tree application form.
"Capacity building grants help improve the effectiveness of your organization's operations or how you administer programs," said Jayroe.
Jayroe offered an example of purchasing or upgrading equipment for staff, use such as computers, a financial database or a security system as uses for a capacity building grant.
Other uses include upgrading facilities in ways that will allow organizations to serve more clients, providing training, hiring a consultant to help organizations develop a strategic plan for fundraising, communications or marketing support, or developing an evaluation system to track the effectiveness of an organization's program.
Program or project grants help organizations carry out a specific project or program for
(Continued from Page 1) the area they serve, according to Jayroe.
Program or project grants can be used to provide food to serve a larger number of food pantry clients, offering dental screenings through school-based health centers, create new exhibits at a museum, match students with adult mentors, provide care and case management for victims of domestic violence or add tutoring services to after-school programs.
“For example, if the Boy Scouts wanted to go to a special campout or if there was a school program, they could apply for funding,” said Jayroe.
Jayroe also said program or project grants could be used to