Help nonprofits secure grant awards through Gannett Foundation's crowdfunding program

Naomi Ludlow, USA TODAY
·3 min read
An instructor poses with students of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families is a national fatherhood initiative model that supports families, builds communities and prevents child poverty.
An instructor poses with students of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families is a national fatherhood initiative model that supports families, builds communities and prevents child poverty.

Organizations looking to better their communities are now fundraising until Aug. 12 as a part of the Gannett Foundation’s A Community Thrives crowdfunding and grant program. Over 700 organizations have applied for the $2 million initiative in hopes of implementing community-building ideas.

The nonprofit organizations have one month to raise money through the online platform Mightycause to reach a minimum of $3,000 or $6,000, depending on the group’s operating budget, in order to qualify as a grant recipient.

Through the site, users can donate to an organization of their choice by filtering the cause type, location and category. Donors have the opportunity to help these organizations advance their safe spaces for teens with cancer, expand no-kill animal sanctuaries, improve musical training programs and more.

“A Community Thrives has been an excellent way for Gannett to leverage its platforms to raise attention and funds for participating nonprofit organizations," said Sue Madden, director of the Gannett Foundation. "Over the past five years, the program has contributed more than $17 million to community building projects and local operating expenses of service organizations across the country.”

The organizations will get to keep the money they raise, but top projects also will qualify for additional grants to support their change-making ideas. Top fundraisers will receive a total of $200,000 in grants and all eligible organizations will qualify for consideration of the National Project and Local Operating grants.

A Community Thrives: Gannett Foundation calls for applications in national, local crowdfunding, grant program

One of last year’s $50,000 grant recipients, Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach, was one of 16 organizations to receive a National Project Grant. The group was able to support their program’s expansion by 10%, according to A Community Thrives website.

Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach advances the renewal and development of central El Paso’s Rio Grande neighborhood through the empowerment and transformation of its residents.
Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach advances the renewal and development of central El Paso’s Rio Grande neighborhood through the empowerment and transformation of its residents.

The organization seeks to advance "the renewal and development of central El Paso’s Rio Grande neighborhood through the empowerment and transformation of its residents,” as stated on the organization’s website.

With the help of A Community Thrives program, nonprofits are able to bring community-improvement ideas to life.

In addition to funding, A Community Thrives raises the visibility of participating organizations with national and local media coverage and exposes the organizations’ missions to new potential donors.

“This is a national program with equal opportunity for small and nascent organizations and well-established organizations alike. Building community through connections and helping communities thrive are key program drivers,” Madden said.

2021 grant recipients: New Jersey urban farm project, refugee organization in Ohio among 2021 recipients in Gannett Foundation's A Community Thrives

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families guides six South Carolina-based organizations that combat social issues surrounding fatherhood.

“Because of our work, fathers and children have been reconnected and family bonds strengthened so these children will no longer suffer the detrimental effects of father absence, including generational poverty and low education, and a higher likelihood of teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and early incarceration,” reads the organization's site.

An instructor South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families helps students during a program.
An instructor South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families helps students during a program.

By receiving the A Community Thrives grant, they were able to boost"the marketing and public education for their Reality Check program that educates young men on the impact of fatherhood," as stated on A Community Thrives site.

To learn about the 2022 A Community Thrives participating organizations and to make donations, visit acommunitythrives.mightycause.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gannett Foundation A Community Thrives program: How to donate