Community Benefit
Serves the community widely
Long-Term Impact
Still matters in fifty years
Leverage
Draws in shared investment
Proposals
Financial Stability
Plan beyond ribbon-cutting
Clear Ownership & Roles
Defined responsibilities
Alignment & Readiness
Fits our mission and timing
What We Look for in a Project
Not every project addresses every item — the strongest reflect most of them.
Before a proposal comes to the board, it helps to understand the values that guide our decisions.
Community Benefit
- Broad benefit. The project benefits the community broadly, not just a narrow group.
- Community desire. There is genuine community interest and support behind it.
- Local reach. It serves the people of the Spring Grove area.
Long-Term Impact
- Built to last. We look for projects that will still matter in 50 years.
- Transformative. We favor initiatives that meaningfully shape Spring Grove's future, not incremental improvements.
Leverage
- Strengthens the community's foundation, including projects that grow the local tax base.
- Shared investment through local dollars, in-kind support, or volunteer commitment.
- Multiplies resources by unlocking or attracting additional funding from other sources.
Financial Stability
- A plan beyond the ribbon-cutting for ongoing maintenance and operations.
- Efficient use of dollars, with maximum leverage.
Clear Ownership & Roles
- Defined ownership. It's clear who owns and is responsible for the project long-term.
- Defined role for the Foundation as funder, partner, or fiscal host.
Alignment & Readiness
- Mission fit with strengthening Spring Grove for generations.
- Right-sized to the Foundation's financial capacity.
- Documented in writing, with enough detail for the board to evaluate it.
A note on risk: as a foundation, we are also mindful of legal, reputational, and political considerations, along with IRS rules around private benefit. Projects that raise questions in these areas may take longer to review, or may involve consultation with our professional advisors before a decision is made.
Answers to the questions
applicants ask most.
Who can apply, how the board reviews a request, and what a grantee reports back once a project is underway.
Have a project in mind?
The best next step is a conversation with our board. Reach out to discuss your idea before submitting a formal application.
Email us Or send a message