New Grant Opportunities

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The Hillsborough Garden Club (HGC) is proud to announce a new competitive grant  program to support local organizations and individuals that carry out public programs or projects that promote horticultural, gardening, or other efforts to protect and conserve our natural resources. 

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The HGC will sponsor two grant cycles each year; the deadline for applications for the Fall award is 5 p.m., October 1, 2023. An online information session will be held on Tuesday, September 12, from 5:30 to 6:30.

Registration is required: email Hillsboroughgardenclubnc@gmail.com; include your name, email, organization. We will email you a zoom link.  

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In future years, the application cycle will be September 15 and February 15. Applicants must serve greater Hillsborough and northern Orange County. Each award will be limited to $2,000.

 

GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!     

 

Eligibility Requirements

• Nonprofits, charitable organizations, civic organizations, cultural organizations, educational organizations (and their staff, such as teachers) and similar entities in Hillsborough, Northern Orange County, and the Efland area will be eligible to receive grant awards.

• Applicants must serve greater Hillsborough and northern Orange County.

 

What is the HGC looking to fund?

The grants aim to support public programs or projects that promote horticultural, gardening, or other efforts to protect and conserve our natural resources.

 

The criteria include:

• How will this benefit the community? 

• Will this provide an educational opportunity?

• How will this protect our natural resources in some way?

• How will this conserve our natural resources?

• Who is the beneficiary of the project?

• What is the geographic area to be served?

• How visible will this be? 

• What is the Applicant’s capacity to manage and complete the project?

• To what extent will our funding be leveraged by other funds/resources?

 

How will the grant be paid?

• The HGC will pay grant recipients the total amount at the conclusion of the project or in increments upon receipt of a detailed invoice. Advances of a portion of the total award or other terms may be made to grant awardees, if negotiated before the grant agreement is signed.

• Each grant recipient will sign the Grant Agreement.

• For larger projects, the HGC and the recipient organization may negotiate a contract to describe the terms more specifically. 

• The grantee will be responsible for hiring vendors, consultants, or other specialists, paying relevant expenses and purchasing materials to accomplish the project.

• Grant recipients are expected to retain receipts, photos, reports, news articles and other proof of relevant expenditures for the project and make required status reports. 

 

Who Judges the Applications and How is the Money Distributed?

• The Club’s Philanthropy Subcommittee will review the applications and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors by the October and March Board meetings (or, in the case of 2023, by the November Board meeting.)

• The Club’s Board of Directors makes the final decisions.

• Immediately following the Board approval, a grant agreement will be drafted by the Subcommittee members and signed by all parties. Funds will be released as per the agreement.