W&L’s Community Grants Committee Calls for Proposals
Washington and Lee University’s Community Grants Committee would like to remind the community of its 2008-09 proposal evaluation schedule. Community Grants Proposals may be submitted at any time but will be reviewed semiannually, at the end of the calendar year and at the end of the fiscal year. Submission deadlines for the 2008-09 fiscal year are November 14, 2008 and June 12, 2009.
The program began its first full year on July 1, 2008, coinciding with the start of the University’s fiscal year. The University will award $50,000 during the program’s 2008-09 cycle.
Established in the spring of 2008, the purpose of the program is to support non-profit organizations in the Lexington/Rockbridge community. A total of 22 proposals for a combined $204,945.00 in requests were submitted from 21 organizations for the June 2008 evaluation. The committee made $25,000 worth of grants in the initial round. Ten organizations received grants averaging $2,500, including:
- Boxerwood Education Association, for its general operational support and education
- Central School PTA, for playground equipment
- Rockbridge Area Hospice, to help create a fund to assist those who cannot pay for services
- Project Horizon, for public education, volunteer training and hot line support
- Rockbridge Area Conservation Council, to upgrade their computer and communications
- Rockbridge Area Occupational Center, to help establish their new product venture College Care Packages
- Rockbridge Area Relief Association – Valley Program for Aging Services partnership, to help create a fund to assist those who cannot pay utility bills
- Rockbridge County Fair, to help bring the Va. Science Museum’s Space Travel exhibit to the fair
- YMCA, to help fund a fund-raising feasibility study
- Youth Literacy Program, to help Rockbridge County library train volunteer reading tutors and purchase books for children
“I am pleased by the response the community has had to the Community Grants Program,” said W&L President Ken Ruscio. “W&L is proud to continue to play an important role as a partner in supporting various community needs and programs.”
When asked about the annual budget and the coming year, committee chair Jim Farrar said, “The committee took satisfaction in its start-up role last spring. We have a full budget of $50,000 for the year and we look forward to working with community organizations in the months ahead.”
Interested parties may access the Community Grants Committee Web site and download a copy of the proposal guidelines.
Please call 540-458-8417 with questions. Proposals should be submitted as electronic attachments (word or pdf) via email at kbrinkley@wlu.edu. If an electronic submission is not possible, materials may be faxed to 540-458-8745 or mailed to:
Washington and Lee University Community Grants Committee
Attn: James D. Farrar, Jr.
Office of the Secretary
204 W. Washington Street
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA 24450
