Guidelines

Shoreline Institute of Lifelong Learning

2023 Grant Making Process Guidelines

The mission of The Guilford Foundation is to connect people who care with causes that matter to them, to enrich the quality of life in Guilford, now and for generations to come. We fulfill our mission by building and maintaining a charitable endowment and making prudent grants that serve to address the ever-changing needs of the Guilford community.

In 2022, The Guilford Foundation awarded 27 grants through its competitive grant making process. These grants ranged from $1,500 to $10,000, with an average award being around $5,000.

Timetable for Competitive Grants

The 2023 Competitive Grant Application deadline is March 10, 2023 for those community-serving organizations looking for competitive funding consideration. Completed grant applications should be submitted to The Guilford Foundation’s online grant center.

It is recommended that organizations watch our recorded 2023 Virtual Grant Workshop before applying, as it provides valuable insight into the grant guidelines and process. Contact Program Director Jennifer Mullett at jmullett@guilfordfoundation.org to receive a link.

Grant Review Process

The Community Investment Committee (CIC) of The Guilford Foundation reviews the applications and provides recommendations for funding to the Board of Directors. CIC may request to meet with applicants in person or by Zoom during the grant review process. Grant award decisions will be announced on or after May 1, 2023.

Important Information

  • Grants are awarded to 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations and 170(c)(1) governmental agencies serving the Guilford community.
  • Grants will be awarded to organizations that positively impact Guilford within the focus areas identified below.
  • Grant awards cannot be used retroactively to pay costs for programs or services that have occurred in the past.
  • Applications from previous grantees are welcome; continued funding will be considered by CIC but is not guaranteed.
  • All final reports from previously awarded grants must be provided prior to the submission of a new grant application.

What The Guilford Foundation Funds

In general, The Guilford Foundation looks to fund organizations and projects that strengthen and improve Guilford in the following focus areas: arts, education, environment, heritage enhancement, housing, human services and health, seniors, and youth & family.

2023 Guiding Principles

The 2023 Guiding Theme is Community Wellbeing. Priorities include:

  • Basic Needs (especially as related to assisting those individuals and families most at risk)
    • Services to take priority include food, shelter, emergency financial assistance
  • Strengthening Our Community
    • Child and Youth Development (childcare, development, education)
    • Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI)
    • Arts and Culture
    • Other innovative initiatives that promote strengthening the Guilford Community
  • Mental Health (mental health, substance misuse, etc. )
    • Promoting mental health awareness, prevention, and intervention

Additional Information

The Guilford Foundation holds several “field of interest” funds, including funds dedicated to youth, veterans or active military, the environment, and design/build efforts. During the application review process, the CIC matches applications with corresponding interest funds fields.

Grants should enhance the quality of life in Guilford, with applications addressing a need within a focus area and demonstrating impact on the organization, project, community, or persons served.

Applications should include some of the following elements:

  • Address a documented need or concern of the focus area.
  • Recognize and build on a community’s or organization’s strengths and assets.
  • Build the capacity of community organizations and/or individuals to help themselves.
  • Foster cooperative approaches to community issues through collaborations based on shared visions and mutual responsibility.
  • Serve as a catalyst for attracting other resources, such as matching gifts.
  • Build infrastructure within the organization to meet its mission.

The Guilford Foundation will not award grants to/for: debt reduction, endowments, individuals, lobbying, political organizations and campaigns, or replace government funding sources.

Your Responsibilities (if awarded a grant)

The Guilford Foundation expects to be recognized in all related press releases and publicity. The Guilford Foundation requires all grantees to submit a final report no later than February 1, 2024, prior to the start of the next competitive grant cycle.

Additional Funding Opportunities

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds: At the end of 2022, the Guilford Board of Selectmen (BOS) announced plans to partner with The Guilford Foundation (TGF) to disperse $500,000 in ARPA funds, entering an agreement to empower the Foundation to distribute the federal funding. The federal monies are intended to address the negative impacts caused by the COVID public health emergency.

TGF will hold a second, separate grant application review process for funds provided to the Town of Guilford through the American Rescue Plan Act in the Spring of 2023.

Emerging Needs Grants: The Guilford Foundation understands that projects and emergencies arise that cannot be accommodated by an annual competitive grant cycle. The Guilford Foundation will accept applications in this category on a rolling basis. Applications must fall into one or more of the following categories:

  • Concept is innovative and/or new to the Guilford community.
  • Organization cannot operate or move forward on a major initiative without emergency funding (ex. unexpected building repairs).
  • Concept is created or need arises after March 10, 2023 and required completion timeline is prior to April 30, 2024

Sponsorship Requests are a single event (i.e., a gala, road race, etc.) or a series of individual events held by an organization over a given period to increase visibility or for fundraising. TGF is proud to partner with GSB to support organizations serving the Guilford community by sponsoring qualifying events.

Sponsorship guidelines have changed for 2023; TGF now reviews sponsorship applications twice a year (February 10, 2023, and August 1, 2023). If you are unsure if your event qualifies for sponsorship, contact Program Director Jennifer Mullett for information.

Scholarship requests are reviewed and recommended by the Guilford High School Guidance office. Direct questions to their office: (203) 453-2741 ext 1234.

ONLINE GRANTS CENTER