Madison County Community Foundation

Impacting the Community

The  Madison County Community Foundation has been providing funding to our community since 1992. The funds originate from donor advised funds, agency endowments, scholarships and other types of restricted funds. In addition, grants to community organizations are also supported through competitive grants awarded from unrestricted funds in the Foundation.

We create our primary impact through our grantmaking. MCCF currently manages over 200 charitable funds created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations for charitable purposes. Income from these funds annually provides grants to organizations and projects and programs to improve the quality of life within our community. MCCF provides meaningful, long-term and permanent ways for people to give back to their community and to causes and organizations that matter to them.

Spark Grants

 The Spark Grant program is aimed at encouraging agencies to collaboratively address core issues facing our community using one or more of the following focus areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Health and Human Services, and Thriving Community (animal welfare, recreation, parks, etc.).

In 2024, there will be (4) $25,000 Spark Grants awarded to organizations who have a program or project that is innovative, transformational and/or IMPACTFUL. A successful proposal will be a program or project that is proactive in responding to a local need or opportunity and is solution-oriented and/or solves a pressing problem with documented needs. The plan enhances cooperation and collaboration among multiple organizations within the community.

Timeline

• Letters of Intent accepted: April 1-May 10
• LOI review period: May 14-17
• LOI approval notification: May 21
• Spark Grant Application period : June 3-July 12
• Site Visits and Interviews: July 29-August 16
• Grant Recipients Announced: Mid-September

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  This Letter of Intent preview will allow organziations to view the required information for planning purposes. Once the LOI is open, you can copy and paste your prepared responses into each text box. 

 LOI PreviewComplete your LOI

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  Approaches:  We welcome a variety of methods in tackling community issues, including direct services, advocacy, community organizing, partnerships, and others as they relate to your mission.

  Collaboration:  We welcome collaboration and partnership applications. Partners should select one nonprofit as the lead applicant for collaborations between two or more nonprofits. Any awarded funds are to be used for the sole purpose of the partnership's work, and the lead applicant will be responsible for managing the funds on behalf of the partners.

  Diversity and Inclusion: We seek grantees and partners that incorporate diversity and inclusion into their mission, governance board, staff, volunteers, and constituents served. To receive a grant from the Community Foundation's unrestricted endowments, your organization must affirm that no person is excluded from services or employment due to discriminatory reasons, including race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity.

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  Evaluation

  Impact:

• Will this project or program fill a community need and/or provide a community benefit? Will this project or program impact a broad segment of the community (breadth)?
• Will this project or program impact a smaller at-risk population (depth)? Breadth and depth will be considered equally.
• Is there evidence that the approach outlined in this proposal will be effective in accomplishing stated goals?
• Is there evidence of community support for this proposal from referral agencies and/or other beneficiaries?

Capacity:

• Is leadership strong and well-established?

• Is there evidence of an engaged board of directors?

• Does the organization have the expertise and resources to accomplish this project or program?

• Are the organization’s financial documents healthy?

Feasibility:

• Can this project realistically be accomplished in 12 months or less?
• Will this organization be able to sustain this project or program after grant funds are exhausted (if relevant)?

• If the request is for partial funding of a larger project, is there a clear path for the organization to make up the financial difference?

Impact Madison Grants

Impact Madison Grants: Grants are made to support projects and programs of non-profit agencies located in or serving residents of Madison County in the following focus areas: Arts, Culture, and History, Health and Human Services, Education, Thriving Community (animal welfare, recreation, parks, etc.), and Women and Children.

Proposals are reviewed by a diverse committee made up of community volunteers and Board Members, which makes funding recommendations to the Foundation Board of Directors. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, funds are awarded. 

Grant Cycle Timeline:

Bicentennial Grant Cycle:

To be considered for a 2024 Madison County Bicentennial grant, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project meets the following required criteria and at least one of the recommended goals or characteristics outlined below. Priority will be given to projects that meet multiple goals and that leverage funding outside of/in addition to the Bicentennial grant. 

Projects or programs MUST be:

• Related to celebration, preservation, or observation of historic events or locations that are of particular significance and importance to Madison County or a community therewithin
• Open and accessible to the public (for events) or have community-wide impact
• Achievable regardless of Bicentennial funding
• Funded, at least partially, by the applicant outside of funding from the Bicentennial Commission

All requests for grants must be submitted by April 8, 2024.

If you submitted a grant application, you will be notified on Wednesday, April 10.

 Mini Grants

  We understand that things beyond your control happen outside of our pre-determined grant cycles.

  Therefore, we are happy to offer these staff approved grants which give  MCCF the flexibility to respond to the emergent needs of our non profit partners. 

Mini Grants are administered on a rolling cycle each calendar year.

Grant Requests must be for $2,500 or less.

Organizations may receive one Mini Grant per calendar year.

Requests should be for a one-time expense.

The applicant must be the organization that will benefit from the proposed use of the funds.

Requests for emergencies or immediate needs will be given priority.

Decisions will be made within 2 weeks.

Contact Kari for an application 

2024 Sponorships

Please contact Ben Davis PRIOR to submitting your sponsorship application.

• Limited capacity for 2024.

• If the event supports one of your programs, please apply for a grant to fund the program instead of an event sponsorship.

Madison County Resource Guide

Click HERE to access the Madison County Resource Guide. If you have questions please contact Brittany Shryock at Family Resource Center at: blakey@fireflyin.org.

2024 Grant Program Information:

Were you unable to attend our info session on February 1st or do you need to revisit the information shared? Below is the link to the presentation:

Info Session presentationVideo PresentationHerald Bulletin article

 2023 Grant Recipients

Quarter 4: Above and Beyond grant recipients

  Click here to read about the grant recipients

Quarter 3: Operating grant recipients

  Click here to read about the grant recipients

Quarter 2: Programming grant recipients

  Click here to read about the grant recipients