Loudoun Community Response Fund – Collaborative Community Solutions Grants

Loudoun Community Response Fund – Collaborative Community Solutions Grants is sponsored by Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. Designed to support local organizations meeting basic human needs, financial stability, and housing security issues within the county, following community input sessions addressing local service delivery and housing displacement support.

**Loudoun Community Response Fund –****Collaborative Community Solutions 2026 RFP and Guidelines** The Loudoun Community Response Fund was launched in 2025 to strengthen our community’s capacity to meet the growing needs of individuals and families striving for financial stability, well-being, safety, and long-term security.

As more Loudoun residents seek assistance, the Loudoun Community Response Fund helps ensure that local nonprofits have the resources and support needed to deliver essential services and promote lasting stability. Funding for the Loudoun Community Response Fund is made possible through a one-time investment from the County of Loudoun.

**Collaborative Community Solutions Grants: Eligibility and Priorities** The Loudoun Community Response Fund announces the opening of its second phase of community response grants with two grant programs in 2026: 1) the **Collaborative Community Solutions Grants**and 2) the **Community Stability and Assistance Grants**.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is for the **Collaborative Community Solutions**grant program _only_; the Community Stability and Assistance Grants RFP can be found in the Community Foundation’s online grant portal at https://www. grantinterface. com/Home/Logon?

urlkey=cflfor on the Community Foundation’s main website at www. communityfoundationlf. org.

_Areas of Need and Eligibility_ **Collaborative Community Solutions Grants**will be provided to human service organizations serving Loudoun residents within one of the following areas of need: • Crisis intervention and diversion • Improved quality of human services • Long-term support and prevention Grants will only be awarded to 501(c)(3)nonprofit organizations serving Loudoun County.

Only one proposal per organization will be considered for this grant program; however, applicants may apply for both the Collaborative Community Solutions Grant and the Community Stability and Assistance Grant programs.

Grant funds will not be awarded to: * Individuals (i.e., direct assistance to residents) * Organizations without 501(c)(3) status or a qualified fiscal sponsor _Collaborative Community Solutions Grants Priorities_ Eligible organizations addressing the areas of need described above may apply for a Collaborative Community Solutions Grant to address **one**of these four categories: * **Rental assistance and housing stability:**Direct rental assistance, eviction prevention, housing assistance, and supportive services to increase housing stability and security for Loudoun residents with demonstrated need * **Food access and infrastructure:**Direct food distribution and food security services for Loudoun residents, especially proposed solutions that address barriers accessing assistance, or that streamline or increase access to food * **Legal services for vulnerable populations**: Legal services and related supportive services specifically for low-income Loudoun residents impacted by federal policy shifts, especially immigration-related policies * **Healthcare access, including behavioral and mental health:**Direct healthcare services, including behavioral and mental health services and support for Loudoun residents.

Priority will be given to proposed solutions that reduce barriers to care, streamline or expand access to services and support, and/or address the local impacts of federal funding or policy changes. Proposals with projects and services addressing possible impacts of federal funding or policy shifts will be prioritized. Proposed services and programs must be specifically for Loudoun County residents.

_Priority for Collaborative Partnership Proposals_ Grants from the Collaborative Community Solutions program will be prioritized for organizations applying in partnership with other local organizations, as documented in the Collaborative Partnership Outline within the application form.

Strong collaborative partnerships include defined partner roles, coordinated services, shared goals, and examples outlining how the partnership model may improve outcomes for Loudoun residents. Each organization participating in a partnership must submit its own, unique application and grant budget. Applications will be reviewed individually, with the quality of the proposed partnership considered as one of the evaluation factors.

Grant awards will be made to organizations individually, and participation in a partnership does not guarantee that every partner will receive funding. Applicants are not required to apply as part of a partnership. Stand-alone proposals will also be considered, although proposals demonstrating strong collaboration will receive priority in this funding cycle.

_Additional Award Priorities_ In addition to alignment with the areas of need, priority consideration will be given to organizations that demonstrate: * Experience providing services to Loudoun residents * Track record of strong financial and grant management, including past performance on Community Foundation grants * Ability to collect and report data regarding programmatic outputs and outcomes * Strong existing community partnerships with other nonprofits, as well as local government and schools, if applicable _Allowable Administrative Costs_ Funding provided through the Loudoun Community Response Fund and the Collaborative Community Solutions Grant cannot be used to supplant expenses currently funded or committed through federal, state, local or private grants.

Grant funds may be used for programmatic costs aligned with applicants’ application and as outlined on the grant budget form. No more than 7% of a grant award provided from this grant program can be used for “facilities and administration” (F&A) costs to administer the grant. Allowable facilities costs are limited to rent, utilities, and building maintenance.

Allowable administrative costs are limited to salaries for general staff in accounting, payroll, or administrative offices, or general oversight of this grant. All F&A costs cannot exceed 7% of an applicant’s total request and grant budget.

**Grant Award Size**Approximately $2,000,000 is expected to be available through the Collaborative Community Solutions Grant program, with an anticipated allocation of approximately $500,000 for each of the four priority categories. Actual funding by category may vary based on the number, quality, and funding needs of proposals received. The minimum grant award is $20,000, and larger awards are anticipated.

The Community Foundation may award partial grants less than an amount requested. The grant project period is from **January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2027**. Grantees will have until December 31, 2027 to expend grant funds.

Proposals for projects or programs that will be completed in less than one year are equally encouraged and will receive full consideration. **Application Deadlines, Reviews, and Notification**Applications will be accepted starting October 15, 2026, and are **due by November 23, 2026, 5:00 p. m.

**Grant decisions and grant payments are expected to be disbursed by December 31, 2026. The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors or its designated grant review committee will review applications and the Board of Directors will approve final grant recommendations. **Pre-Application Workshop**An optional but encouraged pre-application workshop will be held on **October 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.

m. **Applicants may register here: https://us02web. zoom.

us/meeting/register/WZ33MVKdS1qU6CBxdaLMEw. A recording of the workshop will be emailed to all who register. Grantees are required to submit quarterly reports detailing monthly grant expenditures and quarterly programmatic outputs and outcomes, including an unduplicated count of Loudoun residents served.

Reported financial and program data will be shared with the County of Loudoun as the funding source. All grant funds must be expended within one year of award. Extension requests must be submitted in writing and approved by the Community Foundation in advance.

**Application Instructions**