| Our Community's Foundation - The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) and the Regional Affiliates of Doddridge, Ritchie, Jackson, Mason Counties and the Little Kanawha Area (Wirt/Calhoun) - is currently accepting applications for grants for the fall cycle of its Community Action Grant Program.
Applications must be postmarked by September 1. Organizations apply to PACF and/or any of the affiliates on the same application form, the Foundation's Community Action Grant Application.
To be considered for a Community Action Grant, an applicant must be a private, non-profit organization, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a public institution.
To be eligible for a grant from the Foundation, either the applicant or program to be funded must be located in the Foundation's eleven-county geographic service area (Wood, Wirt, Doddridge, Ritchie, Pleasants, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Jackson, and Mason counties in West Virginia, and Washington County in Ohio).
The foundation provides support for capital and equipment projects, program development, and technical assistance, training, and capacity building projects, and, under special circumstances, operating support. Operating support grants target organizations that provide essential community services or offer programs that meet basic human needs and that seek to increase their financial stability and/or expand their capacity to provide services.
To be eligible for operating support, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (operating support is not available to governmental entities, schools, or entities that do not have 501(c)(3) status); have been in continuous operation for at least five years; have a proven track record; have an overall sound financial history (at least prior to the present need); be able to demonstrate strong management; and must have previously received support from the Foundation.
Two Foundation affiliates have unique educational support opportunities available in the fall grant cycle. The Ritchie County Community Foundation (RCCF) has funds available to support professional development or post-graduate studies (i.e. coursework beyond undergraduate studies) for Ritchie County educators, as identified by Ritchie County schools, and/or for academic school improvement needs of Ritchie County schools.
The Mason County Community Foundation (MCCF) has funds available to provide mini-grants of up to $1,000 to Mason County Schools to support teacher-initiated educational projects and programs that benefit Mason County students. Up to three teachers from each school in Mason County may apply for mini-grants; the applications must be submitted through the school. Schools apply for grants for these purposes using the Community Action Grant Application form.
The Foundation's grant making guidelines provide more specific information on eligibility and priorities for all types of grants; visit the Foundation's web site at www.pacfwv.com to access the grant guidelines and application form. For more information on the Community Action Grant Program, contact Marian Clowes at 304-428-4438 or email info@pacfwv.com
| 
