Applications for the Smith County Community Foundation Fund are sought once a year from the general public. Traditionally, grants from this unrestricted community fund have not been targeted to a specific cause or population.

It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to determine prior to each grant cycle whether or not they wish to target dollars from the Smith County Community Foundation Fund for a specific area of interest or target population.

When reviewing applications for grants from the Smith County Community Foundation Fund, the review committee will consider the following:

What type of support is being requested?

• Project or program support -- supports specific projects or programs. Project grants tend to be discrete and are linked to an organization’s service.
• Operating or general support -- supports the work of an organization. While it often covers the day-to-day personnel, administration and other expenses, it can be used as the grantee sees fit, including covering program costs.
• Endowments -- intended to be kept permanently and invested to provide income for continued support of an organization.
• Seed money -- to establish or initiate a new project, program or organization. Seed money can cover salaries and other operating expenses of a new project (also known as start-up funds).
• Capacity building -- activities that strengthen an organization and help it better fulfill its mission, such as equipment and staff, facility purchase and renovation, training, publications, and convening.
• Capital -- supports construction or renovation of a facility.