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Nonprofit Partners

Vermont’s communities thrive with the hard work and dedication of nonprofit organizations and partners. We support them through grantmaking programs and management of their nonprofit funds so they can keep supporting Vermont.

food pantry
blue filtered aerial of Vermont

We are proud to support our nonprofit partners with nonprofit reserve and endowment funds, planned giving partnerships, grants, and integrated capital.

Featured Open Grant Programs

These grant programs are currently open and accepting applications. You can also view all of our funds and programs with the link below.

All Grant Programs
Hills and Hollows Fund
Hills and Hollows Fund
Green Mountain Fund
Green Mountain Fund
Special and Urgent Needs
Special and Urgent Needs
Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth
Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth

What We Fund

Samara Fund bike riders (image courtesy of Pride Rides)

Opportunity Gap Community Impact Grants

Opportunity Gap grants address inequalities and aim to strengthen community connections. Programs like Spark Connecting Community provide smaller grants of $500-$5,000 for projects that foster local engagement and build social capital—the connective tissue of our communities. Regional and Local Impact (RALI) grants, by invitation, are larger grants of $15,000-$25,000 that support community-driven ideas that align with one of five key impact areas, emphasizing readiness and collaboration.

landscape of Vermont

Regional & Place-Based Grants

Place-based grant programs support specific Vermont regions. These grants focus on local needs such as education, historic preservation, social services, and environmental conservation. Examples include the Walter Cerf Community Fund in Addison County, the Crosby-Gannett Fund in Brattleboro, the Green Mountain Fund in Lamoille and Orleans Counties, and the Northeast Kingdom Fund.

VCF-OppGap-education

People & Issue-Based Grants

People & Issued-Based Funds provide grants focused on specific interests or groups, such as the arts, inclusion, support for marginalized populations, and youth programs. Examples include the Arts & Social Cohesion Fund, Equitable & Inclusive Communities Fund, the Samara Fund, the Vermont Women’s Fund, and the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth. These grants support projects that enhance social interaction, engagement, and community belonging across Vermont.

Conference room meeting

Nonprofit Development & Support

To do great work, nonprofits, and municipalities need strong leaders, clear plans, efficient systems, and a robust, diversified revenue stream. This takes investment in staff and time to explore and plan—something for which many nonprofits on limited or restricted budgets. Nonprofit Capacity Building grants support consultant costs for strategic planning, merger discussions, and other mission-related efforts. The application is simple, with notifications within 6-8 weeks, and grants are designed to supplement other funding sources. Special & Urgent Needs (SUN) grants help with unexpected expenses that impact a nonprofit's ability to fulfill its mission. In some cases, SUN grants are awarded for an unanticipated opportunity that will help a nonprofit enhance its work.

July 2023 flood

Supporting Organizations / Partner Programs

Our supporting organizations are engaged in long-term, big-picture strategic philanthropy. Their grantmaking is often by invitation only. For example, the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation focuses on improving access to postsecondary education and career opportunities in Vermont. Similarly, The Curtis Fund provides scholarships so that every Vermonter has a chance to obtain the education or training he or she needs, regardless of family background, income level, or birthplace. And, Let’s Grow Kids is a statewide organization leading a campaign to solve Vermont’s child care crisis because child care is the foundation of a healthy society and a resilient economy.

Resources for Grantseekers

GCI Marshfield Walk

Nonprofit Funds & Planned Giving

A nonprofit fund at the VCF helps build healthy and vital Vermont communities while gaining access to world-class investment services and philanthropic support. We manage over 250 nonprofit endowment funds for various nonprofits in the state, including the Vermont Land Trust, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Chelsea Public Library, and NOFA-VT. Use our no-cost, turnkey planned giving partnership program to ... manage your nonprofit fund so your team can spend more time supporting Vermont.

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