Grants from Designated Funds
Some endowment funds at the Fayette County Community Foundation are established by donors to support specific nonprofit organizations or charitable purposes. In some cases, organizations submit proposals for designated support; in others, the Foundation distributes quarterly checks directly to the benefiting charities according to the donor’s intent.
Grants from Field of Interest Funds
Field of interest funds are established by donors who want to support a specific cause, such as youth programs, education, senior services, wellness, or fitness. Grants from these funds are awarded through competitive application processes at various times of the year. Proposals are reviewed by community volunteers who serve on our grants committees.
Grants from Donor Advised Funds
We also administer grants recommended by donors who wish to support local nonprofits throughout the year. These gifts are made at the donor’s direction, and nonprofits often receive these awards without a prior application. If you receive an unexpected check from the Community Foundation—congratulations!—it is likely from one of our generous donor‑advised fundholders.
Grants from Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted funds allow the Foundation to respond to emerging needs, support mission‑aligned projects that don’t fit neatly into a category, and strengthen the overall wellbeing of Fayette County. These flexible funds give us the ability to be nimble, resilient, and responsive as community priorities evolve.
Our Current Capacity
At this time, FCCF is still building its base of endowed funds and does not yet have the financial capacity to award competitive community grants. The grant types listed above represent the structure and intentions of our Foundation as we grow. As new donor funds are established, these will become the primary pathways through which we invest in Fayette County’s nonprofits, parks, programs, and people.
We share this information so donors and partners understand the impact their gifts can have—each new fund brings us one step closer to offering the full range of grants our community needs.