Kelsey Trust Grant Program

The Kelsey Trust is a family foundation founded in 1988 by Sally Patrick Johnson to honor the lives and work of Robert Fleming Patrick and Jonathan Kelsey Woods. Dedicated to benefiting the people and protecting the environment of the Lake Champlain Basin, the Trust has worked in partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation since 1989, which assists with its grantmaking processes. The Trust supports initiatives that serve the people and/or protect the environment of the Lake Champlain Basin, with a strong preference for organizations physically located in the region. Funding priorities span four key areas: environmental protection focused on Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains, and the Adirondacks; children-at-risk, particularly infants and children with pressing educational, emotional, and nutritional needs; education programs that target underserved or non-traditional students; and health and nutrition efforts that promote well-being and food access for disadvantaged populations. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and municipalities serving the Champlain Basin. Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may apply if represented by a qualifying fiscal agent. Applicants must not discriminate based on race, creed, national origin, color, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Grants are not awarded to endowments, individuals, sectarian religious entities, or projects where the Trust would become a predominant funding source. The application process begins with an Organization Statement and a two-page Letter of Interest (LOI). The Organization Statement must summarize the organization’s legal status, leadership, mission, and recent budget. The LOI should include a summary of the project, target population and geographic area served, anticipated and actual outcomes, how impact is measured, requested funding amount, and overall project budget including other sources of support. Application materials must be submitted electronically through the Community Foundation’s Online Grants Manager. The Trust operates on a semi-annual grant cycle. The winter cycle, focused on children, families, and basic human needs, accepts LOIs by December 1 with decisions announced by early January. The spring cycle, targeting education and the environment, closes on June 1 with decisions finalized by the end of June. Limited emergency funding may be available outside these cycles. Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $10,000, and while some of the $200,000 annual grants budget is pre-committed, unsolicited proposals are accepted. All questions and communications should be directed to Jennifer Barrett at the Vermont Community Foundation via email at jbarrett@vermontcf.org or phone at 802-388-3355 ext. 222.

Focus on alignment with Trust priorities and local impact in the Champlain Basin. Sustainability and fiscal stability are also evaluated.