WCCF Competitive Community Grants

Grant Guidelines

The Foundation was established in 1978 as a tax-exempt community foundation. Gifts from individuals, families, and businesses are used for scholarships, community projects and other charitable purposes throughout our area.

All unrestricted donations to the Foundation are added to the General Fund. These unrestricted gifts provide the Foundation with flexibility in its charitable purpose, allowing the Board of Trustees to respond to innovative projects and changing community needs. Charitable organizations serving the residents of Wayne County are invited to apply for grants from these unrestricted funds in the spring and fall of each year.

The Foundation's charitable grantmaking includes both capital and program grants which are awarded in the following categories: Arts, Culture, & Humanities; Civic & Community Affairs; Conservation & Environment; Education; Health & Wellness; and Human Services.

In order to make the best use of available funds, the Foundation looks for one or more of the following when reviewing proposal requests:

• The project is a well-planned approach to solving a problem and delivering services.
• The use of funds will be efficient and effective.
• Foundation support is vital or catalytic to the success of the project.
• The proposed project is expected to continue after the grant ends.
• Expenses will be reduced by sharing resources with other agencies or groups.

Normally, the Foundation does not approve grants to support:

• General operating expenses of well-established organizations;
• Deficit financing;
• Endowment funds;
• Annual appeals or membership contributions;
• Conferences, field trips, travel or recognition events;
• We're nonsectarian so we don't support religious organizations for religious purposes. We do support them for non-religious programs, like hunger centers or job training or childcare.

Grants are limited to activities and organizations benefiting the greater Wayne County area. Grants may not be used to carry on propaganda or otherwise attempt to influence legislation, participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, or to conduct, directly or indirectly, any voter registration drive (within the meaning of Section 4945(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code).

The Foundation makes grants only to organizations that are recognized by the Internal Revenue Code as nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations (501(c)(3) organizations); or to qualified governmental agencies. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals except through scholarship funds.

Trustees will consider past grant activity and first preference shall be given to organizations that have not received grants in the past two grant cycles.

Organizations receiving grants are required to submit a report to the Foundation within one year of receipt of the grant.

Online Grant Proposal Application

Since January 2013, the WCCF Grant Proposal Application for competitive grants has been an online application process.

The Wayne County Community Foundation will no longer accept grant proposal applications in paper format.

NOTE: Draft Review Available - If you would like to receive feedback on your grant proposal application from our Executive Director prior to submitting your application to WCCF, a draft can be sent via email (contact@wccfoh.org) or U.S. Mail to Melanie Garcia, Executive Director, no later than February 1 (for Spring) or August 1 (for Fall). If you would like to submit what you have entered in our online application as a draft, a “Printer Friendly Version” option is available on the grant proposal application screens. Once the draft is received, it will be reviewed and feedback will be provided in time to meet the deadlines of March 1 (for Spring) or September 1 (for Fall).  

Instructions on how to submit your organization's Online Grant Proposal Application is available through this TUTORIAL. 

To begin the online application process, click on the application link below.

NOTE: If you need to create a new account, select "New Applicant?" on the login screen and provide your email address and password and then select "Return to login".

NOTE: If you have established an account, enter your email address and password on the login screen and click the "Login" button. You will then be asked for your organization's EIN/Tax ID number and this begins the online application process.

Fall 2023 WCCF Grant Proposal Application

If you chose to "Save & Finish Later" while entering your application information, click on the link below to return to your application. This link will take you to the login screen. Once logged in, the title of your application will appear on your "My Account" page. Click on your application title to resume entering your application information. 

My Account/In Progress Grant Proposal Application 

Once you submit your completed application, a confirmation email will be sent to you.

If you have submitted a completed application and would like to enter a new application for your organization, click on the "Fall 2023 WCCF Grant Proposal Application" link above to login and begin your new application.

Grant Proposal Application Deadline

Grant application deadlines are March 1 (by noon), for a decision by June 1; and September 1 (by noon), for a decision by December 1. 

If you have any questions regarding the WCCF grant guidelines or grant proposal application, please contact us at (330) 262-3877.