Our Grants Program
We award more than $200,000 annually thanks to the continued generosity of our donors. Based on the Community Fund's 2022 strategic planning process, our grants program has three main areas of focus: Education, Health, and Community and Economic Development. We strive to empower this community to define and create projects that use the area’s local knowledge, foster community collaboration, and build on the strength of the area’s people, communities, and natural setting.
Register for 2025 Grant Meeting here: https://sccfforms.wufoo.com/forms/rsvp-for-annual-grant-conversation/
Our Grants Program is divided into three grant competitions and a non-competitive capacity building grant:
Spring Grants: Original Competitive Grant
This is where our grant program began. In the spring 2012 the Community Fund awarded its first grants to area nonprofits totaling $100,000, and has continued to do so annually. Area partners can apply for up to $10,000.
Applications are due on April 1 each year.
Summer Grants: Connecting for Lasting Impact Grant
In celebration of our 10 year anniversary in 2022, we created a special grant round focused on collaboration. The grant required multiple organizations to apply together to address an overarching issue on the Plateau. This grant program was extended in 2023 and 2024. Partners can apply for up to $50,000 LEARN MORE>
Applications are due on August 1 each year. A letter of intent is due by July 1.
Fall Grants: University-Funded Grants
South Cumberland Community Fund is grateful for its partnership with the University of the South for supporting this grant round. This program allows students to learn about grantmaking and serve as the grants committee. The program is supported by two endowments at the University. Area partners can apply for up to $5,000.
Applications are due on October 15 each year.
While the three grant rounds above have set deadlines, organizations may apply for a Capacity-building Grant at any time. These grants focus on AmeriCorps host fees, pilot projects, or organizational development. LEARN MORE>
Grant Process:
