Nonprofits

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. 

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 shall be made only to non-profit organizations exempt from federal taxation under section 501C3 of the Internal Revenue Code, to government agencies and to individuals, but grants to individuals shall only be made as prize awards, scholarships or for other grants which do not adversely affect the Foundation’s status under section 5O1 C3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

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 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

    • A Grant Application Summary form, provided by the foundation, which serves as a cover letter.

    • Request for a specific amount of money

    • Description of the purpose for which funding is being sought

    • Brief description of the organization applying for funds (if applicable)

    • A plan for evaluation of the outcome of the project

    • Provisions which are to be made for future funding (if applicable)

    • Budget for the project, with anticipated revenue and expenses

    • Supporting documents: 5O1C3 tax exempt ruling letter from the IRS; evidence of approval of the grant application by the applicant’s governing board; roster of the applicant’s governing board

    • Copy of the first page of the organization’s most recently filed IRS Form 990

    • Grant application shall be submitted to the Foundation office no later than December 20th of each year—the selection process shall commence thereafter and shall be made in a timely fashion

    • A report letter, indicating disposition of the funds given, should be sent to the Foundation within one year following the payment of the grant to requesting organization.

All projects should carry acknowledgements identifying the project as having been funded by the Hastings Community Foundation

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Requests for Grant Applications will NOT be accepted online or via email.  You must first call the Hastings Community Foundation office (402-462-5152) to register your request for a Grant Application.  Applications must be returned by postal mail or in person at the Foundation’s office at 800 West 3rd St., Suite 232, by DECEMBER 20TH, 2019.

HOW TO APPLY

Grants are given to organizations and programs that respond to the region’s most pressing issues and opportunities.

Grants from unrestricted funds are awarded after the Grants Committee, comprised of knowledgeable members of the Foundation’s Board, review grant applications and make recommendations to the Board. To apply, please contact the Hastings Community Foundation at 402.462.5152 The deadline for application is December 20th.   

COMMUNICATING ABOUT YOUR GRANT

he Hastings Community Foundation is honored to be your partner and support your work to improve communities across the region. This page offers you resources to help leverage this opportunity to raise awareness about your organization and its programs receiving funding from The Community Foundation and our donors.

The Community Foundation would also like to share the impact of your grant and how it has helped your organization do more good in our communities. You are encouraged to share compelling grant stories with us that include pictures and/or videos from your programs or events, so we can promote our partnership to improve the quality of life  in the Hastings area .

You can publicize your grant and The Community Foundation’s support in the following ways:

  • Issue a news release to the media: This is an opportunity to tell your story through the people you help and the impact your work is creating in our community. Adding photos to your stories and articles will make your submissions more appealing to media.

  • Share the news with your broader community: Post the news on your website, social media (make sure to tag us!), newsletter, and in other publications. Please share any mentions of this grant with us, and we would be happy to share them through our channels as well.

  • Invite us to grant-related events or other programs: We can help spread the word through our channels, and possibly assign staff to attend and capture the event for our website or social media channels.

  • Tag us on social media: The Community Foundation features grant recipients on our Facebook page and Twitter account. If you post about your grant and/or any grant funded programs or events, make sure you tag us on these channels. We will like and/or share most grant-related posts.

  • When you receive a grant directly from HCF or an anonymous donor fund, please include The Community Foundation’s name in your materials: Example: “Support provided by a grant from the Hastings Community Foundation.”

  • Share your story with us: The Community Foundation is interested in capturing compelling stories to communicate the impact of the work we support.

Help us share your story with our community:

The Community Foundation  features stories from our grantees in our newsletters, website, social media channels, and annual report. Help us communicate the impact of your programs by making the connection between your great work and the investment from The Community Foundation. Use the form below to submit your story. Please be mindful of the following guidelines:

  • Story length should be between 500-750 words.

  • Please include one or two high-resolution images that represent your work and its impact. Before submitting your photos, make sure you have permission to publish and share them from any individuals appearing in the photos and from the photographer.

  • Submissions should focus on sharing the impact and/or lessons learned from a specific program or intervention that has received full or partial funding from The Community Foundation and its donor funds.

  • You are welcome to submit existing stories from your website or other promotional materials; please include links to where the post has been previously featured.

  • Please refrain from making explicit requests for donations. This piece is meant to be informative, and you may link to your website or other related resources.