Overview

The Community Foundation of Central Missouri (CFCM) seeks to improve lives in our communities by promoting private giving for public good. Since its beginning in 2010, the Community Foundation of Central Missouri has become an expert in listening and responding to community needs by providing creative charitable solutions and resources.

CFCM has prioritized funding to address many community needs. While the Community Foundation’s numerous donor-advised and/or organization funds have their own mission and granting goals, the Community Granting Fund is the name of CFCM’s fund from which the Community Foundation board of directors distributes to chosen nonprofit agencies in central Missouri (Adair, Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Macon, Moniteau, and Randolph counties). Annually, CFCM accepts proposals for two categories of grants: Community Support Grants and Community Impact Grants. Links to the online application forms are found at https://www.cfcmfoundation.org/partners/granting

Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations may apply for Impact or Support grants from the Community Granting Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Missouri if they meet either of the following criteria:

  1. are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and currently serve, or propose to serve, persons or communities in central Missouri (see County list above), or
  2. are units of local government or public education institutions or other IRS-qualifying organizations for charitable purposes located in the 10 counties listed above.

No grants will be made to individuals, political parties, candidates, or political activities.

Community Support Grant Period and Amount

Community Support Grants are awarded annually, and we estimate that approximately 10 grants between $500-$1,500 each will be awarded during each granting cycle.

Funding Priorities

The Community Foundation of Central Missouri wishes to partner with nonprofits that share our vision and passion for improving lives of central Missouri residents. We consider our grants to be community investments and look for an “improved lives” return on the investments we make.

To receive a Community Support Grant (if your organization did not receive one last year), the organization must consistently pursue work that falls into at least one of the following four CFCM priority funding areas. This means that the organization’s mission, or much of its programming, as well as the proposed application project, falls within of one of the following areas:

  1. Animals – projects focused on benefiting animals
  2. Arts & Culture – projects involving the arts, museums, historic preservation,
    libraries, public media
  3.  Community – projects focused on general community improvement such as
    beautification, conservation, land trusts, neighborhoods, parks/trails/environment,
    recreation
  4. Education – projects focused on supporting education for all ages
  5. Health – projects focused on improving or supporting health (including
    mental/behavioral, disease awareness/prevention/research, therapy
  6. Human Services – projects supporting basic human needs such as aging and
    disability, food, domestic violence, housing, independent living, job readiness, literacy,
    marginalized groups, poverty reduction, transportation, veterans
  7. Youth – non-school-based projects benefiting children and teens such as camps,
    mentoring, co-curricular education, foster care/adoption

If an organization received a CFCM Community Support Grant in the prior year, it is not eligible to receive an award this year.

On-line Application Process

All applications are submitted online, and the CFCM staff and Grants Committee will review all applications and make awards decisions. During the review process, CFCM may contact the applying organization to clarify the request, schedule a site visit, or make suggestions to strengthen the proposal.

Granting Schedule

  • June 15 – online grant application process opens by end of day
  • July 31 – online applications due by 11:59:59 PM
  • End of September, grant award decisions finalized, and notifications sent soon thereafter.

Application Guidance

  • You must adhere to the character limitations for prose (open-ended) questions.
  • The application deadline is firm and late applications will not be accepted.
  • Organizations which receive a grant agree to allow CFCM to use their organization name and photo in marketing materials.
  • You may call 573-530-8885 or email info@cfcmfoundation.org if you have questions about the application or process.
  • No paper applications will be accepted. All application questions must be answered in full. Please contact CFCM staff well ahead of the deadline if your organization does not have a computer or internet access.

Funding Decisions

Not all grant applications can or will be awarded–recent years have seen a ratio of two-three applications received for every grant awarded. All applications will be evaluated using the following, minimum criteria:

  • organization’s mission is compatible with CFCM funding priority areas
  • organization responds to needs in central Missouri
  • organization’s work provides meaningful outcomes
  • organization is facing financial challenges
  • organization has met all application requirements of CFCM
  • organization did not receive a CFCM Support Grant in the prior year

Awards are presented at a time of mutual convenience.

Reporting Requirements

All recipient organizations must email a brief, written, final report to CFCM via info@cfcmfoundation.org within ~180 days to let us know how the organization is faring and what impact the cash grant had on the organization’s impact for others. The report (two-three paragraphs only) is due to the Community Foundation by May 1.