How Can We Help?
We love reviewing grant applications from nonprofits serving the Bainbridge community! Our giving strategy focuses on long-term impact, permanence, and sustainability. To realize that strategy, we fund two distinct grant-making programs:
- The Community Grants Cycle, which supports nonprofits serving Bainbridge Islanders in arts and culture, animal welfare, education, environment, health and human services, and recreation;
- The Capacity Building Grants Program, which funds short-term core operations projects to improve an organization's efficiency and efficacy.
As a community foundation, we are generalists and help sustain all sectors of the nonprofit community. Grants are made for the following:
- Animal Welfare
- Arts, Culture, Humanities (including Recreation)
- Disaster Relief
- Education
- Environment
- Health and Human Services (including Housing)
- Public/Society Benefit
- Science/Technology
- Social Science/Public Policy
Community Grants Cycle
BCF's 2023 will accept applications between March 8 and 5PM April 4. As a community foundation, we are generalists and help sustain all sectors of the nonprofit community. To be eligible to apply for the BCF Community Grants Cycle, organizations and proposals must meet the following:
- Current 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS
- Serve Bainbridge Island residents; located in Washington State
- Proposals for projects running July of the application year to June of next year
- Requests for funding between $1,000–$11,000
Grants will not be awarded: to any religious organization where the funds would be used in whole or in part to further the organization’s religious purposes but solely for secular purposes; to individuals; for any political purposes; for vehicles; or for any endowment funds. Funds will not be awarded for programs and/or equipment, etc. that were started, completed, or acquired prior to the grant period.
Community Grants Funding Types
- Program (Specific program or project)
- Capital (Equipment/facility repairs, etc.); Estimates must be provided at time of application
- Direct (Access to programming/support or access for underserved populations)
- Operating (General operating support)
BCF does not fund research, scholarship/fellowship, in-kind or product donation, loans, or vehicles.
Community Grants Evaluation Criteria
BCF grants are made in compliance with guidelines established by the Council on Foundations National Standards Board as well as Grant Maker Network’s Project Streamline. Note that grant funds should not be considered a source of ongoing funding for your organization. The following principles guide our process:
- Grants should directly benefit the community. Provide statistical data, client waiting lists, documentation for lack of services, etc.
- Priority may be given to proposals that benefit the greatest number of people or the most under-served populations.
- Grants should have measurable outcomes.
- Organizational effectiveness, innovation, and board/organization capacity may also be taken into consideration. Demonstrate that the organization in a position deliver the project or program. With such things as strong leadership of board, volunteers and staff, have well-crafted policies and procedures, demonstrate a broad funding base.
- Is the project/program well planned and likely to succeed? Provide a realistic budget (income and expenses), operating or business plan, evaluation, or targeted outcomes and outputs.
- Completeness and quality of the application.
Capacity Building Grants Program
To apply for the BCF Capacity Building Grants Program, organizations and proposals must meet the following:
- Current 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS
- Serve the Bainbridge Island community and be located in Washington State
- Grant size will be between $500 and $1,500
Capacity Building Grants Evaluation Criteria
Funding is focused on building an organization’s internal capacity in these areas in order to strengthen and support our local nonprofit sector. We look for deep work from committed organizations that are actively working to build capacity or already have a plan to do capacity building work. Commitment is measured by a combination of the following:
- An organization's willingness to provide partial funding for their work from their own resources
- A high level of board and staff involvement and participation
- A willingness to share information and outcomes with us and other organizations as appropriate
Capacity Building Grants Process
The application period for the Capacity Building Grants Program opens during the month of October. These grants will be awarded in mid December and grantees will have January 1 through December 31 of the following year to complete their work.
- We use Common Grant Application: commongrantapplication.com.
- If this is your first time using Common Grant Application, visit the site and click the green sign-up button.
- If you are an existing Common Grant Application user, log into your account. If you cannot remember your login credentials, contact Common Grant Application. Do not set up a second account.
- If you have any questions about using the Common Grant Application site, please contact Common Grant Application directly.
- If your organization applied to the current year's Community Grants Cycle, no organizational financial information will be required; only program specific information is needed for this application, including: program description, program budget, etc.
- Applications are reviewed by the Grants Committee.
- Site visits are not part of the Capacity Building Grants Program review process.
- Grant awards are announced mid‐December.
- Organizations have from January 1 through December 31 the following year to start and complete their proposed work.
- Final reports must be completed and submitted after the project is finished via Common Grant Application.
- Organizations that do not submit their final reports will be deemed ineligible to apply for the following year’s Capacity Building Grants Program. Please contact BCF with any questions regarding eligibility.
2022 Capacity Grants Cycle
BCF’s Capacity Building Grants Cycle will accept applications between October 18, 2022 and November 15, 2022 for applications of $500-$1,500 online via Common Grant Application. The BCF Grants Committee will review applications and make funding recommendations to the BCF Board of Trustees. Awards will be announced in mid-December. The grant period for these awards is January 1-December 31, 2023.
If you have questions, please contact Debbie Kuffel, Program & Finance Officer, at debbie@bainbridgecf.org.
