Several funds held with Orange County Community Foundation make grants each year. Applications are accepted during prescribed periods, and grantee selections are made by diverse committees, pending final approval by the OCCF Board of Directors in all cases.Some of the funds from which grants are distributed are listed below.
Unrestricted Grant Guidelines, Criteria and Application
OCCF Education Fund Grant Application and Guidelines
OCCF Unrestricted Fund
The Foundation’s general endowment, which provides funding for a wide variety of purposes, including education, the arts, youth and recreation, human services, animals and the environment. Application must be made for these grants during prescribed periods, and announcements of grant cycles are made through local media.
For application, see the link above.
Orange County Commissioners Supporting Organization
AGR funds from the French Lick (Blue Sky) Casino are overseen by the Supporting Organization’s Board of Directors. These funds provide textbooks to students in all three county school systems, as well as scholarship incentives to graduating seniors who further their education or enter the military. In addition, the SO makes an annual grant to each of the county school systems. Once these obligations are met each year, monies remaining are used to build an endowment to insure that future funding will be available for textbooks, and for open grant cycles.
Supporting Organization grant cycles are announced through local media and on this website. Application is necessary for consideration, and selections are made by the SO’s Board of Directors and subject to approve by the Foundation Board.
Sol Strauss Trust Supporting Organization
Mr. Sol Strauss, a Paoli businessman, left behind a legacy to honor the community he adopted as his home. His will created a trust fund for non-profit organizations in Paoli, as well as provided for what is now the Bloomington Hospital of Orange County and Jewish Hospital of Louisville.
In 2006, Mr. Strauss’ fund returned to Orange County from its migration from one bank to another, and continues to provide annual funding for a variety of organizations and school needs, as well as to the hospital here. Grants from the Strauss Fund are made only within Paoli, and a letter of request is necessary in order to be considered. Local media is alerted whenever grant cycle is in process, usually in August or September of each year Notification will also be made on this website.
Unrestricted Fund for the Orleans Community and the Tegarden Unrestricted Fund
Established through the generosity of an anonymous donor to benefit charitable purposes in the Orleans Community, this fund pays out annually and is also subject to an application process. Announcement is made in the Progress Examiner and on this website after May 1 each year, and selections are made by an appointed committee and subject to final approval by the Foundation Board of Directors.
Orleans Community and Tegarden Restricted Fund Application
OCCF Unrestricted Funds
The Foundation holds a number of unrestricted funds that provide grants in the areas of education, human services, youth and recreation, animals and the environment, social services, and more. These funds require full application, and cycles are announced in local media, as well as on this website. All selections are made by committee, subject to approval by the full Board of Directors.
During grant application cycles, a link to the application form will be available here.
Designated Funds
Any non-profit organization or charitable purpose may create an endowment fund that will provide a grant payout each year. For more information, contact the OCCF office at 812.723.4150 or visit this link: Types of Funds.
Donor-Advised Funds
Many donors choose to establish donor-advised funds, giving them the opportunity to request where the payout from their fund will go each year. If your organization has a donor who is especially interested in the issues you address, suggest that they visit our Types of Funds page to review the definition of a donor-advised fund.
OCCF Youth Council Unrestricted Fund
Created through the generosity of our donors and the fund-raising efforts of the OCCF Youth Council, this fund annually pays out to local non-profit organizations in grant monies. Application process varies from year to year, and will require either full application or letter of request. Selections are made by a youth council grants committee, guided by adult mentors, and are subject to final approval by the OCCF Board of Directors.
During grant application cycles, a link to the application form will be available here.
