Applying for competitive grants

Kern Community Foundation believes that a healthy nonprofit sector is essential to the overall quality of life in our community.  Grant requests for proposals for our competitive grantmaking programs are posted online when grants are available (you may also contact us for current guidelines). In most cases, the limited dollars we have available for competitive grantmaking programs are awarded to build the capacity of local nonprofit organizations.  The following guidelines are provided to help you determine whether your organization qualifies for a Community Foundation competitive grant. 

Eligibility

The Community Foundation receives more worthy requests than we can accommodate each year. Most of the Foundation’s individual grantmaking programs have specific eligibility requirements. Please review each application carefully under Upcoming Grant Deadlines and contact the Foundation if your organization is unsure about your eligibility.

Restrictions

Competitive grants are limited to organizations in Kern County. However, funding may be given to organizations with offices outside of Kern County for services or programs for residents of Kern County.

The Foundation currently does not consider multi-year requests.

We do not provide grants for:

• Propagandizing, influencing legislation and/or elections, promoting voter registration; for political candidates, political campaigns or organizations engaged in political activities; for litigation
• Institutions limiting their services to persons of a single religious sect or denomination
• Social or political problems outside of the United States of America
• Individuals
• Federated appeals or to organizations that collect funds for redistribution to other nonprofit groups

Reporting

Most grants carry with them a requirement for reporting back to the Community Foundation regarding use of the funds. Reports of past grants must be on file before an agency can apply for additional Community Foundation funds. Applications received from organizations with delinquent reports will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

Timing

The Foundation accepts grant proposals at specific times during the year. We also award grants through donor advised, designated and scholarship funds. Unsolicited applications or applications received after a granting program’s cycle has closed are returned to the applying organization.

Review

Grant applications are reviewed by a committee comprising both Kern Community Foundation Board Members and other members of the community.