Grants to help fill community need

At the Osborne County Community Foundation, we believe strong communities are built by neighbors looking out for one another. Sometimes that means investing in a new project or improving a community space. Other times, it means making sure an organization has the resources it needs to meet an immediate, ongoing need.

That’s why we’re excited to introduce our new Community Assistance Grants program, designed to help fill gaps in services and support throughout Osborne County.

Meeting needs that don’t fit a traditional grant

OCCF’s traditional grant program supports projects that create meaningful improvements in our communities. But we also recognize that some of the most important work happening in Osborne County doesn’t fit neatly into a project-based grant application.

A food pantry, for example, may need help keeping its shelves stocked. An organization working to address hunger may need additional resources to meet growing demand. These needs may not have a defined project start and end date, but the services they support are essential to the well-being of our neighbors.

Community Assistance Grants are intended to help address those gaps.

OCCF has set aside funding for this program, with particular attention to needs such as food scarcity, hunger, and other essential community assistance. The program gives us a way to support organizations providing important services that may fall outside the parameters of our traditional grantmaking.

A different approach to grantmaking

Community Assistance Grants are separate from OCCF’s traditional grant program in two important ways.

First, these grants are not subject to OCCF’s recurring grants policy. We recognize that organizations addressing ongoing community needs may require support more than once, and we don’t want the structure of our traditional grant program to discourage them from seeking assistance.

Second, applicants do not need to propose a traditional, project-like initiative. Community Assistance Grants are designed to help qualified organizations meet service needs and fill gaps, rather than requiring every request to be tied to a new project or improvement.

Our goal is to make this funding more accessible to the organizations doing this important work while maintaining OCCF’s commitment to responsible grantmaking.

A simple application process

We’re keeping the application process straightforward. Organizations will apply through an easy-to-complete Google Form, allowing them to tell us about the need they’re addressing and how OCCF funding could help.

Community Assistance Grants are available to qualified entities, not individuals. Applicants must meet OCCF’s eligibility requirements to apply for and receive grant funding.

Applications are due by the last day of each month and will be reviewed at the following month’s OCCF board meeting. This monthly review schedule will allow OCCF to consider requests throughout the year as community needs arise.

Helping our communities care for one another

Community foundations have an important role in responding to the changing needs of the places they serve. Our new Community Assistance Grants program is another way OCCF can listen to local organizations, recognize gaps in available resources, and put charitable dollars to work where they’re needed.

We know that the organizations providing food, assistance and other essential services are often doing extraordinary work with limited resources. We hope this program will help them continue serving our neighbors and strengthen the network of support that makes Osborne County a special place to call home.

Does your organization help meet an essential need in Osborne County? We encourage you to learn more about Community Assistance Grants and consider applying.

Together, we can help fill the gaps and make sure our communities have the support they need.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/jGRrW4idXQ13roga8