Mini Grants
To affect positive change in our communities and to develop relationships with local nonprofit organizations, C&S launched the Mini Grant program in 2002.
We focus on “our backyard” and accept requests from community groups that are located within 20 miles of where we do business and where most of our employees live.
Requests for Mini Grant support are reviewed and decided upon by local C&S employees who understand local needs and who are involved in the community.
Looking to access a Mini Grant you’ve already started or had submitted in the past? Click here.
Mini Grants are:
- Cash up to $1,000 for projects and programs that improve the quality of life in communities and neighborhoods that help people and affect important local issues.
- Cash up to $500 for local special events to raise funds and awareness for local causes and organizations, or for community celebrations.
- Modest amounts of food/products for nonprofits to use for special events, celebrations or fundraising purposes. Click here to view our list of commonly requested items by location.
Deadline: All-electronic Mini Grant requests are accepted on the first of each month. Requests received after the first of the month will be included in the following month’s review cycle. Due to high volume we cannot expedite requests. All grants are awarded at the sole discretion of C&S.
Decisions: 2-3 weeks after the application deadline. Applications are due on the first of the month, with decisions on or around the 14th of each month. Organizations with operating sites in multiple locations are allowed to apply once per site for up to three sites per Fiscal Year.
In order to help as many community groups as we can, please ask for Mini Grant support every other year. You will be prompted to take an eligibility quiz prior to filling out each application.
To improve your chances of a positive response to your request, please review the following guidelines:
- C&S invests in nonprofit groups and organizations with 501(c)(3) designation by the Internal Revenue Service.
- Please focus on at least one of our core initiatives: Hunger, Children and/or Environment.
- Your request should address specific issues, community-wide concerns and have measurable results.
- Organizations must have two years of direct service experience prior to applying.
C&S does not fund:
Capital Campaigns
Multi-Year Requests
Endowment Funds
Individuals
Scholarships
National health organizations and statewide/regional branches of national health organizations
Mass mailing appeals
Travel expenses
Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or sexual preference
United Way member agencies* (with the exception of those that focus on hunger)
* C&S makes significant donations to the United Way by matching our associates’ contributions dollar-for-dollar. Community kitchens, food shelves, soup kitchens and other local hunger groups that are UW agencies are invited to apply for cash Mini Grants of up to $1,000. All other types of United Way agencies are invited to request product only.
Requests will only be accepted online via our application form here.
Print Donations
We know that nonprofits need to be focused on their missions; that’s important for helping people and communities thrive. So when we can leverage an asset we have — the C&S Print Shop (and its dedicated team) — in a way that takes a bit of the pressure off nonprofits, we do. Community groups in our corporate headquarter communities are invited to ask us for help with printing collateral materials for fundraising, posters for a special event, letterhead or flyers.
To request a print donation, please read the following requirements:
- Targeted nonprofit groups and organizations with 501(c)(3) designation by the Internal Revenue Service within 20 miles of Keene, N.H. or Brattleboro, Vt.
- Competitive requests focus on our core initiatives.
- Organizations must have two years of direct service experience prior to applying.
- May apply for one print job donation per calendar year, up to $1,000 in value.
Services are provided at the discretion of C&S and subject to availability, scheduling and other factors.
All requests are accepted on the first of each month. Requests received after the first of the month will be included in the next month’s review cycle. Turn-around time, once final files are received and arrangements are confirmed:
- Two weeks for donated printing projects during January, March, May, July, August, October and November.
- Four weeks during February, April, June, September and December.
Donated print projects cannot be expedited. Groups are asked to submit art files in PDF format.
If a print project estimate exceeds $1,000, your nonprofit may reduce the scale of the project or cover the balance at a discounted cost.
Completed projects will need to be picked up from the C&S Print Shop in Brattleboro, Vt. unless alternative arrangements are made.
Apply for a print donation here.
Visit our Donations FAQs page for more details.
Have questions? Please contact our Community Relations Team here.