$26k available to nonprofits in BCF grants

Time is winding down for non-profit organizations to apply for a “piece of the pie.”

The “pie” refers to $26,659 in grant dollars that are available from the Brandon Community Foundation this year. As of Sept. 5, Steve Tripp, chairman of the BCF grant committee, said five applications had been submitted. The grant application deadline is Sept. 29.

“For 11 years, the BCF has operated in a fairly quiet manner. Today, the BCF would like to remind organizations and the community who we are and what we do,” Tripp said.

Since the BCF’s origin in 2006, the endowment has grown to more than $600,000, of which $147,000 generated from interest on the fund, has been shared with local non-profits over the last 10 years.

Past grant recipients have included both the Brandon and Valley Springs’ fire departments, BV Weekend Backpack program, Junior Achievement, Odyssey of the Mind, BV Special Olympics, the Mighty Corson Art Players, Brandon Library, Brandon Baseball Association, and the American Legion in Valley Springs, and others.

“I think the beauty of the endowment fund is the ability for a donor to contribute funds, and then the endowment can disperse to multiple organizations rather than just one,” Tripp said.

In 2016, the BCF Board of Directors changed the twice-a-year grant allocations to once per year, which are announced at the group’s annual Oak & Vine. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at the Brandon Golf Course.

“It’s a great evening event with entertainment, hors de ouvres, wine and craft beer,” Tripp said. “It’s our one annual event that gives us the opportunity to grow the endowment fund with gracious support from individuals and businesses.”

To download the grant guidelines and application, visit brandoncf.org. Grant applications should be mailed to BCF, P.O. Box 816, Brandon, SD 57005.