The Petersburg Community Foundation is trying to give away thousands of dollars. The charitable foundation awards annual grants and this year, the pot is $10,000. The money will be divvied up to local non-profits that apply and are found to have legitimate causes.
For over 40 years, David Wallen earned money fishing around Petersburg. Now he’s retired and has the time to give back. He’s one of several volunteers with Petersburg Community Foundation trying to facilitate this year’s grant process. Wallen says a core group of non-profits usually apply year after year but the money has been spread around over time.
“Oh, Children’s Center, Little Norway, just a myriad of projects and groups,” Wallen says. “I believe that there are something like 75 non-profit groups in Petersburg. It surprised me when I read the list but there’s quite a few and they’re all eligible.”
The deadline to apply is April 18. Wallen explains how the process works.
“When they put in their applications, which are done on-line, we will receive them after the closure of the period. We will read and grade each application,” Wallen says. “Of course, it is up to the individual group to request whatever it is that they feel they need and then to justify that.”
There’s no question that there are many local non-profits that need help with funding. In making their decision on who gets what, Wallen says the foundation is looking for the effectiveness of how far the money will go towards a specific need.
“With a very real eye toward what will a partial grant mean to the whole grant, whether or not they will be able to fill that in,” Wallen says. “It’s a critical part and it’s sometimes overlooked.”
Wallen says they rarely give groups the full amount that they ask for but awards typically range from $500 to $2,500.
The Petersburg Community Foundation was established in 2008. It has a permanent endowment fund which is used to improve the quality of life in Petersburg.
“It’s a loose knit revolving group of people that have interest with finding people with needs and sources for helping them,” Wallen says.
There will be an awards celebration around Little Norway days when the recipients will find out about their awards.
Applications must be done on-line. You can do that at petersburgcf.org and follow the grant links there.
