GRANT GUIDELINES

INTRODUCTION

The Northeast Dutchess Fund was formed by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation in 2002 to build a charitable endowment to support the communities of Amenia, Clinton Corners, Dover Plains, Millbrook, Millerton, North East, Pine Plains, Stanford, Washington, Wassaic and Wingdale.

The fund seeks to support new or existing projects, programs or organizations that have a meaningful and positive impact on the residents of northeast Dutchess County, with particular emphasis on low income and/or underserved adults and children. Under the guidance of a group of community advisors, it reviews and makes grants in response to applications it receives, provides technical assistance to nonprofits, and initiates projects to provide services that do not yet exist.

ELIGIBILITY

Nonprofits (including organizations with 501(c)(3) status or in an established fiscal sponsorship arrangement with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), municipalities or community organizations that serve residents of Amenia, Clinton Corners, Dover Plains, Millbrook, Millerton, North East, Pine Plains, Stanford, Washington, Wassaic, and Wingdale are eligible to apply.

Teachers, students, parents, or community members may apply for projects that enhance the educational experience for the youth in the aforementioned towns, if the project is not eligible for funding from an education enrichment fund, or if the project is in need of additional funding (see Other Opportunities for Funding below for more details).

Public agencies may apply for projects that enrich the experience of their residents or offer additional opportunities for public improvements. Please note that grants are not intended to replace tax dollars.

Organizations and projects that have received prior support from the Northeast Dutchess Fund may reapply.

The Northeast Dutchess Fund does not support organizations which in their constitution, by-laws or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.

TYPES OF SUPPORT

Requests will be considered for general operating support, new or existing projects and programs, and capital projects. If you are a first-time applicant looking for general operating support, please contact the Community Engagement Officer before applying at grants@berkshiretaconic.org.

Capital grants will require a one-to-one match either in cash or in-kind services or donations. Berkshire Taconic reserves the right to modify this policy on a case-by-case basis.

Grants typically range from $2,500 to $10,000.

An organization may submit only one application per deadline. Multi-year requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

REPORTING

An assessment of previous grants’ outcomes will be required before future applications are submitted to the Northeast Dutchess Fund. Interim reports may be required for multi-year grants.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Applications will be reviewed fairly and competitively by the Northeast Dutchess Fund Committee. This committee is comprised of residents of northeast Dutchess County who are active in community affairs. The selected recommendations will also be reviewed by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s board of directors. Selections are based on the review criteria stated below:

• Community Impact: What is the potential impact of the organization, project or service on the community? How does it engage the community? Does it address an unmet need in the community?
• Feasibility: Does the organization or individual exhibit a demonstrated capacity to initiate and successfully execute the mission or project? If the application is for a project, is the staff/group capable and stable enough to perform the tasks necessary to complete the proposed project?
• Quality: Is the proposal well-conceived? Is it the right time for this project? Is it cost effective?
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Projects that serve marginalized, underserved and under-resourced populations, including communities of color, low-income, geographically isolated, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, refugees, and immigrants are encouraged.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING

Off-Cycle Emergency Grants for Organizations
Emergency grants throughout the year of up to $1,000 may be awarded to organizations on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Northeast Dutchess Fund Committee. Please submit a one-page letter of inquiry to grants@berkshiretaconic.org outlining the nature of the crisis and projected use of funds. Further information may be requested by Berkshire Taconic before a decision is made.

Grants for Individuals
Neighbor-to-Neighbor (N2N) provides emergency assistance for local residents who are in economic distress. In partnership with our NEDCorps initiative, Neighbor-to-Neighbor makes small grants (up to $1,000 during the response to COVID-19) to help those with overdue utilities, medical bills, short-term housing costs and transportation problems. Checks are written to the vendor (landlord, utility company, pharmacy or mechanic) on behalf of the community member in need. The funds are not intended for long-term or ongoing assistance, but for strategic intervention to help achieve a measure of stability and avert further crises. To be considered for N2N funding, please be in touch with the NEDCorps partner agencies, who will assess your needs and connect you with eligible resources.

Education Enrichment Funds
The following education enrichment funds offer funding for projects that enhance the educational experience of youth in northeast Dutchess:

• Dover Education Enrichment Program (DEEP) in the Dover Union Free School District
• Sustaining Education Enrichment and Development Fund (SEED) in the Pine Plains Central School District
• Webutuck Quest for Excellence Fund (QUEST) in the Webutuck Central School District
• Millbrook Educational Foundation (MEF) in the Millbrook Central School District

Individuals (teachers, students, parents, or community members) may also apply to the Northeast Dutchess Fund for projects that provide individual school or system-wide education and enrichment opportunities if the project is not eligible for funding from an education enrichment fund, or if the project is in need of additional funding. These requests must be accompanied by a letter of support from the school principal or superintendent.