Legal Definitions - community grant

A community grant is a sum of money or other resources provided by a government agency, private foundation, corporation, or other organization to an individual, group, or non-profit entity. The primary purpose of a community grant is to fund projects or initiatives that directly benefit a specific local community, a defined population within that community, or address a particular community need. Unlike a loan, a grant does not typically require repayment, though recipients are usually expected to adhere to specific terms, conditions, and reporting requirements regarding the use of the funds.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of a community grant:

• Example 1: Local Park Renovation

  The City Council of Willow Creek awards $50,000 to the "Friends of Elmwood Park" neighborhood association. This funding is specifically designated for the renovation of the Elmwood Park playground, including the installation of new, safer equipment and accessible pathways. The goal is to create a better recreational space for the children and families living in the Elmwood neighborhood.

  This illustrates a community grant because the City Council (a government entity) provides funds to a local group (Friends of Elmwood Park) for a project that directly benefits a specific local community (the Elmwood neighborhood) by improving a shared public space.

• Example 2: Youth Mentorship Program

  The Bright Future Foundation, a private philanthropic organization, provides a $75,000 grant to "Uplift Youth Services," a non-profit organization. This grant is intended to expand Uplift Youth Services' free after-school mentorship program for teenagers in the underserved Northside district, offering academic support and career guidance.

  This is a community grant because the Bright Future Foundation (a private entity) gives money to a non-profit (Uplift Youth Services) to fund a program that targets and benefits a specific population within a defined geographic area (teenagers in the Northside district), addressing a community need for youth development.

• Example 3: Food Bank Delivery Vehicle

  MegaMart Supermarkets, a large regional corporation, donates $25,000 to the "Harvest Hope Food Bank." This money is earmarked for the purchase of a new refrigerated van, which will enable the food bank to collect and distribute fresh produce more efficiently to elderly residents and low-income families in rural areas of the county that currently lack easy access to healthy food options.

  This demonstrates a community grant because MegaMart Supermarkets (a corporate entity) provides funds to a non-profit (Harvest Hope Food Bank) for an asset (the van) that will directly improve the food bank's ability to serve and benefit specific vulnerable populations (elderly residents, low-income families) across a broader community area (rural parts of the county).