Grants & Scholarships

Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund Scholarship

Lakota Fund

Power of the Purse

Scholarship Opportunities

Youth in Philanthropy

Community Health Fund

Community Grants Fund

Christine Humphreys Impact Grant

group of people with check

The Community Grants Fund provides support to 501c3 nonprofit organizations located in or providing services to West Chester or Liberty Township. Please read the grant request instructions thoroughly and contact the Foundation with any questions at (513) 874-5450.

Funding Priorities

The Community Foundation prioritizes grant requests that align with the three areas of focus identified by our 2017 Community Needs Assessment – education, transportation, and workforce development. There are three proposal deadlines throughout the year, listed below.  Applicants may submit for any of the 3 deadlines based on funding needs. For repeat applicants, this is a change from past years when each cycle had a specific focus on one of the three areas of need.

EDUCATION

  • Enhance educational opportunities for K-12 students in West Chester/Liberty
  • Focus on improving K-3 reading proficiency
  • Foster community engagement and school-community partnerships with Lakota Local Schools
  • Address the widening achievement gap among students based on factors like socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity

TRANSPORTATION

  • Increase community accessibility for residents who do not drive, or do not have access to a car.
  • Provide micro-solutions to transportation barriers faced by key groups of citizens – the elderly, low-income, high school students.
  • Focus on the development of biking and walking trails that connect different sections of the community.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

  • Develop workforce training programs based on local business needs, focusing on areas such as technical and manufacturing skills, to fill the growing number of available jobs in the area
  • Provide solutions to barriers, particularly among the hourly wage earners, that prevent individuals from obtaining and holding a job including lack of transportation, childcare, and other personal obstacles.

2021 Grant Deadlines

Spring Grant Cycle - March 5, 2021
Summer Grant Cycle - July 30, 2021
Fall Grant Cycle - October 1, 2021

Eligibility & Restrictions

Eligible parties must be a tax-exempt 501c3 nonprofit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and must be located in or provide services in West Chester or Liberty Township.  100% of services for the project or program for which you are applying must take place in West Chester or Liberty Township to be eligible for funding through the Community Grants Fund.

Reporting requirements from previous grant awards received from the CFWCL must by fulfilled prior to submitting another grant request.

Organizations may only receive support through the Community Grants Fund once in a calendar year. If your initial application does not receive funding, you may resubmit the request in a subsequent grant cycle.

Other Limitations:

  •          Ongoing operations, overhead, operational deficits or debt reduction
  •          Endowments or scholarships
  •          Annual appeals, membership drives, or fundraising campaigns
  •          Sponsorship for events
  •          Partisan political advocacy or for lobbying purposes
  •          Organizations or projects that use grant funds to make grants to other organizations
  •          Raffles, bingo or gambling-related activities
  •          Programs that result in the duplication of services (collaborative efforts are strongly encouraged)

How to Apply

Interested organizations should contact karen.gibbs@wclfoundation.org for instructions on how to apply. All grant requests will be submitted online through the SmarterSelect application portal; please plan to upload electronic copies of all supporting documentation. Paper or email grant requests will not be accepted.

We advise that you contact the Foundation upon submission to verify that your application was received at (513)874-5450.

Evaluation Process

Grant requests are reviewed by a committee of Foundation board members, staff, and community volunteers, and voted on by the Community Foundation Board of Directors. The evaluation process may include a site visit and/or phone interview. 

scholarship recipient

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty offers scholarship opportunities primarily for high school students pursuing post-secondary education after graduation. Additional scholarships with more limited eligibility are available to current/incoming high school students, non-traditional adult students, and current college students.

The scholarships listed below are those offered at this time, however, new opportunities will be added as they become available. Please review the FAQs and pay special attention to the deadlines of those scholarships for which you are applying. 

For questions about Community Foundation scholarships please contact karen.gibbs@wclfoundation.org or call 513.682.8061

athlete

Lakota families looking for assistance with their children's athletic fees are encouraged to apply for grant consideration. A fund at the Community Foundation has been established by private donations to cover half of the athletic fee assessed to students participating in sports within Lakota Schools. 

This scholarship opportunity is for students in grades 7-12.  Families interested in submitting an application for consideration must submit an application (linked below) to the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. A limited number of scholarships are available. Only one scholarship per student will be awarded in a school year. 

APPLICATION FORM

Deadlines for 2019-2020 school year:

FALL SPORTS

Friday, August 2, 2019

WINTER SPORTS

Friday, October 18, 2019

SPRING SPORTS

Friday, January 24, 2020

Applications should be submitted to:

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty

Attn: Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund

8366 Princeton Glendale Rd. Suite A2

West Chester, OH 45069

FAX 513.874.5472

EMAIL karen.gibbs@wclfoundation.org

Christine Humphreys

About the Grant

Christine and Robert Humphreys were long-time West Chester residents and valued members of the community.  After the passing of her husband, Christine knew she wanted to make a greater impact in her community. She wanted her fund to support “parks, pets, and quality of life.” In 2017, Christine lost her battle with cancer.  We are honored to have been able to help Christine fulfill her charitable giving goals, and are grateful to be able to carry out her legacy in support of the causes that were closest to her heart. The Christine Humphreys Impact Grant will be awarded annually by the Foundation's board of directors to support projects and programs in West Chester and Liberty Township that align with the funding priorities listed below.

Funding Priorities

This grant does not support schools, youth organizations, or programs serving residents 18 years of age or younger.

Parks

  • Restore or improve existing parks and green spaces.
  • Create new parks or green spaces.
  • Engage citizens with the outdoors by supporting good stewardship and appreciation.

Pets

  •  Support no-kill animal shelters and foster programs.
  • Promote pet health through spay/neuter campaigns, medical equipment and supply purchases, emergency medical services, and education programs.
  • Create community dog parks.

Quality of Life

  • Increase citizen access to amenities such as libraries, arts organizations, entertainment, etc.
  • Encourage community health & wellness.
  • Support economic development and sustainability.

Eligibility & Limitations 

 

2021 Grant Dates & Deadlines

Interested applicants should contact karen.gibbs@wclfoundation.org to discuss a grant proposal by Friday, February 12, 2021

Final application deadline March 5, 2021

 

 

Lakota Schools logo

The Lakota Fund is a simple way to supplement educational opportunities for students and faculty. Lakota faculty may submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn at anytime throughout the year. All requested resources must be used to enhance the student’s educational experience.

If pondering whether a resource is eligible, simply ask yourself, “Would my students write genuine thank-you notes?” If so, the project is probably eligible. Resource(s) funded through Lakota Fund are considered "property of the classroom." As long as you teach at the same school, you should have control over the resource(s) for which you received funding. If you change schools, the resource(s) must stay.

The Lakota Fund also values furthering education for our faculty and staff to continually bring the latest educational techniques for our students. Workshop fees, books, guest speakers, science projects, student leadership opportunities, etc. may be funded by the Lakota Fund.

Requests are approved through Lakota Local Schools first, then forwarded to the Foundation for funding. Grant amounts are considered on a case by case basis. We encourage you to seek other grant opportunities to supplement your project if it is more than is able to be awarded through the Lakota Fund

If you are awarded a grant, you will be required to submit feedback on the impact of your project, thank-you letters or photographs of your project. Also, we ask that grant recipients share the news of your grant award at your building staff meetings and PTO meetings. A follow-up report is required 30 days after your project is completed.

The Lakota Fund does not fund salaries or college tuition. Your project must be implemented within one year your project was approved. 

Giving to the Lakota Fund

If you are a Lakota Schools Employee, we encourage your support of the Lakota Fund. 98% of every dollar raised for the Lakota Fund goes to support grant opportunities.  If you would like to make a donation through Payroll Deduction (for as little as $2 a pay period/ $24 a year) click here for the form.

Contributions to the Lakota Fund also make great appreciation gifts, retirement gifts, etc. for Lakota employees. 

How to Apply

Please contact Kim McGowan at Lakota Local Schools for application instructions. 

Youth in Philanthropy group

2020-2021 School Year - YIP Member Application

Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) is a program designed to introduce local high school students to philanthropy and community development. The program provides hands-on experience that benefits both the participating students and local charities. Students work in the community to raise money, build endowment funds, and make grants to non-profit organizations improving the lives of youth in our community. Engaging youth in philanthropy is an opportunity to prepare young people to be active, lifelong community citizens.

YIP awards small grants (up to $3,000) to support programs working to improve the lives of youth in the West Chester/Liberty Township area. Grants are reviewed by YIP members and awarded in late spring, at the end of each school year. 

Youth in Philanthropy accepts applications for new members in April/May. Applicants must be entering grades 9-12, live or attend school in West Chester of Liberty Township, and be able to make (at minimum) a twice-monthly commitment to attend YIP meetings and be an active participant of YIP. 

Follow Youth in Philanthropy on Facebook  and Twitter  to stay up to date!

Contact

Karen Gibbs, Director of Programs & Marketing, at 513.682.8061 or karen.gibbs@wclfoundation.org 

community health

COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants for West Chester/Liberty

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty has established the Community Health Fund with the purpose of efficiently addressing local needs during the COVID-19 health crisis. We hope to not only be a financial resources, but conduit for collaboration by connecting needs and resources. Please consider donating at the link below. Every dollar counts and will be distributed locally. 

DONATE HERE

For questions about local needs or if your business or organization is looking to collaborate within West Chester/Liberty n response to Covid-19, please contact Erin.Clemons@wclfoundation.org or call 513.682.8062

 

GRANT SEEKERS

Grant applications for the Community Health Fund will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants must be a 501c3 non-profit organization or other qualifying organization (schools, religious organizations) and funds must be used to serve the residents of West Chester & Liberty Township. 

DOWNLOAD GRANT APPLICATION

Scholarship FAQs

How do I apply?
All applications must be submitted through SmarterSelect. The links below will direct you to each scholarship's application on SmarterSelect and you will be prompted to create an account upon first login. You will use this same account if you apply for other Foundation scholarships thereafter. If you are applying for multiple Foundation scholarships, MOST of your information will copy through each application. However, please carefully review every scholarship application. Some will require an additional letter of recommendation, and most have unique essay/short answer sections.

When will I know if I received a scholarship?
All applicants will be notified in writing via mail or email of the selection committees' decisions in April or May. Recipients also may be recognized at their school's Senior Awards Ceremony. Some scholarships have an interview component for finalists, as well. You will be contacted for an interview if this applies.

If I am selected for a scholarship, how do I receive the funds?
Scholarship checks are mailed directly to the recipient's college or university (or high school, for parochial school scholarships) to be credited toward tuition. If selected for a scholarship you will receive next-step instructions to receive your award.

Other questions or concerns?
Contact karen.gibbs@wclfoundation.org or call 513.682.8061

Power of the Purse logo

The Power of the Purse (POP) Fund is a women's giving circle dedicated to strengthening the community by providing grant funds to non-profit organizations serving the interests of women & children in West Chester and Liberty Townships. Members of POP work to educate and inspire others, and promote philanthropy among women in our community. 

 

2021 Meeting Dates

May 18th            Carriage Hill Clubhouse (program to be announced)

August 10th      Liberty Center Sabin Hall (Grant Applicant presentations)

December 7th   Wetherington Country Club (Annual Gala & Grant Winner Announced)

2021 Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN TO LAKOTA GRADUATING SENIORS

 

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN TO OTHER GRADUATING SENIORS

 

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FENWICK HS STUDENTS

  • Greg Lemmel Scholarship – deadline 2/15
    $1000 (renewable for 4 years)
    students graduating from St. Susanna Elementary and attending Bishop Fenwick High School 
  • Kyle Babcock Scholarship  - deadline 2/15
    $2000
    students who will attend, or are currently attending, Bishop Fenwick High School

 

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS OR RETURNING ADULTS

  • Susan Hendel Scholarship – deadline 2/15
    $500
    women 30 years of age or older who are returning to post-secondary education, or attending for the first time 

Goals

  1. Make a difference among women in the community by promoting volunteerism and philanthropy through our pooled resources.
  2. Encourage community among ourselves and those we serve
  3. Educate and increase awareness of local needs
  4. Encourage self-sufficiency and well-being among those in need
  5. Build a network that is a catalyst for positive change

 

Grants

2021 Power of the Purse Grant Application - DEADLINE 4/23/2021

Power of the Purse accepts grant requests for new or existing projects that focus of meeting the basic needs of food, shelter, or health care for women or children in West Chester and Liberty Township.

The POP Membership will review all proposals in April. Following a vote by the POP Membership, the top three organizations will be invited to present their proposal at the POP Summer Meeting.  The grant recipient will be announced at the Annual Grant Gala in December. 

 

Past Grantees:

2020 - EDGE Teen Center

2019 - Sleep in Heavenly Peace

2018 - PARACHUTE: Butler County Casa

2017- Family Promise of Butler County

2016 - Companions on a Journey Grief Support

2015 - Warm Welcomes Foster Care Outreach

 

Grant Requirements:

Eligible organizations must be a registered 501c3 organization. Grant Applicants must complete a grant application and provide both a financial program and organizational budget on or before the grant deadline.  One hundred percent of programming and services must be provided to resident in West Chester and Liberty Township, and focus primarily on meeting the basic needs of woman and children in our community.  An organization that has received a POP Grant may not apply for 3 years.

 

Membership Rights and Responsibilities

Annual dues are $100 and may be paid in one or two installments. Young professional memberships (age 21-26) are available for $50/year

All Power of the Purse Members are invited to attend all events (Woman’s Day, April meeting, August meeting and the Annual Gala in December) and any other Power of the Purse fundraising and/or networking events. Members are expected to fulfill any pledges made to the fund and to further the mission of the Power of the Purse by encouraging others to participate.

 

Contact

Karen Gibbs, Vice President, karen.gibbs@wclfoundation.org or 513.682.8061