• Frequently Asked Questions about the Chatham Kent Community Foundation and South Kent Wind Community Fund programs

• Click here to complete the Grant Application Form for both the Chatham Kent Community Foundation and South Kent Wind Community Fund grant programs

• Click here to make a Final Grant Report for all grant applications

Application Guidelines

The Board of Directors has developed the following application guidelines:

1. Foundation grants will be directed to registered charitable organizations which reflect the following areas of interest:  education, health, arts and culture, recreation, environment and human services and which operate in and for the benefit of residents of the Chatham-Kent community. Other areas of interest may be identified by donor advised funds, by approved agreement.
2. Through written agreement, grants from Donor Designated Funds will be given to the organizations(s) that are identified in the donation specific Donor Designated Fund Agreement.
3. Grants may only be directed to organizations that have or have partnered in a meaningful way with organizations that have a Canada Revenue Agency charitable registration number.  Actual funds may only be paid out to organizations having a charitable number.
4. Organizations seeking funds must demonstrate a strong, committed governance structure, fiscal responsibility and management capability.
5. Preference is given to projects that:
   1. Encourage more efficient use of community resources
   2. Are aimed at developing, testing and implementing new approaches and solutions to community problems
   3. Are developed collaboratively with other organizations, agencies or volunteer groups to promote co-ordination, co-operation and the elimination of duplicate services.
   4. Promote volunteer participation and civic engagement.
   5. Increase organizational and community capacity building.
6. Capital projects involving real property or chattels will be considered if:
   1. There is a demonstrated need.
   2. Assets that, by virtue of property ownership, will fall under the ownership of an organization funded directly by the rate payer, will be considered for funding only where the applicant is a charitable partner organization and the project is intended for use by the broader community and would not otherwise be undertaken by the rate payer supported organization.
   3. Assets being acquired are for new or enhanced program initiatives or are intended to introduce new technologies for the purposes of efficiency.
   4. Improvements to and or installations proposed to facilities or property not owned by the applicant organization are accompanied by proof of permission by the owner, eg. Letter of Permission, Land Use Agreement, Copy of Board approved motion or resolution etc.
7. First Nations projects will be considered if located within traditional aboriginal land in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
8. Bursaries and scholarships will be awarded to educational institutions and not to individual recipients.
9. Grants are not normally made to have the effect of providing sponsorship or contribution to fund raising events by other charitable organizations.
10. Grants are not usually made to support the normal annual operating costs of organizations or core services that are otherwise directly or indirectly, publicly funded.  Enhanced services that are not core funded or part of regular operating are eligible.  Individual donor designated funds may be directed by the receiving organization, as deemed necessary.
11. Grants are not made to establish or increase endowment funds and are not usually paid to other charitable foundations except as part of a capital specific campaign or as described in individual donor designated agreements.
12. Grants may be made through multi-year disbursements.
13. Grants are not made to organizations for the delivery of direct religious or political activity or to make improvements to facilities that are to be used primarily for the delivery of these activities.
14. An annual project update or end of project report, as appropriate, is required from each project funded.