Vermont Arts Council Cultural Facilities Grant / Vermont Humanities Council / Paul Post Fund / Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Minigrant / A.D. Henderson Foundation / The Turrell Fund / Verizon Foundation / Ben and Jerry's Foundation / USDA Community Facilities / Building & Renovation Grants
Vermont Arts Council Cultural Facilities Grant
The Vermont Arts Council administers the Cultural Facilities Grant Program. The grants are intended to help Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities enhance, create, or expand the capacity of an existing building to provide cultural activities for the public.
Examples of recent grants include:
- Improvements such as wiring, heating, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) features, lighting and stage work.
- Building improvements, permanent display panels, exhibit cases, permanent infrastructure or fixed equipment expenses.
- Hazard mitigation efforts such as flood gates, rain gutters, sprinkler systems
Wireless/broadband capacity will be eligible only for the purpose of enhancing programming capacity. New construction may be considered if it is the only option for making access improvements to a historic building. The grant will only cover expenses directly related to the accessible component of the project.
The Cultural Facilities Grant will not cover:
- Expenses related to a temporary exhibit
- Multi-year projects
- Routine maintenance requiring regularly scheduled upkeep
- Appliances, moveable furniture or rugs
- Major structural repairs to foundations, roofs, windows, etc.
Contact:
Michele Bailey
Program Director and 504/ADA Coordinator
802-402-4614
Amount: $1,000 - $30,000
Annual Spring Deadline
To Apply: Applications should be submitted to the Vermont Arts Council's online form.
The Vermont Humanities Council
The Vermont Humanities council offers opportunities for different kinds of community organizations to access flexible funding that will be there when they need it most.
Examples of grants include:
- Humanities Partnership Grants
- Rapid Response Grants
Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
Deadlines vary.
For more information, visit the VT Humanities Council's grants page.
The Paul Post Fund supports Vermont libraries to encourage and enhance reading by young adults. Any school, municipality or public nonprofit library may apply for support.
Examples of projects that may be funded include:
- acquisition of books, graphic novels, and e-Books for young adults that include plans for use beyond simply adding to the library’s collection
- reading enrichment programs for young adults
- seminars or workshops relating to reading, including author visits
- small capital improvements for young adult or children’s sections of libraries
Contact:
The Vermont Community Foundation
Jane Mulcahy
(802) 388-3355 ex. 6
Amount: $250 - $1,000
Deadline: No deadline, applications are accepted all year on a rolling basis.
To Apply:
Submit proposal, no longer than two pages, via email to the above contact. Include the following information:
- Name, address, and website for your library
- Name, email, and phone number of contact for the application
- Amount requested
- Project narrative covering topics of:
- Goal - What you hope to achieve
- Problem - Why this work is important
- Activities - What you will do during this project
- Evaluation - How will you know if you have succeeded
- Itemized budget for project, including expected income and expenses
In addition to the Paul Post fund, the Vermont Community Foundation has a number of regional and topical grants that may be applicable to your library. Visit https://www.vermontcf.org/nonprofits-and-grantseekers/available-grants/ for a full, current list.
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Mini-grant
The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation will accept applications from public schools and libraries anywhere in the United States. Some examples of creative programs funded in the past are:
- Inter-generational journals
- Art projects culminating in art shows, murals, or quilts
- Bookmaking
- Creation and performance of puppet shows
Funds will not be granted for:
- General operating costs
- Administrative costs
- Transportation of the audience
- Purchase of books, tapes, software or equipment unrelated to the specific program described
Contact:
Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant Program
450 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
foundation@ezra-jack-keats.org
Amount: $500
Deadline: March 15, every year* note: this grant is currently postponed until May 2025
To Apply:
Online applications and instructions can be found on the Ezra Jack Keats website.
A.D. Henderson Foundation
The A.D. Henderson Foundation provides grants in support of improving the lives of children through education. The mission of the Foundation is to provide an opportunity for all children to succeed, with a special interest in promoting literacy for children and families. They also seek to improve the effciency and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector to serve the interests of our communities.
Contact:
Edward A. Gale, Program Director
(802) 888-1188
Amount: Grants range in size from $15,000 to $100,000 depending on the impact, and in some cases may be lower or higher.
Deadline: The organization should start the conversation at least 2-4 months ahead of when funding is needed.
To Apply:
Applicants must contact the Program Director prior to a formal submission to discuss their project idea. If the idea is a potential match with the Foundation's funding priorities, the applicant will be asked to submit an application. Review the Foundation’s priorities and goals to determine if your organization’s work aligns with what the Foundation’s mission.
The Turrell Fund
Grants from the Turrell Fund are awarded to agencies providing direct services to disadvantaged children in Vermont, and in four counties in New Jersey. While exceptions can be made, the Fund emphasizes programs serving and advocating for children birth to age five.
Grants are awarded to agencies that exhibit:
- Evidence of exceptional quality
- Distinction through the creation of new benchmarks or best practices
- A voice in the chorus of those speaking to educational policy change
- Initiatives directed at systems and policy change
Funds will not be granted for:
- Cultural activities
- Advocacy work
- Endowment funds
- Individuals
- Most hospital and health care services
Contact:
Turrell Fund
21 Van Vleck Street
Montclair, NJ 07042-2358
(973) 783-9358
Amount: Not Listed
Deadline: Applications accepted January 1st - February 1st and July 1st - August 1st
To Apply: Visit the Turrell Fund website for an application.
Verizon Foundation
Our funding priorities are aligned around Digital Inclusion, Climate Protection and Human Prosperity. New applications are by invitation only.
Contact:
The Verizon Foundation
185 Franklin Street, Rm 1702
Boston, MA 02110
Amount: Not Listed
Deadline: Ongoing
To Apply: Grant applications are by invitation only. Contact your Community Relations Manager to see if you are eligible to apply. To be considered for an invitation, an organization must be a 501(c)3.
Ben and Jerry's Foundation
Ben and Jerry's Foundation supports grassroots groups throughout the U.S. and its territories that are led by the people most impacted by the legacies of white supremacy culture as they organize for racial equity, and social and environmental justice. They center the leadership and collective action of Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color in their efforts to build movements to dismantle oppressive and discriminatory systems toward a more just and inclusive world. Through their Vermont grant programs, they strive to support and enhance the well-being of Vermont and Vermonters. Their philanthropy is guided by Ben & Jerry’s employees who serve on committees that review applications.
Contact:
Ben and Jerry's Foundation
30 Comunity Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-1500
Amount: Amount varies between grant opportunities
Deadline: Varies
To Apply:
Detailed guidelines are available on the Foundation's website. For more information on Vermont grants, please visit their Vermont Grants page.
USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program in VT
The USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program in Vermont provides affordable funding to essential community facilities in rural areas.
Eligible applicants include:
- Public bodies
- Community-based non-profit corporations
- Federally-recognized Tribes
Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses. Examples of essential community facilities include:
- Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities
- Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements
- Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing
- Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment
- Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools
- Utility services such as tele-medicine or distance learning equipment
- Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses
Vermont contacts:
Shaun Fielder, Community Programs Specialist
87 State Street, Suite 324
P.O. Box 249
Montpelier, VT 05601
Phone: (802) 828-6034
Fax: (855) 794-3680
Shaun.Fielder@usda.gov
Counties Covered: Caledonia, Essex, Orleans, Lamoille, Franklin, Orange, Chittenden, Grand Isle, Washington
Alexander Gauthier, Community Program Specialist
28 Vernon Street, Suite 333
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Phone: (802) 689-3034
Fax: (855) 794-3675
Alexander.Gauthier@usda.gov
Counties Covered: Rutland, Windsor, Bennington, Windham, Addison