Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation, in partnership with some of its fundholders, awarded a total of $54,473 in Small and Inspiring grants to 29 organizations for local projects in communities across the state during the first half of 2016. One of a number of competitive grant rounds at the Community Foundation, the Small and Inspiring grants program funds work that helps connect people to their neighbors, their land, and their history in ways that strengthen community. $32,740 of the total was made possible by Giving Together, a program at the Community Foundation that shares grant proposals with fundholders and donors, giving them the opportunity to co-fund projects.
“The projects we support through this program embody the sense of community in Vermont that we all know and cherish,” said Jen Peterson, Vice President for Program and Grants. “We are proud to support efforts that bring neighbors together to help one another and to celebrate our shared humanity. Now more than ever, this kind of work is vital.”
Nonprofits interested in applying for a Small and Inspiring grant are encouraged to visit www.vermontcf.org/SmallandInspiring for more information. There are two remaining rounds in 2016, with deadlines at 5:00 p.m. on July 26 and October 11.
Small & Inspiring Grants Spring 2016
Addison County Humane Society received $1,500 to support Camp Whiskers & Wags, a day camp experience for children that will help them develop compassion and expose them to the many ways humans and animals interact in society.
Zig Zag Lit Mag received $1,750 to support a literary magazine that fosters a locally-oriented community of writers by amplifying the voices of a diverse range of people in Addison County.
CALEDONIA
Caledonia County Fair received $2,500 to support Educational and Conservation Day, a County Fair event that aims to educate students of all ages about the role of agriculture and conservation in the community’s past, present, and future.
Heartbeet Lifesharing received $2,300 to support a Grand Opening ceremony for its new, fully inclusive Community Center. The event will welcome the local community to Heartbeet to tour the new building and performing arts center and to celebrate inclusion.
Saint Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce received $2,000 to support the St. Johnsbury Small and Micro-Enterprise Summit which will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and property owners to spark fresh grassroots approaches to economic development.
CHITTENDEN
Boys and Girls Club of Burlington received $2,000 to support a series of hip hop and spoken-word poetry competitions that will serve as opportunities for underprivileged children and teenagers to explore creative pursuits, hone their artistic skills, and connect with individuals who share common interests.
Lake Champlain International received $2,500 to support Our Nature, a radio program featuring news and stories about living with the land in Vermont in the 21st century.
Northeast Disabled Athletic Association received $1,000 to support a program that introduces the game of power soccer to the physically disabled community, providing Vermonters with physical disabilities the opportunity to engage in healthy lifestyles through recreational and competitive sports.
Pathways Vermont received $2,000 to support the launch of a nutritional wellness program for community members who experience social isolation, mental health crisis, homelessness, and other struggles. The program will provide opportunities for skill-sharing, health empowerment, and social engagement.
SEABA Exhibitions received $1,500 to support a project connecting artists with city departments, volunteers, and the community by animating crosswalks with street murals in the South End Arts District.
Shader Croft School received $2,500 to support a program that will help students who are English language learners and students struggling to be literacy proficient improve their reading, writing, and oral expression skills by connecting them with adults in the community with whom they share an interest.
FRANKLIN
Missisquoi River Basin Association received $1,200 to support a river clean-up event that will bring community members together and encourage them to get out, enjoy, and simultaneously improve their own environment.
Swanton Public Library received $2,500 to support the creation of a ‘makerspace’ stocked with supplies for artists, crafters, and inventors. It will provide venues and programs to promote and support creativity among people of all ages.
GRAND ISLE
Alburgh Business Community received $982.50 to support Alburgh, a Day In The Park, a musical summer picnic afternoon that brings together the Alburgh community.
ORLEANS
Orleans County Historical Society received $2,000 to increase accessibility for both French and English speakers, as well as to promote the Northeast Kingdom's richly diverse culture by hiring a staff person to recruit and train bilingual volunteers to give tours and provide visitor services.
Leach Public Library received $830.66 to support a summer enrichment program helping Irasburg boys and girls entering grades one and two this fall grow their social and academic skills as they participate in reading, writing, and artistic activities.
RUTLAND
Theater in the Woods Vermont received $2,500 to support a theater camp for youth where participants explore their creativity in the natural world, creating and performing plays set in the woods.
WASHINGTON
City of Montpelier Parks Department received $2,500 to support the creation of a trail in the park system where visitors can engage with and learn about the natural environment. The trail will be visually inviting, accessible to all, and complement the local schools’ nature education programs.
Home Share Now received $2,000 to facilitate home shares that connect older adults with live-in care who can provide companionship, transportation, services, and greater financial security. As a result, older adults will feel happier, less lonely, and more engaged.
Langdon Street Alive received $2,000 to support a project that will transform Langdon Street into a people-oriented space, using art and streetscaping to create a renewed urban space for community events.
Moretown Elementary School received $2,000 to support an event bringing the Moretown community together to celebrate the opening of new town offices with family fun activities, live music, a community meeting, and fireworks.
Studio Place Arts received $2,500 to support an art exhibit which includes a formal exhibit in the gallery and art installations around Barre. These art installations provide access to contemporary visual art to many community members and visitors, free of charge.
Vermont River Conservancy received $2,250 to support a project engaging swimmers in better caring for and appreciating swimming holes in Vermont with educational signage and volunteer stewardship activities.
WINDHAM
Brattleboro Area Middle School received $1,160 to support a program in which student participants will learn about the history, goals, and mission of the charitable organization Emmy’s Heart while creating empowering gifts to donate to patients at local children's hospitals.
BrattRock received $1,500 to support a one-day youth rock music festival which provides a venue for young musicians and bands from Brattleboro and the surrounding region to gather, connect, learn, perform, and inspire.
Putney Public Library received $2,000 to support Parenting for Social Justice, a program where parents will use children's books on social justice issues to gain tools and skills for talking with their children about topics like racism, wealth inequality, and diverse families. Kids will simultaneously learn about social justice topics in workshops led by high school students.
The Town of Brattleboro received $1,000 to support the establishment of an off-leash dog park to increase recreational opportunities, create community among dog owners, and diversify tourism assets in southern Vermont.
WINDSOR
Latham Works Neighborhood Working Group received $2,500 to support a wheelchair-friendly nature trail that is safe, educational, and productive. The trail will connect and celebrate the water, land, and people of the neighborhood.
Vermont Institute of Natural Science received $1,500 to support an overnight camp for middle-schoolers that builds knowledge, teamwork, and leadership skills by teaching campers to successfully survive in the wilderness of central Vermont and to hone their skills in observation, data collection, and field research.
The Vermont Community Foundation is a family of hundreds of funds and foundations established by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. It provides the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make giving easy and effective. The Foundation also provides leadership in giving by responding to community needs, mobilizing and connecting philanthropists to multiply their impact, and by keeping Vermont’s nonprofit sector vital with grants and other investments in the community.
Source: www.vermontcf.org 7.6.2016