COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL GRANTS
The Morgan Hill Community Foundation (MHCF) is accepting applications for grants in support of local non profit organizations and local non profit or public schools. The 2023 grant cycle will award $30,000 through multiple grants funding projects or activities of local charitable non profit organizations and schools. This year's cycle will be the largest annual community grant amount awarded to date.
Deadline for grant applications is September 24, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced on Philanthropy night, November 10, 2023
Community Charitable Grants
Priority will be given to local non-profits that focus on the Foundation’s funding areas: Recreation, Arts & Culture, Agriculture & Environment, Education & Lifelong Learning, Science & Technology, Health & Human Services.
School Grants (MHUSD and Non-Profit Schools)
Grants must be for local public and other nonprofit schools at grade levels K through 12 in the boundaries of the MHUSD. Grant-funded projects must meet three basic criteria: (1) serve school-wide, grade-level wide or broad subject matter initiatives (no grants to individual classes), (2) support lifelong learning or life skills initiatives, and (3) not be for school infrastructure and/or basic school operating expenses.
Deadline for grant applications is September 24, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced on Philanthropy night, November 10, 2023
Community Charitable Grants
Priority will be given to local non-profits that focus on the Foundation’s funding areas: Recreation, Arts & Culture, Agriculture & Environment, Education & Lifelong Learning, Science & Technology, Health & Human Services.
School Grants (MHUSD and Non-Profit Schools)
Grants must be for local public and other nonprofit schools at grade levels K through 12 in the boundaries of the MHUSD. Grant-funded projects must meet three basic criteria: (1) serve school-wide, grade-level wide or broad subject matter initiatives (no grants to individual classes), (2) support lifelong learning or life skills initiatives, and (3) not be for school infrastructure and/or basic school operating expenses.
In order for your non-profit organization to be considered for a Community Grant, please read the instructions below in their entirety, complete and submit the application.
AREAS OF FUNDING:
Non-profits may apply to fund a current project or activity already underway, or to fund a newly created project or activity. Project proposals must directly provide services, support, enrich, or benefit the Morgan Hill community and should fall into one of the following categories:
Local public schools and non-profit private schools are also eligible to apply for grants. Grants must be for local schools at grade levels K through 12 in the boundaries of the MHUSD. Grant-funded projects may not be used for school infrastructore or basic school operating expenses. Grants supporting a single class will not be considered. Grant funding categories include:
- Recreation
- Arts & Culture
- Agriculture & Environment
- Education & Lifelong Learning
- Science & Technology
- Health and Humane Services
Local public schools and non-profit private schools are also eligible to apply for grants. Grants must be for local schools at grade levels K through 12 in the boundaries of the MHUSD. Grant-funded projects may not be used for school infrastructore or basic school operating expenses. Grants supporting a single class will not be considered. Grant funding categories include:
- School wide program
- Grade level wide program
- Broad subject matter initiatives
Grant Award Decision Criteria:
To be eligible for a grant, organizations must be a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that is serving the Morgan Hill Community, or a school located in the Morgan Hill Unified School District boundaries. In your application you should address and highlight how your organization meets these criteria:
- How your use of funds will benefit the Morgan Hill community or schools.
- The non-profit’s operational skill and capability to effectively use the funds and complete the proposed project or activity.
- The non-profit’s administrative capability and process in place to properly and ethically manage the proposed use of the funds.
- The non-profit’s proven track record of helpful local community service.
- Other sources of funding needed to complete the proposed project, if the grant award will not fully fund the project. If not fully funded through MHCF, identify if the project can still have an impact or where the remainder of the needed funds would come from.
- Such other criteria as experience or need dictate, to be determined by MHCF board of directors with guidance or recommendation from the Community Advisory Committee
Grantee Exclusions:
- Individuals, except if incidental and necessary to deliver a qualifying community benefit
- Projects not directly and primarily benefiting the Morgan Hill community or local schools.
- Private foundations, endowment funds
- Groups or projects that discriminate against any class of persons based on age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical or mental disabilities, race, color, religion, national origin, or ancestry
- Political parties, candidates or partisan groups; or
- Groups or projects whose missions otherwise fall outside the intent or permissible scope of the Charter or Bylaws of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation or Disaster Relief Fund Charter
- Grants are not typically awarded to fund ongoing or general operations of an organization or school.
Grant Review and Award Process:
All non-profit grant applications with proposed projects will be reviewed, will receive a prompt response, and may be approved to be eligible to receive grants from the fund. The amount of any grant will be determined by the MHCF board of directors, with advice of the Community Advisory Committee, and based upon funds available and determinations of priority of need in, and benefit to, the greater community.
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Examples of Needs that May Be Addressed as Appropriate:
- Meals for homebound seniors or people with underlying medical conditions which put them at considerably higher risk of contracting COVID-19
- Medical or other necessary supplies for those servicing increasing volumes of sick people directly affected by COVID-19
- Emergency rent, mortgage, or daily living (bills-utilities-medical expense) payments for those suffering severe financial hardship from the pandemic
- Food, clothing, or other essential supplies for those suffering severe financial hardship from the pandemic
- Existential hardship loans to local small businesses who do not qualify for, or have been denied, SBA loans
- Service-related needs for the disabled that suffer hardships from the pandemic
- Low income families and individuals that suffer hardships from the pandemic
- Educational or Learning Arts services for those impacted by the COVID-19 Shelter in Place State Order or similar governmental orders
- Services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse, or severe family dysfunction as a result of COVID-19
- Other community needs as may be determined
Grant Award Decision Criteria:
- The availability of funds and whether the proposed use of funds addresses the most pressing community needs when compared with other proposed or contemplated uses of the funds
- The non-profit’s apparent operational skill and capability to effectively address the community need
- The non-profit’s administrative capability and process in place to properly and ethically manage the proposed use of the funds, including identifying and delivering appropriate aid, vetting applicants, and tracking and verifying the use of funds
- The non-profit’s proven track record of helpful local community service
- Such other criteria as experience or need dictate, to be determined by MHCF board of directors with guidance or recommendation from the Community Advisory Committee
Grantee Exclusions:
- Individuals, except if incidental and necessary to deliver a qualifying community benefit
- Private foundations, endowment funds
- Groups or projects that discriminate against any class of persons based on age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical or mental disabilities, race, color, religion, national origin, or ancestry
- Political parties, candidates or partisan groups; or
- Groups or projects whose missions otherwise fall outside the intent or permissible scope of the Charter or Bylaws of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation or Disaster Relief Fund Charter
Grant Review and Award Process:
All non-profit grant applications with proposed projects will be reviewed, will receive a prompt response, and may be approved to be eligible to receive grants from the fund. The amount of any grant will be determined by the MHCF board of directors, with advice of the Community Advisory Committee, and based upon funds available and determinations of priority of need in, and benefit to, the greater community. There may be multiple grant award cycles based on continued community need and availability of funds. Non-profits who have submitted an application and have been approved will not need to submit a whole new application to receive additional grants for the same project.
