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Livingston County CARES Community Improvement Grants

Since 2005, Livingston County Cares has assisted communities and individuals locally, regionally, nationwide, and globally in humanitarian projects. In an effort to advance work that specifically benefits the residents of Livingston County, New York, the organization is pleased to launch CARES Community Improvement Grants.  This program is intended to provide financial assistance to individuals or groups working to support humanitarian causes in Livingston County.

Grant Information:

  • Livingston County Cares plans to grant a total of up to ten projects that benefit communities in Livingston County.  These grants are funded out of a $5,000 earmark in the Livingston County Cares annual budget.

  • Applications may be submitted by an individual or group for the purpose of:

    • Delivering a community event, program, or service

    • Addressing basic community needs such as housing, food security, other critical services

    • Purchasing equipment, supplies, and/or labor to advance a project or installation

    • Publicizing an existing community-facing project or event

  • The main audience for LCCares-supported projects should be communities in Livingston County

  • Livingston County Cares funding may be combined with funding from other sources (e.g., other nonprofits, grants, municipalities, etc.).

  • These grants are intended to provide assistance to locally-based efforts that provide collective benefits to the inhabitants of communities in Livingston County through a specific project or initiative.  At this time, Livingston County Cares will not support grants that are intended to:

    • Assist individuals (or individual families)

    • Provide general charitable contributions that are not connected to a specific project

    • Support political lobbying or campaign activities

    • Advocate for a particular faith tradition

    • Advance ideologies or projects that discriminate against, disrespect, or otherwise harm the dignity of community members

    • Support administrative and/or overhead costs such as salary, ongoing maintenance, or other operational costs

  • Applications will be accepted through 22 May 2026, with decisions announced by 19 June 2026.  Recipients are expected to complete their proposed project by 1 April 2027.

Examples of preferred projects include, but are not limited to:

  • An ongoing or one-time community workshop or program (e.g., technology literacy, tax preparation, etc.)

  • An installation, display, or other facility (e.g., a micro library or food pantry, a community garden, an interpretive display, etc.)

  • Revitalization projects (e.g., renovation of a community resource or recovery work).  

  • Publicity for an ongoing public service (e.g., enhanced marketing or website development for an existing public service project or initiative)

Other Information:

  • Livingston County Cares provides funding support only.  In providing grant funding, the organization takes on no costs or liabilities associated with budget overages, ongoing upkeep, insurance, or other risks associated with the project.  Proposers should keep this in mind when developing their application.

  • Applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the Livingston County Cares board.  This subcommittee reserves the right to partially fund projects or request additional information before proceeding with a grant.  Rejected applications may be resubmitted in future years.

  • By 1 April 2027, awardees should submit a final report and expense breakdown.  This should document the project or event so that information can be shared at the annual Livingston County Cares Award Volunteer Recognition Event.  Unexpended funds should also be returned at this time. 

  • Awardees should ensure that Livingston County Cares funding is acknowledged as part of the project and in any media or social media coverage.  Awardees are encouraged to share photographs, media clippings, or other information with Livingston County Cares.  Livingston County Cares reserves the right to use any of these materials in its own marketing and communications.

  • Awardees will be invited to and acknowledged at the annual CARES Award Volunteer Recognition Event.

How to Apply:

Applications are submitted online and should include:

  • A narrative of the intended project, including a description of outcomes, the intended audience, and the intended impact (no more than 500 words).

  • Information on the applicant(s) and examples of their previous public service, volunteerism, or other work that benefits communities (no more than 500 words).

  • A line item budget.  This should:

    • Indicate how Livingston County Cares funds will be expended. 

    • Include a budget for the full project if Livingston County Cares funding is supplemented by other funds.  This should include the full costs associated with the project, information on other sources of funding, and a clear indication of what component(s) the CARES Community Improvement Grant will support. 

  • Information on ways that your project could move forward if LCC can only partially fund your proposal.

  • Letter(s) of support from partners.  If a project relies on approval or other resources from a third party or external agency (e.g., local parks department, library, town or village board, school district, etc.), documentation of support from all affected partners is required.

  • For more information and a link to the  Livingston County CARES Community Improvement Grant Application, click here.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Who can apply?​

  • Grant applications may be submitted by any individual or organization living or operating in Livingston County, NY.​​

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What types of projects are supported?

  • The CARES Community Improvement Grants may be used to support a range of projects that serve the inhabitants of Livingston County, NY.  These may be new initiatives or expanded support for existing programs. Examples might include (but are not limited to) a service project organized by a local group or organization, an Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Gold Award project, creation of a shared resource such as a community garden or little library, renovation of an existing resource or faculty such as an upgrade to a public space, or enhanced publicity for an ongoing service such as a medical loan closet or literacy project. 

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What types of projects are not supported?

  • The CARES Community Improvement Grants are not intended to provide relief or assistance to single individuals or families.  The grants are also not appropriate for activities such as political lobbying (for both causes and specific candidates), general charitable contributions that are not connected to a specific project, membership recruitment, or advocacy for a specific religious faith tradition.  Grants are not intended to provide support for administrative or overhead costs such as staffing, ongoing costs, or maintenance.  Grants cannot support work that seeks to advance ideologies that discriminate against, disrespect, or otherwise harm the dignity of community members.

  

Can funds be used to support projects outside Livingston County?

  • The aim of these funds is to support community efforts in Livingston County, NY and the main audience must be residents of the county.

 

Can funds be used to improve a public facility, such as something in a local park, library, or playground?

  • CARES Community Improvement Grants can be used for this purpose, but all permissions and logistics should be secured in advance.  Applications must include a letter of support from the collaborating office(s) or agency.

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What is the timeline for the project?

  • Funding will be distributed in early June 2026, and projects should be complete by 1 April 2027, but extensions are possible.

 

Can a project be extended? 

  • Awardees should strive to complete projects by 1 April 2027, but if an extension is needed, Livingston County CARES will work with awardees to extend the timeline.

 

How much funding can an applicant apply for?

  • There is no maximum amount, but applicants should be mindful that Livingston County CARES has earmarked a total of $5000 for these grants and hopes to award several projects. 

 

What specific items can be funded by the grant?

  • Grants funds can be used for equipment and supplies, one-time contracting of specialist labor, publicity, and hospitality.

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Can these funds be pooled with other funding sources?

  • Yes!  For particularly costly projects, we encourage applicants to pursue other funding sources.  CARES Community Improvement Grants can be used to support a part of a larger project.

 

How will awardees receive funds?

  • Livingston County CARES will distribute the full amount of the grant shortly after announcement of the awarded grants in early June 2026. 

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What happens if an awardee does not expend all funds?

  • A report on the project is due by 1 April 2027.  Funds that are not expended should be returned at that point, but we will work with awardees if the funding can be used to advance other related work.

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What happens if a project goes over budget? 

  • Livingston County CARES provides a one time grant award and cannot top off funds in case of overages.  Project managers should take this into account when planning and administering the project.

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Will future grants be offered?

  • This is a pilot program organized by Livingston County CARES.  We plan to assess the grant program and will likely offer similar funding opportunities on an annual basis going forward.

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If there are future grants, can a previous awardee reapply?

  • We welcome applications in future cycles.  However, applicants should be mindful of the fact that these grants are one-time awards and are not intended to provide ongoing maintenance or support for projects.

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