Apply for Grants

The Otsego Community Foundation manages over 100 charitable funds established by generous individuals, businesses and families that want to give back to Otsego County. These funds are resources managed by the OCF for the community.  From these funds grants are distributed back to the community based on the intention and type of each charitable fund.  Our grants support a wide range of projects and programs in areas including:

  • Arts and Culture
  • Conservation
  • Health and Human Services
  • Community Improvement and Capacity Building
  • Education
  • And so much more

Our Grantmaking Philosophy

To us, Otsego County is more than a geographic region or a map dot-it’s the place we call home, it is where we chose to live, work and play.  And because of that, we are dedicated to connecting the people who care to the causes that matter. Grant making is the heart and soul of the OCF and our process is thoughtfully designed work for all community partners.

  • We commit to ongoing learning and continued improvement of the process
  • We partner with nonprofits and donors to turn ideas into action
  • We strive for positive net grants (grant dollars received after subtracting the “cost” of applying and administering)
  • We believe each grant is an important part of our community story.

Grant Opportunites

As the “foundation of the community” the OCF is dedicated to being a platform of support for all nonprofit organizations serving the people and programs of Otsego County. No matter how large or small, and no matter the topic area, our grant making framework is designed to strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem. Please review the grant readiness checklist in the grant guidelines document before applying.

 

OCF offers three unique grant opportunities:

Community Choice Grants

Community Choice Grants invite and include members of the community in the nomination and selection process of our grantmaking efforts. Not only is this an opportunity for nonprofit partners to receive funding, it spreads awareness of their mission and cultivates new relationships. Community Choice Grants are another way we connect people who care to the causes that matter to them.

 

  • Funding range: $1,000 – $5,000
  • Nomination opportunities announced throughout the year. To ensure you don’t miss this opportunity, sign up for Foundation Matters or follow us on Facebook and Instagram
  • Review Grant Guidelines for eligibility and to work through the grant readiness checklist
Community Grant Program

The Community Grant Program utilizes efficiency, transparency, and collaboration by engaging multiple funding partners to align resources that maximize impact for grantees. This cycle responds to a wide variety of needs and opportunities in Otsego County. Review grant guidelines for full details.

 

  • Funding range: $500 – $10,000
  • Application available: September 1, 2025
  • Application deadline: September 19, 2025
  • Funding notification: October 31, 2025
  • Review Grant Guidelines for eligibility and work through the grant readiness checklist
Mini Grants

Mini Grants are designed to fund projects that are small in scale, meet an unanticipated need or opportunity, help an organization with capacity building, or fall outside the timeline of the Community Grant Program. 

  • Funding range: $500 – $2,500
  • Application available: Year round (see chart)
  • Funding notifications: Quarterly (see chart)
  • Review Grant Guidelines for eligibility and work through the grant readiness checklist
Submit by Funding decision by
January 15 February 15
April 15 May 15
July 15 August 15
September 19 November 15

Live and Upcoming Cycles

Before applying for a grant, please review our Grant Guidelines here. When ready, explore open grant cycles below. We look forward to learning about your ideas for transforming our vision of healthy, vibrant, and resilient communities support by philanthropy into reality! Any questions can be directed to DeLayni Brown at delayni@otsegofoundation.org.

Community Grant Program

Since 2015, The Otsego Community Foundation has administered the Community Grant Program, a collaborative effort of local funders that increases the effectiveness of grantmaking and grows the capacity of local nonprofits. Collectively, we can make more of an impact on projects and programs. As the administrator of this program, the OCF will serve as your contact through the grant-seeking process. This program addresses the limited capacity of organizations to apply to multiple funding sources. This fall, applicants will complete one online application, which is reviewed by multiple funders, each with their own funding priorities and focus areas. The Community Grant Program is a one-stop grantmaking source for nonprofit organizations serving Otsego County.

Important dates

 August 13th, 8am informational session during NPX

August 21st, 11am informational session at the library

RSVP to these sessions here

September 1st – 19th, application open

October 30th, award notifications

Types of grants

    • Seed – supporting innovation and pilot programs
    • Sustaining – supporting ongoing program stability
    • Expansion – supporting growth and impact  

How to apply

Once the application is live, the links below will take you to a fillable PDF that will be submitted through Dropbox. Please only fill out one type of application. If you are an educator, proposals will be submitted through the district and not individual teachers.

Seed Grant Proposal

Sustaining Grant Proposal

Expansion Grant Proposal

 Note: In a mission to better develop a program that serves OCF staff, funding partners, and organizational partners, our grant application process is going through a slight makeover this year to try something new. This includes:

  • Request limit of $500-$10,000
  • No presentations, optional Q&A if committee requests follow up
  • Accepting new multi-year grants again in 2026

Funding Partners 

We are proud to partner with the following organizations for the Community Grant Program. Each funding partner makes its own decisions about which projects to support based on available funds and funding priorities. 

Contact us

Any questions can be directed to DeLayni Brown at delayni@otsegofoundation.org. 

 

 

Mini Grants-Beginning January 2026

 

Available all year, mini grants are designed to fund projects that are small in scale, meet an unanticipated need or opportunity, help an organization with capacity building, or fall outside the timeline for our other receptive grant cycle. Funding requests may range from $500 to $2,500.

Application calendar  

Submit by

Funding decision by

January 15

February 15

April 15

May 15

July 15

August 15

September 19*

November 15*

*4th Quarter cycle aligns with the Community Grant Program timing and may take longer to process and receive a funding decision. 

How to apply

When available, a fillable PDF will be linked below. Complete the fillable PDF below and submit via Dropbox. Please only fill out one application a quarter. 

Contact us

Any questions can be directed to DeLayni Brown at delayni@otsegofoundation.org.