Giving Together

About Giving Together

A couple of times a year, we will share opportunities via email to our fundholders to participate in two or three of our grant programs. Fundholders can recommend a grant to the slate of projects through the donor portal. Reach out to your Philanthropic Advisor directly or through philanthropy@vermontcf.org to learn about the next opportunity for Giving Together.

Read a Q&A between VCF staff highlighting the significant role Giving Together plays in grantmaking.

How to Participate

Log in to the Donor Portal and choose NEK Fund – Giving Together, Samara Fund – Giving Together, or Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth – Giving Together between Tuesday, August 26 and Tuesday, September 16 at 5 p.m. to make a grant recommendation.

If you need assistance: Reach out to your Philanthropic Advisor directly or through Kate Bentley at 802-388-3355 ext. 228 or kbentley@vermontcf.org. Kate can help answer questions related to the Donor Portal or connect you with your advisor.

The Current Giving Together Opportunity

This Giving Together round features projects from across the state that align with three of our grantmaking programs, the Northeast Kingdom Fund, the Samara Fund, and the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth.

To learn more about each of the projects we are looking to fund, scroll down or click the fund name above to jump to its summary.

The Goal: Fund 50+ incredible projects across Vermont.

This year, we’ve received 51 applications to the NEK Fund, 38 to the Samara Fund, and expect 10–15 for the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth. By raising an additional $30,000 for NEK, $26,000 for Samara, and $15,000 for Southshire Youth, we’ll bring the total grantmaking budget for these funds to $255,000—fueling impact in communities across Vermont. With your help, we can meet our goal of funding over 50 of these important projects.

Please join us in making a difference in towns, villages, and communities across Vermont.

Northeast Kingdom Fund

The NEK Fund supports projects and programs from Northeast Kingdom-based organizations that benefit the people and communities of Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia counties.

Join us in raising $30,000 to bring our total grantmaking amount to $100,000 and make 20 of these important projects a reality.

Here are examples of projects we can fund with your support:

• The Friends of the Jones Memorial Library seeks $1,000 to purchase four high-quality wingback chairs and a coordinating coffee table to revitalize the adult section of their library. Town served: Orleans
• Headwaters Community Trust seeks $5,000 to plan multiple events to build an economically diverse, active membership empowered to guide the trust in creating local solutions for affordable housing. Towns served: Albany, Craftsbury, Glover, Greensboro
• The DREAM Program seeks $5,000 to deliver its guided mentoring program at Craftsbury Academy, preparing high school students to mentor elementary youth through leadership development and meaningful peer relationships.

The Samara Fund

The Samara Fund is led by a volunteer committee of Queer and Trans Vermonters committed to a vision of transformational grants and scholarships to the people and groups throughout Vermont who demonstrate their dedication to the empowerment, health, and safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and LGBTQ+ people who are HIV positive.

Join us in raising $26,000 to bring our total grantmaking amount to $110,000 and make 22 of these important projects a reality.

Here are examples of projects we can fund with your support:

• Alliance for Community Transformation seeks $5,000 to support YourSpace, a free event series to foster connectedness through events for LGBTQ+ and Allied youth in Bennington County. Working in partnership with LGBTQ+ youth leaders, YourSpace will continue to co-create spaces where LGBTQ+ and Allied youth can combat hopelessness and isolation, find community, and be themselves.
• New England Youth Theatre seeks $3,000 to support the development and production of a new, original, youth-devised theatrical work that directly centers and uplifts LGBTQ+ youth and their stories.
• The Pride Center of Vermont seeks $5,000 to support The Color Ball, the keystone event of Thrive, Pride Center of Vermont’s peer-led program for Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC). Thrive exists to build joy, connection, and cultural affirmation for QTPOC Vermonters, people who often live at the intersections of racism, transphobia, xenophobia, and economic injustice, and who are frequently left out of both LGBTQ+ and racial justice spaces.

Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth

The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth awards grants for creative and effective initiatives that empower and support teenagers in Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, and Woodford.

Join us in raising $15,000 to bring our total grantmaking amount to $45,000 and make 9-10 of these important projects a reality.

In 2025, the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth aims to support spaces, activities, and opportunities for youth to gather, connect, feel a sense of belonging, or participate in or learn a new activity. The four priority areas of the grant program include youth-led or youth-focused events, programs, or projects that:

• Bring youth together, especially those that introduce a new activity and/or have a low barrier to access. Examples include:
  • Themed camps
  • Festivals/celebrations
  • Intramural sports
  • Casual clubs or extracurriculars
• Create, maintain, or expand spaces or places that allow youth to gather, connect, and share experiences in formal and informal ways
• Provide opportunity and access for youth facing hardships
• Encourage feelings of belonging and increase inclusion