MASON COUNTY — Our Community’s Foundation — The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) and the Regional Affiliates including the Mason County Community Foundation (MCCF) is currently accepting applications for grants for the fall cycle of its Community Action Grant Program.

For the first time, the Foundation’s grant application process will be online, and applications must be submitted through the online process by midnight on Sept. 1.

Organizations apply to PACF and/or MCCF on the same online application form, the Foundation’s Community Action Grant Application. To access the online application form, visit the Foundation’s web site, www.pacfwv.com, and go to the Grants section. Under “Applications and Forms” you will find a link to the online Community Action Grant application.

To be considered for a Community Action Grant, an applicant must be a private, non-profit organization, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a public institution. To be eligible for a grant from PACF, either the applicant or program to be funded must be located in the Foundation’s 11-county geographic service area (Wood, Wirt, Doddridge, Ritchie, Pleasants, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Jackson, and Mason counties in West Virginia, and Washington County in Ohio). To be eligible for a grant from MCCF, either the applicant or program to be funded must be located in the Mason County geographic service area.

The foundation provides support for capital and equipment projects, program development, and technical assistance, training, and capacity building projects, and, under special circumstances, operating support. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000. Operating support grants target organizations that provide essential community services or offer programs that meet basic human needs and that seek to increase their financial stability and/or expand their capacity to provide services. To be eligible for operating support, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (operating support is not available to governmental entities, schools, or entities that do not have 501(c)(3) status); have been in continuous operation for at least five years; have a proven track record; have an overall sound financial history (at least prior to the present need); be able to demonstrate strong management; and must have previously received support from the Foundation.

MCCF has unique educational support opportunities available in the fall grant cycle. Funds are available to provide mini-grants of up to $1,000 to Mason County Schools to support teacher-initiated educational projects and programs that benefit Mason County students. Up to three teachers from each school in Mason County may apply for mini-grants; the applications must be submitted through the school. Schools apply for grants for these purposes using the online Community Action Grant Application form.

Nonprofit organizations serving Mason County residents also have an opportunity to be considered for grants from the Gordon E. and Mildred R. Jackson Foundation Advised Fund administered by Our Community’s Foundation -Mason County. The Jackson Foundation Advised Fund provides grants to support projects that benefit Mason County residents, with a particular interest in educational projects and programs. Organizations interested in being considered for support from the Jackson Foundation Advised Fund must submit an application using the Foundation’s Community Action Grant application form; all organizations submitting requests for projects benefiting Mason County will be considered for support from the Jackson Foundation Advised Fund, along with other Foundation funds. Due to resources available from the Jackson Foundation advised fund, organizations may be able to submit request for grants larger than $10,000 but must contact the Foundation’s program officer, Marian Clowes, to discuss such requests prior to submission.

The Foundation’s grantmaking guidelines provide more specific information on eligibility and priorities for all types of grants; visit the Foundation’s web site at www.pacfwv.com to access the grant guidelines and the online application form. For more information on the Community Action Grant Program, contact Marian Clowes at 304-428-4438 or info@pacfwv.com.