Vermont Community Development Grants

This grant provides funding to Vermont-based nonprofit organizations, schools, and public entities for essential equipment that supports programs aimed at preventing challenges faced by children and youth aged 0–18.

This program provides funding to local organizations in Waterbury to support recreational activities and projects that engage the community.

We look for proposals that will allow an organization to address these types of short-term needs: Emergency repairs of building structure or mechanical systems (heating/cooling, water service, etc.) whose sudden and unexpected failure interferes with the provision of services. Examples of a grant of this nature would be costs for a roof repair resulting from an extreme weather event at a social service provider or the mitigation of a water supply that has been deemed unusable in a food shelf. Replacement of essential equipment and technology whose sudden and unexpected failure interferes with the provision of services. An example would a crisis hotline phone system that fails without warning, or a stove at a homeless shelter that breaks just outside of the warranty period but well before the end of its expected life. Provision of services or acquisition of a resource that could not have been anticipated or budgeted, and without which the work of the organization would be severely hampered. An example of this type of grant is training on post-traumatic stress disorder for school guidance counselors supporting children in towns severely impacted by disaster. Another example is staffing a temporary replacement while an organization’s executive director is on emergency medical leave.

The Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) announces the availability of FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for the Presidential Declaration DR-4720 Severe Flooding. Up to $64,170,000 is available for hazard mitigation projects and up to $4,830,000 for planning activities. The program supports projects aimed at enhancing resilience, reducing loss of life, and minimizing damages to property. Eligible applicants include local governments, state agencies, and certain non-profits performing government-like functions. Priority is given to projects that benefit frontline and disadvantaged communities and those that align with the Vermont State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Pre-applications are accepted on a continual basis until August 16, 2024. Projects must be proven cost-effective through a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA). VEM provides technical assistance throughout the application process. HMGP funding is available statewide and does not need to be related to damages from the July 2023 flood.

This funding initiative provides financial support to various organizations and individuals in Vermont to expand and improve licensed child care services for infants and toddlers, ensuring greater access to high-quality early childhood education.

The Arts Operating Grant provides financial support to arts organizations in Vermont, aimed at those offering year-round, high-quality arts programs and services that align with the mission of advancing arts and creativity throughout the state. This initiative supports Outcome Three of the Arts Council's Strategic Framework, focusing on building vibrant and creative communities through organizations and artists. For FY2025, the grant offers one-year operating funds to eligible organizations demonstrating significant community involvement and partnerships with civic, non-arts, and educational entities to ensure broad access to arts and creativity. Applicants must choose between applying for an Arts Operating Grant or an Arts Project Grant and cannot be current three-year operating grantees. Grant renewed every year.

Northeast Delta Dental is accepting applications for grants focused on increasing access to, and the quality of, oral health care in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Grants are available to organizations that meet specific criteria, including having nonprofit status (501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)), not discriminating on the basis of race, sex, religion, or other protected classes, and being involved in projects that address oral health needs. Funding will support initiatives such as educational programs on oral health, preventive oral health care programs, dental clinics aiming to make care more accessible, education and continuing education of dental health professionals, and research to improve oral health.

This grant provides funding for projects that improve the ecological health of Long Island Sound, targeting local organizations, governments, and communities engaged in habitat restoration, water quality enhancement, and environmental education within the watershed.

This program provides funding to preserve and restore historic barns in Vermont, supporting the state's agricultural heritage and visual landscape.

This opportunity allows Vermont-based businesses to showcase and sell their products at a major annual fair in Massachusetts, promoting local goods and enhancing brand visibility while adhering to specific guidelines and requirements.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Vermont schools, childcare providers, and community organizations to develop and expand programs that connect children with local agriculture, improve nutrition, and enhance educational experiences, particularly in underserved communities.

The Walter Cerf Community Fund (WCCF), administered by The Vermont Community Foundation, offers grants to address various charitable needs throughout Vermont. Its mission aligns with the Foundation's goal of supporting communities by focusing on key areas like the arts, education, historic preservation, and social services. A significant aspect of the WCCF's strategic priority is to support initiatives that address the needs of underserved populations within these focus areas. The fund also prioritizes proposals that foster cooperation, collaboration, and community building, reflecting a theory of change that emphasizes collective impact for broader community benefit. The WCCF aims to benefit organizations serving either a statewide constituency with a unique contribution to Vermont, or those located in or serving the populations of Addison County or Brandon. Approximately 70% of available funds are allocated to programs and projects in/or serving the Addison County/Brandon area, with the remaining 30% supporting statewide initiatives. This targeted approach seeks to achieve impact goals of strengthening local communities while also addressing broader state-level needs. Expected outcomes include enhanced access to arts, improved educational opportunities, preserved historical sites, and strengthened social services, particularly for underserved groups. The fund offers both small ($500-$5,000) and large (up to $25,000) grant requests. Small grants can be used for program/project support or general operating support, while large grants are strictly for program/project-specific initiatives and are reserved for organizations serving Addison County or Brandon. This structured approach to grant sizing and scope allows for both flexible support for smaller, local needs and more substantial, focused investments in specific projects with measurable results in the designated areas. The WCCF typically will not fund an entire project, preferring projects that demonstrate support from a variety of sources, which encourages broader community investment and sustainability. Eligibility for WCCF grants requires organizations to be located in or serve the people of Vermont, and to be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or be a public agency or municipality in Vermont. Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status may apply with a fiscal sponsor. The foundation maintains a strict non-discrimination policy based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, political affiliation, military service, and physical or mental ability, ensuring that its funding initiatives are inclusive and equitable. This commitment to non-discrimination reflects a core strategic priority to foster an inclusive Vermont where all individuals have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from community programs.

The Walter Cerf Community Fund offers large grants up to $25,000 for project-specific initiatives that align with Vermont's charitable needs in arts, education, historic preservation, and social services. This funding supports projects that promote community building and address the needs of underserved populations, specifically in Addison County or Brandon. Large grants require a focus on project-specific funding and do not support general operational costs.

This program provides funding to organizations in New England for projects that preserve and share the diverse histories of their communities through the conservation of buildings, landscapes, and collections.

This program provides financial assistance to homeowners in Waterbury, Vermont, to create affordable rental accessory dwelling units on their properties, helping to address local housing shortages.

This grant provides financial support to Vermont-based nonprofits focused on youth development, economic independence for working adults, senior care, and community enhancement initiatives.

This funding opportunity supports grassroots community groups with limited resources to launch new environmental projects or significantly shift existing ones, focusing on those that amplify diverse voices and address environmental justice issues.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Vermont businesses and organizations involved in agriculture, food production, and forest products, helping them improve their sustainability and viability.

The Cultural Facilities Grants are designed to support Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities in enhancing, creating, or expanding the capacity of existing buildings to offer cultural activities to the public. These activities broadly include artistic, creative, aesthetic, historic, or scholarly events such as performances, exhibits, readings, film screenings, workshops, and more. Eligible projects may involve improvements to wiring, heating, lighting, plumbing, accessibility features, stage enhancements, permanent display installations, environmental controls, hazard mitigation, and energy efficiency upgrades. The grant period is set from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, and includes a mandatory match on a 1:1 basis with specific requirements for cash and in-kind contributions. Applications are encouraged from entities that own a facility in Vermont that has been in existence for at least ten years.

This grant provides financial and technical support to Vermont schools and early childhood education centers to improve student health and nutrition by connecting them with local farmers and enhancing farm to school programs.