The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region grants funds from more than 450 different charitable funds and many different channels. In 2023, the Community Foundation distributed more than $9 million in grants to more than 1,460 nonprofit organizations and programs, and in scholarship awards to local students.
Competitive Grants
The Community Foundation manages several funds that award grants through a competitive process. These funds are described in our 2024 Grant Guidelines. This document includes detailed descriptions of eligibility requirements and application guidelines and deadlines for competitive grants.
To be eligible for competitive grants, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as a nonprofit organization OR operate under the fiscal sponsorship of an organization that does;
- Serve residents and be located within the ten-county greater Capital Region (Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington Counties) unless otherwise noted.
Connecting Donors to Issues and Organizations They Care About
The majority of Community Foundation grants are made in partnership with individuals, families, or organizations who work with the Foundation to facilitate their charitable giving through donor advised funds. In order to better support donors’ philanthropy and provide the maximum financial support possible to meet community needs, staff augments the funds available through our competitive grant programs by connecting donors to organizations, issues, and approaches aligned with their interests. We regularly refer proposals we receive in conjunction with competitive grant cycles to our donor advisors.