Applying for Grants
gfcu will award financial grants following one of two intake periods:
Spring Grant Cycle
March of each year - the Phoenix Foundation of the Boundary Communities granting process| Letter of Intent Submission: | March 1 - March 31 |
| Formal Grant Proposal Due: | March 31 |
| Learn More > |
Fall Grant Cycle
Aug - Sept disbursed and administered by Grand Forks Credit Union| Letter of Intent Submission: | Aug 1, 2022 - Sep 30 |
| Learn More > |
If your project falls under one of the five areas of focus, and you are eligible based on the criteria below, then it is time to move on to the next step.
Community
Investment
The following items can
qualify for granting from gfcu:
- Capital projects including construction and equipment purchases
- Not-for-profit organizations, cooperatives, charitable organizations
- Individuals organizing Not-for-profit projects within the Boundary Region
- Both members & non-members of gfcu
- Projects that will positively improve quality of life for a proportionate number of Boundary residents
- Projects that show strong organizational ability, and have a planned implementation process, and metrics in place to measure success / failure
- Items that can encourage regional innovation
- Projects that can increase and foster regional collaboration and partnerships
- Realistic goals and expectations
Community
Investment
The following items cannot
qualify for granting from gfcu:
- Retroactive funding or any project expenses incurred prior to the decision date
- Debt retirement or reserves
- Mortgage pay-downs
- Fund raising activities
- Activities of religious organizations that serve primarily their membership and/or their direct religious purposes
- Political projects
- Projects that have an impact on only a small proportion of residents
- Sabbatical leaves or student exchanges
- Publication of books
- For profit capital projects
- Projects occurring outside of the Boundary Region
- Un-budgeted projects
** Please note, that although we cannot provide grants to these projects, we do still have some very flexible and preferential lending opportunities for qualifying organizations and individuals. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to know all of your options. **
Our Spring grant cycle is run through the Phoenix Foundation, which holds an endowment of $1,000,000 from gfcu. The interest earned on this is eligible for community investment grants each year. Contact the Phoenix Foundation for grant applications March of any given year.
For the Fall grant cycle, run directly through gfcu, step 1 is the submission of your “Letter of Intent” to gfcu. When the granting cycle is open, these letters will be available online, as well as in branch, and will be reviewed by the appropriate committee(s) upon submission.
All projects that qualify for consideration will be notified, and may be asked to complete a full grant proposal.
The actual disbursement of funds will occur twice annually and will align with the gfcu AGM (mid April) and Credit Union Day (third Thursday in October).