Impact Polk is an annual competitive, donor-directed grant program of GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) with the goal of addressing community needs throughout Polk County.
Donor Name: GiveWell Community Foundation
State: Florida
County: Polk County (FL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/16/2023
Details:
GWCF provides public organizations recognized by the IRS as described in the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) as eligible for tax-exempt status, serving Polk County, an opportunity to apply for grant funding.
Focus Areas
GiveWell Community Foundation considers how well the project fits the following targeted areas of focus. The Impact Polk Grant Program addresses community needs and fosters engagement throughout Polk County. Targeted areas include:
- Health & Human Services
- Improve community-based health and wellness;
- Address basic human needs, such as food, housing, and related services;
- Improve the quality of life, safety, and self-sufficiency of at-risk populations.
- Educational Opportunities & Achievement
- Promote social, emotional and cognitive development of young children, including programs that support and educate parents and efforts that engage volunteers;
- Expand academic support, mentoring, and recreational programs for children and youth, particularly to close the achievement gap;
- Broaden workplace, career, and postsecondary experiences and opportunities for youth;
- Improve adult literacy, skill development, education, and workforce training.
- Arts & Cultural
- Strengthen and stabilize arts and cultural nonprofits, and support collaborative efforts;
- Cultivate and support appreciation of diverse cultures and art forms;
- Deepen community-based arts education for children and adults;
- Encourage audience development, particularly to reach underserved populations.
- Community, Environmental Stewardship and/or Animal Welfare
- Support stewardship and appreciation/protection of Polk County’s outdoor spaces and scenic beauty;
- Address social, economic, and environmental challenges or opportunities;
- Preserve places essential to communities’ civic and historic identities.
- Benefit wellbeing of the animal community.
Eligibility Criteria
All interested organizations must meet the following general requirements:
- Your Impact Polk project must provide services within Polk County. 100 percent of program participants must reside in, or receive services in, Polk County zip codes.
- Applicant MUST be a 501(c)(3) public charity as recognized by the IRS. Eligibility will be verified.
- Must provide a list of current Board Members and demonstrate strong board support and sound governance.
- Must provide total revenue and total expenses for your current fiscal year.
- Must provide previous year’s IRS Form 990 or most recent audited financial statements.
- Must prepare and submit a preliminary budget (Project Budget Form).
- Project must meet organization’s mission. They will not fund expanded services that do not meet the mission.
- Project must NOT begin prior to March 2024 and must be completed within one year of funds being awarded.
- Maximum grant request is $20,000. Funding is NOT guaranteed. Previous funding does not guarantee continued funding. One application per organization.
Ineligibility
GiveWell Community Foundation will NOT consider an Impact Polk application for:
- Organizations that are not considered exempt or exemption has been revoked under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
- Organizations that are not based in or serving communities in Polk County;
- Grants to individuals (rent, utilities, etc.) or private foundations;
- Capital campaigns or capital projects (land, buildings, etc.);
- General operating, administration;
- Fundraising costs;
- Political campaigns or direct lobbying efforts;
- Medical or scientific research;
- Events of any kind;
- Debt reduction or bridge funding;
- Advertising space of any kind;
- Marketing unless directly related to project (registration, brochures, announcements, or playbills);
- Membership dues, fees, conference registration, or affiliation campaigns;
- Conferences, symposia or related travel;
- Religious or sectarian projects that are not offered to the general public;
- Services commonly regarded as the responsibility of the government (street repair, fire or police protection);
- Public or private school services required by state law, such as regular classroom instruction or athletic activities;
- Banquets, galas, walks, runs, etc.
For more information, visit GiveWell Community Foundation.
