The Benton County Affiliate Grantmaking Program, administered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, serves as a local philanthropic initiative focused on improving quality of life across Benton County, Missouri. This program operates through the Benton County Community Foundation, an affiliate foundation under CFO’s umbrella. The program is guided by a local Board of Directors and grant committee comprised of residents with deep knowledge of the community's needs and priorities. Through this localized governance model, the grant program supports organizations implementing initiatives that benefit Benton County residents.
The program emphasizes flexible, community-driven grantmaking, allowing the affiliate foundation to respond to shifting local needs through unrestricted and field-of-interest funds. These funds are donated by community members and entrusted to the Benton County Community Foundation to make local decisions through a competitive review process. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with community priorities, feasibility, and potential impact.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, school districts, government entities, and churches, as long as they serve Benton County. Proposals must clearly demonstrate local impact, describe the intended beneficiaries, and outline the geographic and financial scope of the project. The application requires a project name, amount requested (up to $2,500), description of recent successes, explanation of program goals, and supporting documentation, such as organizational and project budgets.
Applications must be submitted online by 11:45 p.m. on February 26, 2026. The platform has a built-in character limit for responses, including spaces and punctuation. Applicants must also upload a copy of their EIN confirmation letter and may include letters of support or other relevant attachments. Matching funds are not required for this program, though applicants are encouraged to describe any additional funding sources and future sustainability plans.
All submitted proposals are reviewed by the local grant committee with funding contingent on availability and alignment with community needs. Technical assistance is available from Latesa Carter (lcarter@cfozarks.org), and program questions can be directed to Erin Reser (erinreser@gmail.com). The grant is a one-time funding opportunity with no confirmed recurrence schedule.
