Community Vision Fund (Formerly Bright Idea Fund) Grants

From Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region

We strengthen our community for current and future generations by helping people make a difference in the lives of all.

Type of Support

Overview

The Community Vision Fund (formerly known as the Bright Idea Fund) aims to support community needs and enhance overall well-being in specified regions through a permanent fund supported by generous donors. The fund awards grants in five key focus areas: Arts and Culture, Financial Stability and Well-being, Community and Neighborhood Development, Environment, and Nonprofit Effectiveness. The foundation prioritizes investments in under-resourced/historically excluded communities, rural communities, systems change efforts, organizations/programs led by individuals with lived experience of the issues being addressed, and applies a diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism lens to all requests. Grant awards usually range from $2,500 to $25,000, typically for one year, with multi-year grants considered for strongly aligned projects requiring more time.

Eligibility

Organization's Location

USA

Program Location

WI (Calumet County, Outagamie County, Shawano County, Waupaca County, Winnebago County)

Organization Type

Organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Public charities

Charitable, scientific, social service, educational, and religious organizations

Private operating foundations

Public, charter, and private/parochial Pre-K-12 schools

Post-secondary educational institutions

Units of government including Native American tribal governments

Organizations applying through a fiscal sponsor

Other

Located in the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region's area
Requests must be unique, community-oriented, or for pilot programs with potential to be sustainable and replicable
Funding may address a priority issue, particularly those serving substantial or underserved community portions
Grants may help draw attention to new issues, leverage additional funding, provide more flexible funds than typically available in governmental budgets, or provide seed money
Supports programs, projects, events, planning, training, capacity building, and operations (including technology)
Focus on addressing unmet human needs through non-sectarian organizations or collective efforts of faith-based organizations without promoting a specific journey of faith
Encourages realistic plans for long-term sustainability without dependence on recurring Foundation support
Will consider multi-year requests within specific grant programs
May support speaker costs for community education events aligning with Foundation priorities

Ineligibility

Private non-operating foundations

Government programs (for general operating support)

School systems, schools, or school programs (for general operating support)

Projects solely related to real estate, bricks and mortar, or other capital expenditures not directly related to program delivery or capacity building

Annual fund drives, fund-raising events, or endowment-building campaigns

Community-based research for the advancement of medicine

Requests solely to defray travel or lodging expenses for individuals or groups, including attendance at conferences, training, competitions, or trips for bands, sports teams, classes, or similar groups.

not specified

Application deadline

Rolling