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Mini Grants ($15,000 or less)

A limited number of Mini-Grants are considered annually for consulting services, training, and other items that meet specific criteria. For these grants, the benefit to the organization or to the community served should be clearly identified and easily evaluated. The proposal should increase management efficiency, program capacity or quality of services provided by the organization.

All requests must be clearly related to the organization’s current long-range plan or be part of an effort to develop such a plan. Projects that require continued funding or ongoing maintenance and support should have future sources of this support documented.

Organizations should provide some matching commitment to the project through either cash or the dedication of other resources. Normal overhead expenses and staff salaries are not considered as matching resources. Purchase or replacement of equipment for administrative purposes, that is part of the normal requirements for the operation of the organization and not related to the organization’s long-range plan, will not be considered. If an agency has never received a financial audit, the request may support efforts to provide 50% of the total cost, up to $1,000, if the audit is necessary to apply for a regional or national grant.

Funding in the mini-grant category is not intended to solely enhance a single established agency’s programs. It is encouraged for collaborative responses, bridge building, and linkages.

Funding Areas for Mini-Grants

Technical Assistance

  • Is your organization seeking expert advice to improve its services?
  • Do you have issues that you cannot address due to lack of expertise or resources? Examples:
    • Financial Management
    • Fundraising Planning
    • Good Governance
    • Information Technology
    • Marketing
    • Strategic Planning
    • Staff Development

Capacity Building is described as:

  • Engaging stakeholders in a sustained collaborative effort to strengthen and improve conditions in a defined geographic area.
  • Mobilizing community resources to develop programs that demonstrate community leadership and that benefit voluntarism and the community.
  • Analyzing the community profile and demographics.
  • Facilitating and providing both professional development and training opportunities for agencies.

Capacity Building Program / Service Requirements:

  • Build on existing assets or structures;
  • Identify a network of support for the project including already existing community partnerships;
  • Involve participation of key members from the defined group/community;
  • Identify measurable short and intermediate outcomes and/or already achieved outcomes that will be enhanced by the impact of this funding;
  • Demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant proposal if the project duration exceeds 2 years.

Role of Sponsoring Organization

The sponsoring organization has the responsibility of ensuring that the project
happens. These responsibilities include:

  • Setting up a separate budget and specific accounting for funding;
  • Distributing money to the group in accordance with process/policies;
  • Providing statements of revenue and expenses for the project throughout grant period;
  • Monitoring the project and submitting all required reports.

In the Mini-Grant category:

  • Funding will not exceed 2 years.
  • Projects must mobilize community resources and collaboration.
  • Project coordinators are encouraged to keep administration costs reasonably low.
  • Funding is not available for expenditures of a capital nature (furniture, computers etc.) unless it is proven integral to the collaborative effort.
  • Projects will be reviewed after one year and continued funding will depend upon demonstrated outcomes.

Click here for Grant Application Process and Forms