March 12, 2004 – For the ninth year, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands is inviting school groups and other private organizations, not-for-profit agencies and individuals to apply for mini-grants ranging from $250 to $1,000.
Completed applications for the 2004 Mini-Grant Program must be sent to the foundation and postmarked no later than April 2.
The foundation awards mini-grants to support "innovative programs that respond to the needs of children and families" in the territory, Dee Baecher-Brown, CFVI president, said.
The program is in keeping with the foundation's mission "to support innovative programs that enhance the educational, physical, social, cultural and environmental well-being of children, youth and families in the Virgin Islands," a CFVI release stated.
The foundation is committed to using resources from unrestricted sources to fund innovative programs and projects that show promise of developing into longer-term responses to the needs of children and families in the Virgin Islands.
The mini-grants program promotes "new and creative programs and projects that are of direct benefit to the children, youth or families of the Virgin Islands and demonstrate the promise of continuing after the expiration of the grant," the release stated. "CFVI will give priority to proposals not already being met by established programs. Grants cannot be used to assist with the underwriting of operating budgets."
Those selected to receive 2004 mini-grants must agree to submit a brief written report and documentation on the use of the grant at the end of the funding period. Any applicant who was a recipient of a 2003 CFVI Mini-Grant must submit a brief written report and documentation on the use of the 2003 grant funds in order to be considered for a 2004 grant. To date, CFVI has awarded a total of $180,000 in mini-grants to more than 300 community groups and individuals. This year, the foundation will provide up to $35,000 in grants. That's also the amount that was awarded last year — to a total of 79 applicants.
Among the community programs that have received mini-grant support in recent years are the Juan F. Luis Hospital Summer Asthma Camp, the Alfredo Andrews Elementary School music program; the Marine Kids Korps aquatic program; the Charlotte Amalie High School Cheetahs track racing team; Elaine L. Sprauve Library summer program field trips; the V.I. Junior Firefighters training in fire prevention, first aid and rescue; and the Estate Bordeaux Summer Camp.
You can download a mini-grant application pdf file and print it out. (It may take a little time to load.) If you don't have Acrobat Reader to access the file, you can download it without charge.
Hard copy application forms may be picked up at two locations on St. Thomas: at the CFVI office in Royal Dane Mall, Suite 2C, above the Beans, Bytes and Websites Café; and at the Draughting Shaft in Havensight Mall.
On St. Croix, they are available at the Chamber of Commerce office at 3009 Orange Grove, Suite 12.
They also may be obtained by calling the CFVI office at 774-6031.
Founded in 1990, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands administers a growing collection of permanent endowment funds set up by donors for the long-term benefit of the territory. There currently are more than 70 such funds created by individuals and businesses to support educational, environmental, social and cultural initiatives in the Virgin Islands. In addition to providing mini-grants, CFVI distributes scholarships to area students and publishes the annual Kids Count statistical report on the status of children in the territory.
For more information about the foundation, visit the CFVI Web site.
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