The Community Closet was established to:

• Provide residents of Park County with affordable second-hand clothing and household goods

• Provide non-profit groups and activities in Park County with no-cost merchandise as appropriate

• Improve the quality of life in Park County through charitable contributions generated from thrift store profits as funding allows

 

Funding Guidelines:

The Community Closet may accept applications for funding from:

• Non-profit corporations

• Civic bodies

• Local governments

• School districts and private (non-profit) schools

• Other interested groups whose function is to benefit the community of Park County, Montana

• Religious or fraternal organizations for activities or projects that are a benefit to the general public

• Individual residents of Park County or on behalf of individual residents for assisting with catastrophic incidences will also be accepted (please read following section for examples)

 

The Community Closet Board of Directors may also grant funds to activities, organizations, or individuals that they deem to be in the community’s interest.

 

Funding applications for the following groups/activities will not be accepted:

• Political organizations, campaigns, candidates

• Activities not taking place in Park County or not providing a clear benefit to Park County residents

• Operating budgets for religious or fraternal organizations

• Past bills such as rent, water, or power

• Deposits for housing or utilities

• Any application from an individual requiring immediate assistance

 

Examples of possible funding would include but not necessarily be limited to:

• Recreation scholarships/equipment

• Community functions

• Educational programs

• Youth programs

• Support of existing non-profit organizations/special programs

 

Examples of past funding for individuals and families include:

• Gas cards so a family could take a child to an out of town hospital

• Orthotic inserts so a waitress could stay on her feet and keep her job

• Travel and conference expenses so family caregivers could learn to take care of a child with disabilities

 

The Application and Funding Process:

1. An application, including a budget, is required from all applicants. Past grants have ranged from $50 to $5,000 with the average being $1,000. All grant awards require a grant report within six months of receiving the grant, those who have not submitted reports are ineligible for further grants.

2. As part of the application process, you must include a budget of how the funds requested from The Community Closet will be spent. If your organization has a budget, we need to see that as well.

3. Funding determinations are made by the Board of Directors at their quarterly meetings. Deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 30. Applications must be received by or postmarked on the deadline. Drop off at Community Closet, attention Caron Cooper, email to grants@communitycloset.org, or mail to 416 E. Park Street, Livingston, MT 59047 by the deadline.

4. If funding is awarded, the recipient must maintain financial records of how the money is spent to provide these records to Community Closet at the end of their activity or when the money has been spent, whichever comes first. Grant report instructions can be downloaded here.

5. Funds not used for the applied project must be returned to The Community Closet; these funds may not be rolled over to another project without an additional (successful) application. Questions? Email grants@communitycloset.org.