Northeast Kingdom Fund

The Northeast Kingdom Fund is a permanent philanthropic resource that makes annual grant awards to support the people and communities of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties.

Give to This Fund

KESD Bike Club, Photographer Keara Kresser

For the Kingdom, by the Kingdom.

The fund was established in 2011 by the Community Foundation and local partners with the strong belief that this region exemplifies the best of Vermonters’ aspirations for their communities, and through its annual grantmaking, offers opportunities for people in the Kingdom to help each other.

More than 90 nonprofits, municipalities, and schools in the region have received grants from the fund since 2012. A committee of local residents carefully reviews all proposals and chooses the grant recipients. This is the philanthropic equivalent of the “buy local” movement—philanthropy for the Kingdom and by the Kingdom. In most cases, grants are awarded to small-scale projects where a modest philanthropic investment makes a big difference. In some cases, more established organizations are also included in the awards. In all cases, grantees must demonstrate that their projects are led by Kingdom residents and support people living in the three counties.

The fund’s assets are invested by the Foundation to support the region’s current needs while providing resources for future generations to address emerging needs. Five percent of these assets are invested in Vermont, including the Northeast Kingdom.

Program Guidelines

About the Fund
Apply for a Grant

What does the NEK Fund support?

The Northeast Kingdom Fund supports opportunities in which a modest grant can leverage a new idea or other grant dollars, or make possible a project or idea that will benefit the people and communities in the Northeast Kingdom. Applicants must demonstrate that the beneficiaries of a grant from the Northeast Kingdom Fund will be the people and communities of the Northeast Kingdom.

What type of applications does the NEK Fund prioritize?

Grant funding will prioritize applications from projects and/or organizations that are based in the Northeast Kingdom and provide services directly to the community. We are looking to support projects that have emerged from the local community and/or projects that are in direct response to community need.

What does the NEK Fund not support?

In general, the fund is not able to support capital campaigns, normal operating expenses, deficit funding, or lost revenue.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations whose primary service area is in the Northeast Kingdom; or schools or municipal entities located in Orleans, Essex, or Caledonia County.

All applicants to programs at the Vermont Community Foundation must meet the guidelines outlined in the General Applicant Guidelines and Requirements found on our For Nonprofits page.

What size are the grants?

The Northeast Kingdom Fund funds grants up to $5,000. We continue to value small, community-based projects and intend to fund a range of grant types and sizes.

What is the grant term timeline?

Grant activities must take place between September 2025 and September 2026 to be eligible for funding.

Deadline and Notification Timeline

NEK Fund 2025 Deadline:

Applications will be accepted between June 3 – July 15, 2025. Applications must be received by 5PM on Tuesday, July 15 in order to be considered.
We anticipate notifying applicants of grant decisions by late September. Grant funds cannot cover activities that have already taken place; please keep the notification timeline and grant term in mind as you prepare your application. Grants can be used to cover activities beginning in September 2025 and extending through September 2026.

Notifications on approved and denied applications will be made by email to the email address used to submit the application. Notification timelines are approximate. If you have not received an email, you can check your organization’s email history in your Online Grants Manager account.

Application Process

All applications must be submitted electronically. Visit the Resources for Grantseekers section on our For Nonprofits page to learn how and to register for a new account. Or, access your existing account.

To help you prepare, preview a sample of the application. Please note that this is a PDF sample and not the actual application. To view and begin working on the application, login to the Online Grants Manager (OGM).

Contact Us

With questions about the Northeast Kingdom Fund, please contact Jane Mulcahy.

Email: jmulcahy@vermontcf.org

Phone: 802-388-3355 ext. 381

Contact Us

With questions about the Northeast Kingdom Fund, please contact Jane Mulcahy.

Email: jmulcahy@vermontcf.org

Phone: 802-388-3355 ext. 381

No gifts to the Vermont Community Foundation shall directly or indirectly subject the Vermont Community Foundation to a prohibited material restriction as defined by federal law. All gifts are subject to a federally required amendment or variance power that permits the Vermont Community Foundation to vary from the terms and conditions of agreements with donors relative to the purpose, investment, and management of its funds subject to the procedural requirements of Vermont state law. In practice, the Foundation uses this variance power rarely and only if the needs of the community have shifted. The Foundation will be in communication with donors should such a shift occur.