The Carl M. Freeman Foundation recently announced the opening of grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations located in and serving Sussex County. Funding is available through the Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support Grants Program, which targets small organizations with operating budgets of $500,000 or less, which are often overlooked by funders.
The FACES program uses a volunteer advisory board composed of citizens who live or work in Sussex County. Typically, these people are community and business leaders, activists, students and nonprofit executives. Advisory board members evaluate the applications and recommend where funding should be awarded based on the needs and priorities of the community. The grant cycle will open Wednesday, Feb. 20, and applications are due by 5 p.m., Thursday, March 21. Grant guidelines and applications can be found at www.carlfreemanfoundation.org.
A Meet the Funder Workshop will take place from 4 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Georgetown Public Library, 123 W. Pine St., Georgetown. This workshop will focus on an overview of the FACES grant process as well as the E-Grant system, which is used during the FACES grant application process. Those with questions about the application process may contact Melissa Rizer, Carl M. Freeman Foundations grant manager, at 302-436-6310 or melissa@freemanfoundation.org. The winners will be announced in May.
“This is our 13th year of giving FACES grants in Sussex County,” said Patti Grimes, executive director of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. “We’re so proud, particularly in such a difficult economic time, to be able to serve the most vulnerable organizations serving our community. We are committed to doing everything we can to help support and continue the vital work they do.”
Organizations that received a FACES grant in 2012 include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware, Cancer Support Community of Delaware, Delaware Nature Society, Georgetown Elementary School, New Home Recreation and Development Center, Pathways to Success Inc., Student Mentoring at John M. Clayton Elementary School, Sussex Community Crisis Housing Services Inc., Sussex Tech Adult Division, VSA Delaware and West Side New Beginnings.
The Carl M. Freeman Foundation has been involved in the Sussex County community since the Freeman Companies began developing Sea Colony in the 1960s. As the Freeman Companies developed the communities of Bayside and Bear Trap Dunes, the foundation expanded its outreach with the FACES program. In 2008, the foundation began supporting The Freeman Stage Series at Bayside, an open-air performing arts venue near Fenwick Island, which will open its sixth season this Memorial Day.
The Carl M. Freeman Foundation commits its time, talent and treasure to facilitate, support and promote innovative, community-based leadership and giving. It seeks to honor its founders’ legacies and passions by endorsing excellence and leveraging resources. Generally, it limits donations to communities where the customers, employees and vendors of Carl M. Freeman Companies work, live and play.
Go to www.carlfreemanfoundation.org. for more information.
