Grant Types

There are several different types of grants available through the Hancock County Community Foundation. Grant cycles for each type of grant may vary and interested organizations can find the latest information by visiting the Nonprofit News section of this website. Information on current grant cycles can be found in the How to Apply section of this website.

Community Development Grants

Community Development Grants can reach out to all charitable organizations serving the areas of arts, civic affairs, education, health and human services, and youth. The Foundation funds those projects that best meet the community's most pressing needs, even when those needs change over time. From time to time, the Foundation creates a grant cycle designed to impact a particular need within the community; for example, the 2010 grant cycle was designed to help non-profit organizations with their day-to-day operating expenses through a Core Operating Support Grant Cycle.

Field of Interest Grants

Field of Interest Grants address a cause or issue of particular importance to a donor without being locked into naming specific charities. The donor names the purpose of the fund, such as arts, environment, or youth. The Foundation identifies projects that can most effectively accomplish that goal at any given time. The Foundation currently administers several field of interest funds and awards these funds through an annual grant cycle in the spring. Examples of these funds are:

• Addictions and Substance Abuse Education and Treatment Endowment Fund - for organizations providing education and/or treatment to those individuals who are suffering from addictions, including alcohol and/or controlled substances
• Hancock County Arts Endowment Fund - for organizations that enhance the arts in Hancock County
• Donald F. and Lois M. Hanson Family Endowment Fund - for organizations that provide support for the promotion of education (such as, but not limited to, literacy enrichment programs); and for the fostering and strengthening of families (such as, but not limited to, family retreats and recreation opportunities)
• William Harold and Mary Katherine Kingery Friends of Domestic Animals - for organizations that provide programs with one or more of the following objectives: the care and shelter of homeless animals, the medical care of injured animals, the housing and placement of animals, and/or the feeding and general welfare of animals
• Literacy for Life Endowment Fund - for organizations that provide programs which prepare pre-school children to learn, develop them throughout their K-12 school years, and provide a foundation of learning that positions them for successful post-secondary education opportunities.
• Prevent Child Abuse Endowment Fund - for organizations that work to prevent child abuse and/or domestic violence or that provide education on issues surrounding child abuse, domestic violence, and/or family nurturing
• Robert and Vera Maxwell Endowment Fund (Hospice Care) - for organizations that directly support hospice programs and/or educate individuals and families on the issues involved in hospice care

Programming Mini-Grants

Programming Mini-Grants allow nonprofit organizations to apply for up to $1,000 to be used for a particular program or project. The application process is simplified for these grants, not requiring a letter of intent or site visit, so that applications can be reviewed and funds made available in a quicker timeframe. These grant requests will be reviewed and awarded on a regular basis so long as funding is still available.

Women’s Fund of Hancock County Grants

The Women’s Fund of Hancock County has an annual grant cycle that funds programs that align with the mission of this group: addressing the needs and issues affecting women and families in Hancock County. For more information, click here.

Corporate Advised Funds

Corporate Advised Funds at the Hancock County Community Foundation offer businesses of all sizes the ability to consider grant requests from nonprofit agencies and organizations without the work of administering a full grant program on their own. Grants are available for programs, sponsorships, and other projects. For more information on Corporate Advised Fund grant opportunities, click here.