3 Rivers Community Foundation Grantmaking totals $294,000

3 Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF) wraps up 2020 with an additional $142,000 in grants to local nonprofits. This is in addition to $152,000 in grants through its COVID-19 Response Fund. These grants were made available to local 501c3 nonprofits in Benton and Franklin counties. 

“We are very pleased with the growth in our grant program, increasing from $83,000 a year ago, to $142,000 in 2020,” says Abbey Cameron, Executive Director. “Thanks to our donors and fundholders we have been able to support some very critical needs in our community.” 

This year-end round of grants represents 3RCF’s annual grant program, an application-based process. Nonprofits submitted online applications which were reviewed and evaluated by the 3RCF Board of Directors, and in addition organizations who had not received a grant from 3RCF before were invited to a virtual interview with the Board.
As a community foundation, 3RCF is charged with holding and investing funds for various donors and organizations and distributing a portion of the proceeds of those investments for charitable purposes. While some of the distributions are directed by donors, 3RCF maintains an unrestricted fund to support an annual application-based grant program

Nonprofits that provide services in Benton and Franklin counties can apply for a grant to support their programs and services. This annual grant program has given over $5.2 million back to our communities since 2004.

“We just wouldn’t be who we are today without 3 Rivers” says Kristi Thein, Nutrition Services Director, Senior Life Resources/Meals on Wheels. “We are up about 25% from where we were a year ago, delivering 4500 meals per week. Having those meals impacts not just the seniors but their families. We have families who are trying their very best to take care of their loved ones. It’s really about peace of mind for a lot of folks. Thanks to outside funding sources like 3 Rivers we are able to offer services far beyond just a daily meal to our clients.” 

Traditionally these grants would be celebrated during an annual Grant Ceremony, giving the nonprofit community an opportunity to be recognized and to connect and network with each other. Due to not being able to gather in person, 3RCF has collected interviews from most of the grantees which are available for viewing at 3RCF’s YouTube Channel. We encourage the community to learn about the amazing work these organizations are doing, especially during this challenging year.

In addition, 3RCF launched a COVID-19 Response Fund in April to raise money to support nonprofits who provide critical services and were adapting to the many impacts of the pandemic. This rolling grant process has distributed $152,000 in 2020. This application process is currently closed and will reopen in early 2020 as additional funds become available. 

For a list of organizations that have received grants this year visit http://3rcf.org/non-profits/recent-grant-recipients-2010/. To make a donation to 3RCF visit https://threeriverscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate. ​