HCF Grants

The foundation is fortunate to partner with the many nonprofits who are working every day to make our community a better place for all who call Hastings their home.

You may download our Grant Reference Guide by clicking here.

ABOUT OUR GRANTS

Grants are given to organizations and projects that address some of the area’s most pressing issues and opportunities. Since its beginning in 1987, the Hastings Community Foundation has distributed more than $15.5 million dollars in the form of grants and scholarships. Grants are given to organizations and programs that respond to the region’s most pressing issues and opportunities.

To be eligible for a grant, the organization must be tax-exempt, as defined by IRS in Section 501(c)(3), or have a fiscal relationship with such an organization, or be public entity such as a school or government institution. Organization must also serve the Hastings and/or greater Adams County area. 

In awarding grants, preference shall be given to those applicants which are normally not able to access tax dollars.

No grants should be considered as a continuing basis of funding and are one-time specific grants, unless otherwise agreed to by the Hastings Community Foundation Board of Directors.

The Foundation operates on the principle that no discrimination shall be practiced as to race, religion, sex, or national origin in considering a grant request.  Grants will be made only to applicants who adhere to these same principles.

GRANT OPTIONS

The Hastings Community Foundation offers four types of grants. Grant amounts and application deadlines vary based on the grant type. All require that an application be fully completed and submitted before the request can be considered. Grant awards are dependent on available funding. The HCF website will provide further details and specific deadlines.

General Grant

  • May request up to $10,000. Most grant awards are less than $5,000.

  • Applications due in December. Award determinations are made in January.

Capital Grant

  • Includes construction, significant remodeling/repurposing of existing structure, and equipment/furnishings which are part of a capital campaign.

  • Application due in December. Award determinations are made in January.

  • Multiple year pledges (2-5 years) will be considered.

  • Eligible organizations are expected to meet with Hastings Community Foundation to discuss project scope and prepare additional project planning documents for application.

  • May not apply for other grant funding during capital grant award period.

Mini-Grant

  • May request up to $1,500.

  • No application deadline, but should be submitted at least 45 days in advance of event or grant need. Applications reviewed at least quarterly.

  • Most commonly awarded April-September.

  • Intended for capacity building or extraordinary, mission-based opportunity that would not have been known during the General Grant application window.

  • Organizations may submit no more than one request per calendar year.

  • Distribution date and amount of Mini-Grant may be a consideration if organization submits a request in the next General Grant application cycle.

Urgent Grant

  • No maximum.

  • No application deadline. Applications reviewed as needed.

  • Intended to meet urgent, unanticipated, and critical financial needs of the operations or core mission of existing nonprofit organization.

  • Capital projects, creation of a new nonprofit, and expenses not essential to the mission or operations of the organization are ineligible for an Urgent Grant.

What the HCF funds

The Hastings Community Foundation Grant Committee and Board of Directors have the discretion to evaluate and ultimately determine grant award of applications received from qualified organizations.  While not the sole determining factor, grant requests should meet at least one of the identified priority criteria listed below:

High Priority

  • Likely to make a significant impact on the quality of life for a substantial population; and where a moderate amount of financial support will generate a significant result.

  • Will serve a one-time need.

  • Delivers specific and measurable results.

Medium Priority

  • Encourage sustainability of the grantee through matching gifts and funding from other sources.

  • Organization has not been funded in the previous three years.

  • Program that partners and promotes collaboration and cooperation with other community agencies, specifically the Community Impact Network (CIN).

Priority

  • Innovative and efficient method of delivering the organization’s mission.

  • Reach a broad segment of the community.

  • Assist those whose needs are not being adequately met by existing services.

  • Demonstrate financial support from multiple sources.

  • Seed money, when meeting at least one of the following:

    • Allows organization to demonstrate usefulness of an organization or program to the community.

    • Assist a population not being adequately served.

  • Capacity building projects, when meeting at least one of the following:

    • Strategic planning and visioning for well-established nonprofit.

    • Succession planning to ensure consistent and viable organizational leadership.

  • Exploration and implementation of strategic alignments and mergers between organizations.

What the HCF does not fund

The Hastings Community Foundation will not fund a grant request that meets any one of the following criteria:

  • Individuals, including for loans and fellowships

  • For-profit entities

  • Political lobbying, candidates, or legislative activities

  • Religious organizations for religious purposes

  • Agencies not serving populations in Hastings and Adams County area

  • Dissertations or faculty/staff research

  • Debt reduction

  • Endowments

  • Fundraising event or gala

  • Umbrella organizations that redistribute the requested funds at their discretion

  • Programs that create an ongoing, long-term commitment by the Hastings Community Foundation, including for maintenance and operations