Community Grants

The Forsyth County Community Foundation (FCCF), established in 2015 as an affiliate of the North Georgia Community Foundation (NGCF), is dedicated to strengthening the local community by connecting philanthropy with impact. The FCCF ensures that charitable giving remains rooted in Forsyth County, Georgia, where it can directly support the nonprofits and community-based organizations that serve the area. The foundation plays a vital role in fostering civic engagement and helping local nonprofits fulfill their missions through strategic grantmaking initiatives. In 2025, FCCF marked a significant milestone by launching its inaugural community grant cycle. This launch was made possible by a transformative $2 million investment, comprising a $1 million contribution from NGCF and a matching $1 million gift from prominent Forsyth County philanthropist Tommy Bagwell. The funds were directed into the FCCF Community Grant Endowment Fund, ensuring that FCCF could begin providing local nonprofits with sustainable, community-rooted funding opportunities. The FCCF Community Grants offer two types of support for nonprofit organizations located in Forsyth County, Georgia: operational and programmatic grants. Operational grants provide unrestricted funding to cover general operational needs, such as staffing and organizational development, though certain restrictions apply—funds cannot be used for political campaigns, lobbying, capital campaigns, bonuses, or incentive pay. Programmatic grants support specific programs or projects. For both types of grants, recipients are required to submit a final report detailing the use of awarded funds. Applicants may apply for only one grant type and may only submit one application per cycle. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities in good standing and physically located within Forsyth County, Georgia. Prior FCCF grant recipients are welcome to reapply, and previous awards may be considered during the evaluation process. Notably, receiving a grant from FCCF does not disqualify an organization from applying to other NGCF grant programs during the same calendar year, such as Opportunity Grants or fundholder-directed grants. Grant applications for the 2026 cycle open on April 1 and must be submitted through the FCCF’s online Grant Application Portal by 5:00 PM ET on April 30. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications must include either a program-specific budget or a general operating budget, depending on the grant type requested. Award amounts range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000. Requests exceeding the maximum limit will be disqualified. Final award decisions are made at the discretion of the FCCF Grants Committee and are not guaranteed to match the requested amount. For questions regarding the application or eligibility, prospective applicants can contact Chelsea Clark at [email protected] or by phone at 770-535-7880. The FCCF Community Grants program is an annual opportunity, with subsequent grant cycles expected in future years to continue supporting local nonprofit impact in Forsyth County.