LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The Lexington Community Foundation (LCF) provides financial assistance for programs and/or projects, which will enhance the quality of life for all residents of the Lexington community. The Executive Committee of the LCF will evaluate Grant applications. If the grant meets the eligibility requirements, the Committee will recommend the grant for approval by the Board of Directors.

The LCF is a community foundation, meaning we collect and administer charitable funds. We channel gifts from donors to a variety of nonprofit organizations. The LCF serves the area in three ways: 1) seeking and soliciting gifts and bequests from individuals, families, corporations, and other not-for-profit organizations, 2) managing assets for preservation of principal, optimum return, and perpetuity of the donor's intentions, and 3) distributing funds through grants. The following guidelines and enclosed grant application form pertain to requests from the unrestricted assets of the LCF. Unrestricted assets are those assets that have not been designated for a specific purpose or beneficiary and over which the LCF Board of Directors has full discretion.

Please read all of the information provided before preparing an application for a grant.

It is the responsibility of the LCF to distribute gifts from donors to a variety of not-for-profit organizations that effectively serve the residents of the Lexington community in the charitable fields of human services, education, health, arts/culture, recreation, community/civic and religion (for non-denominational programs). The sources of our funds are the gifts and bequest from individuals, families, corporations and other not-for-profit organizations. Each proposal is evaluated on its potential value to the community, and the resourcefulness and credibility of those submitting it.

GRANTMAKING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1. Grants may be made for such charitable purposes that will enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Lexington area, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, national origin or age and must be consistent with such specific charitable areas of interest as recognized by the LCF as are determined by the sole discretion of the LCF Board of Directors.


2. The LCF awards grants in the following fields of interest:

Education
Health
Art/Culture
Recreational
Human Services
Community/Civic

3. Selection criteria is based, in part, on the following:

A. APPLICANTS

* nonprofit, federally tax-exempt (501(c)(3)) qualified organizations or organizations delivering a project or program that qualifies as charitable activity;
* the stability of the applicant as evidenced by positive financial statements, solid future funding, and other related factors;
* those organizations which partner and work cooperatively with other agencies in the community;
* the applicants ability to establish the need, quality and effectiveness of its program;
* organizations which have individually raised a portion of the required funds and/or have enlisted the financial support of other organizations;
* the applicants method of distribution of property upon dissolution;

B. PROGRAMS

* capital projects such as construction, remodeling additions to existing buildings, and equipment purchases;
* challenge gifts under which grant awards will be authorized, provided other donors make matching gifts; and to promote leverage for generating additional funds;
* programs providing an impact that is likely to make a clear difference in the quality of life for a substantial number of people; and where a moderate amount of grant money can effect a significant result;
* innovation programs that represent an efficient approach to serving community needs and opportunities;
* an ongoing program's projection of longevity as evidenced by plans for continuation beyond the initial funding period;
* projects and programs that promote the involvement of the talents of those people who are expected to benefit from the grant;
* seed grants to initiate promising new projects or programs that will demonstrate usefulness to the community and assist those populations not presently being adequately served;
* programs enlisting volunteer participation and citizen involvement;

4. Under normal circumstances, the LCF does NOT award grants from its unrestricted funds to:

• *individuals
• *religious activities (unless non-denominational and serving a broad segment of the population)
• *debt servicing or debt re-financing to replenish resources used to pay for such purposes
• *operational expenses
• *established or new endowment funds
• *travel, tours or trips, including honor conference and expanded studies, whether attended by an individual or a group, school class or sports team
• *activities outside the Treasury Regulations applicable to community foundation
• *agencies serving a population outside of the LCF's service area; or to programs that do not meet the mission of the LCF

5. The LCF reserves the right to place performance requirements on the grant award, such as requiring that the additional revenues needed to implement the project be secured prior to the grant being paid.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• *once notified of approval for a grant, the organization may request payment as needed, or as performance requirements are met
  *the grant recipient is required to report, in detail, how the funds were expended;
• *the LCF intends to periodically visit, request information, or monitor a project;
• *misuse of grant funds will result in a recall of the funds, suspension of remaining funds and future grant support will be jeopardized.

RETURN TO:
Lexington Community Foundation
607 North Washington
P.O. Box 422
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-6704

LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT PROGRAM - The Lexington Community Foundation (LCF) provides financial assistance for programs and/or projects, which will enhance the quality of life for all residents of the Lexington community. The Executive Committee of the LCF will evaluate Grant applications. If the grant meets the eligibility requirements, the Committee will recommend the grant for approval by the Board of Directors.