GRANT GUIDELINES 

North Lee Community Foundation invests in local nonprofit organizations that contribute to improving the quality of life in our community. North Lee Community Foundation welcomes applications for grants from nonprofit organizations, charities, health care organizations, and educational institutions that have been determined by the IRS to be exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code. Applicants must complete the North Lee Community Foundation Grant Application, and submit it with all required documents. Recurring grants for the same program are accepted. No grants for programs, projects or purchases that were completed prior to grant funds being awarded. One grant application per organization. Grants are for a period of one year.

 

In 2025, The North Lee Community Foundation will be awarding grants up to $5,000.00.​

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FOCUS OF SUPPORT

North Lee Community Foundation makes grants to only North Lee County organizations. 501 (c) (3) organizations from Fort Madison, West Point, Houghton, St. Paul, Denmark or other North Lee County communities may apply. Grant application requests are considered in the fields of arts and culture, community betterment, education, religion, health, and human services.

 

PRIORITY FUNDING

• Seed Grants to initiate promising new projects and programs so that those projects and programs are able to demonstrate their usefulness to the community.

• Projects that will enable non-profit and charitable agencies to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and move toward self-sufficiency.

•  Projects that address and help resolve important existing or emerging community issues and needs.

• Projects that facilitate cooperation and collaboration among organizations and communities in our area.

• Projects that identify, enhance, and expand leadership in the community through the support of charitable activities that empower individuals.

• Capital expenditures, such as construction, remodeling additions to existing buildings, and equipment purchases.

• Projects for which other grants have been approved but require matching funds for completion.

 

WILL NOT BE FUNDED

North Lee Community Foundation will not provide grant funds for purposes that do not directly advance your charitable purposes.

 

• Endowment or scholarship funds.

• Annual fund drives or annual giving campaigns-to reduce or erase a budget deficit or any form of a debt reduction campaign.

• Grants for political campaigns or organizations that directly or indirectly participate in a State, Local or National campaigns for any political party or cause.

• Requests to establish or maintain scholarship funds.

• Requests for specific sectarian religious purposes (however, requests from religious organizations will be considered for general community and humanitarian programs).

 

PROJECT SUPPORT

Community building is central to the work of North Lee Community Foundation, therefore the North Lee Community Foundation will give preference to projects that:

 

• Suggest practical approaches to community problems.

• Generate community support, both professional and volunteer.

• Demonstrate the organization’s ability to secure realistic funding.

• Strengthen a non-profit organization effectiveness or stability.

• Increase civic participation and community vitality.

• Build community connections, especially among diverse groups, and build mutual trust and reciprocity in community relationships.

• Develop an expanding pool of talented community leaders.