Frequently Asked Questions About Grants from GCF

How do I know if my organization is eligible to apply for a grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation?
We make grants to tax-exempt agencies classified as 501(c)(3) organizations, which are public charities as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. The projects we consider for support are located in or serve Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont counties in Ohio; Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana.

Can I apply for a grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation if I have a personal need?
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation does not make grants or loans to individuals. As a community trust, it is designed to serve the charitable needs of nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Can my school apply for a grant?
Schools may apply for Grants for Kids hrough our Learning Links program. GCF does not make grants to individual schools for regular operating costs or capital projects.

How do I apply for a grant?
Please be sure to review the information about GCF's Grant Process, including the Grant Guidelines, then contact GCF's Community Investment Coordinator at (513) 241-2880 to discuss your proposed project. The coordinator will determine whether your proposed project fits within The Greater Cincinnati Foundation's funding guidelines.

Is there a specific application form that must be used?
GCF uses an online application form. The online application is formatted to be similar to the Ohio Common Grant Application.

Can anyone at The Greater Cincinnati Foundation help me write a proposal?
GCF does not provide grant writing assistance. However, there are several other groups that offer in-depth grant writing workshops and training for nonprofits.

What are the deadlines for submitting proposals?
Please see GCF Grant Process for information about application deadlines. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted and will not be reviewed.

What is the amount of the average grant?
Grant award amounts vary widely, with an average size of $30,000. The awards are influenced by the type of project for which funding is being requested, the need for the project in the community, amount of the project budget, and the amount of funding requested from other funders. Applicants should request the amount needed to successfully complete the proposed project.

Are grants funded over multiple years?
Grant requests are usually funded for one year. GCF will occasionally review requests for multiple years of funding. Contact the Community Investment Coordinator at (513) 241-2880 to discuss your proposed project.

How long does it take once a proposal is submitted to go through the approval process and to receive funding?
The time from submission to approval for grants up to $20,000 is 8 weeks; for grants of more than $20,000 it can be up to 5 months. Once the grant is approved, it takes approximately 10 days after returning the appropriate forms to receive a check. Release of the check is triggered by returning the signed grant agreement and payment release request form.

Can I get a grant from a donor advised fund?
Donors that have established donor advised funds make grants to nonprofit organizations based on their own areas of interest. Typically, donor advised funds do not accept requests from nonprofit organizations.

Can you refer me to anyone else for funding?
A good resource for both individuals and nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area is the Grant Resource Center of The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The Grants Resource Center does not provide funding, but has many directories, guides and other resources to help grantseekers identify appropriate funders and develop targeted proposals. Click here for more information about local funding resources.