How MCF Grants Make a Difference in your community

As you can see on our home page from the sampling of grant projects, MCF reaches out to all corners of the community to fund projects that benefit our residents. Over the past decades, MCF has funded educational and civic endeavors, projects that enhance the arts, improve our environment, and support social services programs for our residents. MCF has funded more than $1,000,000 in grants, contributing to many and varied projects that improve the lives of our citizens and the surroundings of McLean.

For a complete look at MCF’s 28-year grant history, go to MCF Grants History on this site.

HOW MCF SUPPORTS PROJECTS

Financial support from the McLean Community Foundation can be in the form of Seed Money for projects that need financial assistance to get off the ground but that will be self supporting in the future. A Challenge Grant is initial funding from MCF that will be matched by other sources. A one-time grant application that meets MCF guidelines does not have to meet either of these categories.

Funding requests should be for projects that will have permanent or long-term benefit to the McLean community and should not involve operating expenses. Exceptions to the grants policy will be based on merit and require a 2/3 majority of the voting Trustees. Go to MCF Grants Policy on this site for more detailed information.

In March of 2009, The Board of Trustees approved a recommendation to increase grant review periods from two to three times a year. Annual application filing deadlines are now February 1, June 1 and October 1 and must be postmarked prior to the deadline.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO MCF

If you belong to a not-for-profit organization that might benefit from McLean Community Foundation grants, members of the MCF Board of Trustees will be pleased to discuss your project. Or, go to How to Apply for a Grant on this site to print your application. Follow the instructions regarding additional requirements for your proposal.