GRANT GUIDELINES

GRANT INFORMATION

The South Berkshire County Fund Committee invites applications for new or existing projects, programs or services that help South County residents build resilience and replenish personal and collective well-being through community-building, positive social interaction, creative expression, physical activity, self-care, and mutual support. 
 
The South Berkshire County Fund seeks to balance depth of impact with community access. While the Fund will continue to support a range of organizations, emphasis will be given to projects that support low-income, underserved, and/or historically marginalized communities.  

Grants will be awarded for activities with a minimum of 10 participants and that demonstrate clear community need and impact. Examples include: 
 
• Counseling services 
• Respite services 
• Educational programs 
• Outdoor/park activities 
• Parent Groups (i.e. Parent Cafés, playgroups) 
• Summer Educational/Camp programming 
• Youth and adult Peer-to-Peer Groups 
• Arts and Cultural programming 

AWARDS 

New for 2026: The South County Fund is beginning a multi-year transition to making fewer, higher-impact awards. To ease the transition, this year all Better Together grants will each be $7,500, which will result in fewer requests funded this year.  

ELIGIBILITY 

The fund considers proposals from nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or community organizations that provide services to the residents of Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, and West Stockbridge. Community groups may apply under the fiscal umbrella of a nonprofit organization. 
 
We welcome applications from a single organization or collaborative partnerships. 
 
Neither the South Berkshire County Fund: Better Together Grants nor Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation 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, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation or religious belief.  

REVIEW CRITERIA 

Applications will be reviewed by the South Berkshire County Fund Committee, a volunteer committee of South Berkshire residents. Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Board of Directors will review the selected recommendations. 
 
Selections are based on the review criteria stated below: 
 
• Quality: How worthy is the project? Is it the right time for this project? Does it involve qualified individuals or organizations? Is it well conceived? Does it fit well with other related activities and priorities? Is it cost-effective? 
 
• Extent of Impact: What is the potential impact of the project or service on the community? Does it engage the community? Does it address an unmet need in the community? Is it a critical program or initiative at this time? 
 
• Feasibility: Can the applicant complete the project? Does the organization or individual exhibit a demonstrated capacity to initiate and successfully execute similar projects? Are the appropriate staff members or volunteers involved? Is the staff/group capable and stable enough to perform the tasks necessary to complete the proposed project? 
 
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Priority will be given to projects serving marginalized, underserved and under-resourced populations, including communities of color, low-income, geographically isolated, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, refugees, and immigrants. 

REPORTING 

An assessment of the project’s outcomes will be required once the program or service funded is complete, and before any future applications are submitted to the South Berkshire County Fund for funding.