Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Community Foundation announced today that—in partnership with some of its fundholders—it has awarded a total of $37,720.39 in Spark! Connecting Community grants to 15 nonprofit organizations for local projects in communities across the state, including some nonprofits that serve residents in multiple counties. One of the competitive grant programs at the Community Foundation, Spark! Connecting Community puts building and nurturing community front and center.
The Foundation aims to support the work happening throughout Vermont’s 251 towns that builds social capital. These grants—where a small amount can make a big difference—are intended to light the spark that keeps Vermonters healthy and happy. The community strategies reflected in the Vermont Community Foundation’s grantmaking strategy were generously supported by a number of its fundholders through Giving Together, a program at the Foundation that shares grant proposals with fundholders and donors, giving them the opportunity to co-fund projects.
“Our work to close the opportunity gap in Vermont depends on building social capital in our communities and investing in projects that spark that social cohesion," notes Vermont Community Foundation President and CEO Dan Smith. "These Spark! Connecting Community grants do just that, by supporting our state's greatest assets—Vermonters. There are great community-generated ideas and opportunities throughout the state that just need a little funding to get started. These programs exemplify the high level of engagement, commitment, and creativity needed to build and nurture our communities across the state.”
Nonprofits interested in applying for the next round of Spark! Connecting Community grants are encouraged to visitvermontcf.org/sparkfor more information. There are two remaining rounds in 2018, with deadlines at5:00 p.m.on July 26 and October 16.
Spark! Connecting Community Grants in Spring 2018
Bennington County
Pownal Proudreceived $825 to support a project that will reduce roadside litter and curb illegal dumping through volunteer cleanups, education, formal signage, and trail cameras at illegal dump sites.
Chittenden County
The Schoolhouse Learning Centerreceived $2,275 for a garden project that will help develop a deep understanding of Vermont’s Abenaki cultural and agricultural heritage and serve as a pilot site for the Seeds of Renewal project that collects heirloom seeds for local tribes.
Audubon Vermontreceived $2,970.39 to lead a group of children from the afterschool program at King Street Youth Center in Burlington on 10 weekly excursions to local parks and provide six of eight available scholarships for students to attend a week-long summer day camp at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington.
Outright Vermontreceived $3,000 to support a suite of support groups for LGBTQ youth located in four cities and towns across the state co-facilitated by LGBTQ adults and offering safe spaces for youth to feel connected, seen, and appreciated for being themselves.
Franklin County
Franklin County Caring Communitiesreceived $3,000 for a youth leadership program for high school students that addresses the root causes of risky behaviors by creating environments that make it easier to act in healthy ways and culminates in a no-cost, one-week summer institute.
Franklin Northwest Supervisory Unionreceived $3,000 for a summer theater arts camp that is made accessible to all youth by pairing it with existing summer school and enrichment programs, allowing for the inclusion of bus transportation, breakfast, lunch, and teen mentoring.
Orange County
Girls Empowered, Motivated, Strengthened (GEMS)received $3,000 for a summer camp and year-round support program for middle-school girls that builds self-efficacy through a combination of skills development and confidence building that empowers them to become active change-makers within their communities.
Island Pond Historical Societyreceived $3,000 to aid in the creation of an interactive museum and learning center to showcase the railroad, lumbering, and military culture of Island Pond and the surrounding towns.
Orleans County
Jones Memorial Library / Village of Orleansreceived $2,600 to support twice-monthly story readings and art-project sessions that will send children home with their own copies of the books, allowing them to start home libraries of quality children’s literature.
Rutland County
Benson Village Schoolreceived$1,550 for a program to bring middle school students from Benson and Orwell to the Hannaford Career Center and Vermont Technical College to explore career pathways in vocational and technical trades.
Washington County
Mad River Path Associationreceived $1,500 to improve a recreation path in Irasville and Waitsfield in order to provide safe biking and walking areas, thereby increasing access to the outdoors, businesses, transportation, and jobs.
Windham County
Town of Brattlebororeceived $3,000 to support the design and construct an outdoor skatepark in Brattleboro with a focus on strengthening community by providing a healthy, out-of-school activity for children and adults.
The Root Social JusticeCenterreceived $3,000 for The Root Feeder Project, a multilingual and multimedia distribution of local and regional stories created and led by people of color that creates connection, healing, opportunity, and change through storytelling.
Boys & Girls Club of Brattlebororeceived $3,000 that will connect teens with employment and college preparatory resources such as assistance with writing college applications and essays, financial aid applications, and job training that will include the development of interpersonal skills.
Windsor County
Magic Mountain Children's Centerreceived $2,000 to plant a vegetable and flower garden. The harvest will be shared with residents of a low-income, elderly housing development. Childcare center children will share songs and put on small performances during their produce delivery visits at the housing development to strengthen cross-generational connections.
The Vermont Community Foundation inspires giving and brings people and resources together to make a difference in Vermont. A family of hundreds of funds and foundations, we provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise that make it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love.
The heart of the Community Foundation’s work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. We are aligning our time, energy, and discretionary resources on efforts that provide access to early care and learning, pathways to college and career training, support for youth and families, and community and economic vitality. We envision Vermont at its best—where everyone has the opportunity to build a bright, secure future.
Source:Vermont Community Foundationvermontcf.org7.19.2018