Competitive Grant Program

The Community Foundation offers a Competitive Grant Program to qualifying 501(c)3 Public Charities, government agencies, and school districts in Teton Valley, designed to provide funding for projects addressing critical needs in the community. Grant applications will be considered on an annual basis and funds will be made available in a single spring application.

The size of grants awarded range from a few hundred dollars to a maximum of $5,000. The Community Foundation may consider grant requests in excess of $5,000 for exceptional projects or those involving collaboration amongst multiple organizations. All grant awards will be determined by the Foundation’s Grant Committee and must demonstrate the applicant’s ability to positively impact a compelling community need.

Organizations must be in good standing with both the IRS and the Community Foundation of Teton Valley in order to participate in the Competitive Grants Program. Any nonprofit, regardless of the location of the nonprofit’s headquarters, may apply for a grant as long as the grant will directly benefit Teton County, Idaho and/or Alta, Wyoming. Each proposal must be represented by one IRS approved charitable entity that will assume responsibility for the management and reporting of the grant. IRS approved organization types include 501(c)3 public charities, schools and religious organizations. Verification of IRS tax-exempt, nonprofit status may be requested.

Schools: Eligible schools include those within Teton School District 401 (Idaho), Alta School of Teton County School District 1 (Wyoming), and local charter or private schools.  Individual public, charter, and private schools will be treated as separate organizations and are eligible to receive grant funding concurrently with the school district. Note that, in general, requests that will have a school-wide or grade-wide impact will receive more favorable consideration than those only benefitting a single classroom. Please note, applications from individual schools or classrooms must include a letter of support from the school principal or headmaster agreeing the school will accept fiscal responsibility for awarded funds.

Government Agencies: Because government agencies have taxing authority, the Community Foundation will look more favorably at grant requests that are especially compelling, will have a significant community-wide impact and/or help local nonprofits achieve their missions in our community.

Secular Programs of Faith-Based Organizations: the Community Foundation takes a neutral stance on religion and religious activities. Therefore, churches receiving grant funding from the Community Foundation must agree to adhere to the following: (a). funds must be spent only on secular, community-oriented projects or programs; and (b). projects are to be marketed and communicated as a secular, non-religious program or project of the church.

Sponsored Programs: Because programs sponsored by a 501(c)3 or government agency can be especially complex, the following special provisions apply for participation: (a) grant applications from sponsored programs must include a letter of support from the sponsoring organization agreeing to accept fiscal responsibility for awarded funds; and (b) both the sponsored program and the sponsoring organization must be in good standing with the IRS and the Community Foundation of Teton Valley.

The Community Foundation supports a wide variety of proposals.  Ideas for addressing issues in the arts, environment, social services, education, recreation, animal, and civic arenas are all welcome.  Applicants may request funding to support new or existing programs, capital projects, professional development, strategic planning, new or existing projects, pilot projects, equipment purchases, general operations, and capacity building.

Should your request be approved, your proposal is used as the basis for a grant contract, and funds may only be used for the purpose described in the grant application unless otherwise approved. It is the applicant’s responsibility to keep a copy of the proposal and to track all fund expenditures.

Organizations awarded grant funding must send an authorized representative to the Awards Party to execute the Grant Contract, receive the grant check, and pose for a photo. The Community Foundation will notify organizations individually of the location of these events.

If grant funds have not been fully spent during the allotted 12 months, or the project is incomplete, organizations must contact the Community Foundation of Teton Valley to request an extension.  In general, extensions of up to 6 months from the original due date of the grant report may be considered. If an extension is not granted, any unused funds must be returned promptly to the Community Foundation of Teton Valley.

Restrictions
The Community Foundation does not provide support for the following: religious activity, debt retirement, political activity, organizations/projects working primarily to influence legislation, and as of October 1, 2018, scholarships. The Community Foundation does not fund work retroactively.

Organizations demonstrating a failure to comply with IRS regulations will be deemed ineligible to apply for funding from any Community Foundation program. Furthermore, organizations will not be considered for funding should the Community Foundation Board of Directors find evidence of misconduct deemed serious enough to negate eligibility.

Organizations that have received a grant from the Community Foundation and have overdue grant reports are not eligible for new grant funding. This includes grants received from the Community Foundation’s Competitive Grants Program, Youth Philanthropy Program, or Tin Cup Challenge Program. If you have questions about your organization’s reporting status, please contact our office at (208) 354-0230.

What Does the Review Committee Look for in Applications?

• A clear and compelling community need.
• A well-developed program that will address the stated need.
• A rational methodology for meaningful program evaluation.
• A reasonable, comprehensive project budget.

When is the Application Deadline and When Will Money be Available?
Applications must be submitted online in February. Funding is subsequently available in early April, upon receipt of grant contracts for approved requests. If you have questions, please email Brian Thysell or call (208) 354-0230.

All grant recipients are required to submit a grant report to the Community Foundation of Teton Valley. Grant reports must be received within 60 days post project completion or by January 31st, the following year granted, whichever comes first. Grant report information can also be found on your competitive grant contract. 

• Please submit your report via email to Brian Thysell.
• Photographs of your project are encouraged. To include photographs, send them as electronic files attached to your email when you send your report or during your project. Send photographs to Claire Vitucci.
• Grant reports are distributed to our Grants Committee for review. Reports may factor into future grant awards.
• Tin Cup Challenge grants require a specific report format, different than the competitive grant report form.
• For more information, contact Brian Thysell, (208) 354-0230.

Funding for the Community Foundation’s Competitive Grants Program is provided by Tin Cup Business & Community Challengers that make this program and these grants possible.

Information from your proposal may be shared with other potential funders or used on our website, in press releases, in Community Foundation marketing materials or in grant writing workshops. The Community Foundation of Teton Valley reserves the right to verify any information provided in your proposal. This includes, but is not limited to: references to data sources, collaborative partners, and financial information.