Community Grants

The Community Foundation of Abilene, founded in 1985, is a public foundation with a mission to enhance the quality of life in the Abilene region. The Foundation administers grant cycles to support charitable nonprofit organizations that address community needs within Abilene and Taylor County, Texas. The community grants program is funded by a permanent unrestricted endowment and field of interest funds, allowing the Foundation to maintain flexibility and responsiveness to evolving community priorities. The Community Grants program is structured around biannual funding cycles—Fall and Spring—focused on immediate community needs. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational institutions, and faith-based organizations with programs serving the general public. Applications must be submitted online via Foundant GLM, the Foundation’s grants management system. Paper submissions are not accepted, and returning applicants must maintain good standing, including submission of evaluation reports. Funding requests typically range from $5,000 to $35,000, with occasional capital support considered up to $50,000. Proposals exceeding $35,000 require a mandatory interview prior to submission. Awards over $20,000 involve more extensive documentation and narrative requirements. Funding priorities span several service areas, including animal services, children and youth, community development, education, fine arts and culture, health and mental health, and human and social services. Applications are evaluated based on practical relevance, organizational capability, financial stewardship, collaboration with other organizations, and potential for community impact. Proposals that respond to emerging issues, promote volunteerism, or demonstrate leverage of other funding sources receive favorable consideration. Ineligible uses include political activity, fundraising events, debt reduction, or activities outside the geographic scope. For each cycle, the Foundation observes a specific application timeline: the Fall cycle opens June 15 and closes August 1, while the Spring cycle opens December 1 and closes January 15. Notifications are issued approximately 12 weeks after the deadline, with performance periods running November–June for Fall awards and May–December for Spring awards. A completed evaluation is required before applicants can reapply in future cycles. Applicants may contact Kassidy Nygaard, Community Grants Manager, at knygaard@cfabilene.org or 325-676-3883 for assistance. Further application previews and tutorials are available through the Foundation's website.

Submitting evaluations is mandatory for future eligibility. Capital requests over $35,000 require prior interviews. Ensure alignment between budget and funding category.