General Grant Program

General Grant Program is sponsored by Columbia Community Foundation. The Columbia Community Foundation accepts, reviews, and awards grants on a monthly basis to support non-profit organizations in Columbia Station and surrounding areas.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation | Fund for Columbia County:… Fund for Columbia County: General Operating Support Grants Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation established the Fund for Columbia County (FCC) in 1998 to help strengthen communities and improve the quality of life for everyone in Columbia County.

The fund serves as a resource for organizations that make life safer, healthier, and more equitable for all residents of the county. Through its General Operating Support Grants, FCC supports organizations that have a deep, lasting, and positive impact on the residents of Columbia County, with particular emphasis on low-income and underserved adults and children.

FCC’s primary focus areas include: Health and social services Civic and community engagement through arts, culture, and education Non-Profit Status : Organizations must have IRS-designated 501(c)(3) status or an existing fiscal sponsor. Service Area : Organizations must be in and/or actively serve Columbia County residents.

If you have locations outside the region, you must demonstrate local presence through indicators such as locally based staff, regional offices, or programs targeting our region’s residents. Years in Operation : Organizations must have at least three (3) years of recent operating history.

Fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible; in these cases, the organization itself—not the fiscal sponsor—must meet the three-year operating requirement.

Operating Budget : Strong preference for organizations with operating budgets under $5 million These Grants provide flexible general operating support, which may include: Personnel and overhead costs Planning and implementation of programs Technology, equipment, or material costs Investments to increase organizational capacity Other annual operating expenses The following are not eligible for funding: Sectarian or religious organizations (unless serving as fiscal sponsor for a broad community benefit) K-12 schools (public, private, or charter) Government entities (municipalities, fire districts, etc.) "Friends" organizations supporting schools, municipalities or government agencies Endowments or capital campaigns (funding must be used towards annual operating expenses) NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY Neither the Fund for Columbia County nor Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation support organizations that discriminate in their constitution, bylaws, or practice based on age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief Grant range: $5,000 to $15,000 Timeline: Funding supports operations for 12 months from the date of the grant award.

You must submit a follow-up report within 12 months of receiving the grant . All applicants must complete a follow-up report for any prior funding before submitting a new application The application opens on Jan. 1.

Applications are due Feb. 15. Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria: FCC’s volunteer review committee evaluates the needs the organization addresses and evidence of past effectiveness along with the potential to strengthen its work.

They also consider how FCC’s funding can reach all parts of Columbia County, giving priority to applicants serving demographic, geographic or issue areas that are underrepresented in our current grant portfolio. The committee prioritizes organizations working with communities that face structural barriers, including BIPOC, low-income, geographically isolated, LGBTQIA+, disabled, refugee, or immigrant communities.

Additional consideration is given to first time applicants and organizations with BIPOC leadership. The committee looks for organizations with strong operational foundations—experienced teams, the agility to respond to changing circumstances, and sound financial management.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation establishes committees of volunteer community members with varied experience and expertise to participate in a structured review process. BTCF staff facilitate these committees to ensure adherence to IRS regulations and published criteria for each grant cycle.

Funding recommendations are based on where grants can have the largest impact and leverage, and take into consideration total scores, alignment with our mission, and available resources. Committee members follow the Foundation's confidentiality and conflict of interest policies. BTCF staff partner with committee chairs to recruit new members who serve three three-year terms.

This model leverages volunteers with interest in and knowledge of their communities to bring the Foundation's funding strategies to each part of the Berkshire Taconic region. Funding recommendations are reviewed by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation's Board of Directors.

Other Opportunities for Funding: Columbia County FCC General Operating Support Grants Supports organizations that have a deep, lasting, and positive impact on the residents of Columbia County, with particular emphasis on low-income and underserved adults and children.

Seed Funding for Emerging Nonprofits : provides funding to Columbia County organizations organizations in the process of forming or in their first three years of operations. Letters of Request can be submitted between April 15 and September 15. Supports BIPOC-owned, BIPOC-centering, or BIPOC-led organizations and projects that advance equity.

Grantmaking decisions are made by leaders of color in collaboration with community. The following education enrichment funds offer funding for projects that enhance the educational experience of youth in Columbia County. All have a deadline of October 15.

Chatham Education Foundation Supports educational enrichment projects in the Chatham Central School District. Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Endowment Supports arts and humanities projects for students of the Germantown Central School District. Hudson Schools Arts and Humanities Fund Supports education projects in the arts and humanities in the Hudson City School District.

Ichabod Crane Central School District Arts and Humanities Fund Supports arts and humanities projects for students of the Ichabod Crane Central School District. New Lebanon Arts and Humanities Fund Supports education projects in the arts and humanities in the New Lebanon Central School District.

Taconic Hills Education Enrichment Fund/Arts &Humanities Fund Supports educational enrichment activities for the students and teachers in the Taconic Hills Central School District. Berkshire Taconic established the Fund for Columbia County in 1998 to help strengthen communities and improve the quality of life for the residents of Columbia County, N. Y.

Learn more about the Fund for Columbia County $5,000—$15,000 for a 12-month period starting from the award date. Click the apply button below to visit our application portal.