Sedona AZ–The Yavapai County Community Foundation (YCCF) announces the availability of grant funding for 2011 and invites local community organizations to participate in two upcoming workshops to help better prepare their YCCF funding applications.  Two workshops will be offered in different regions of Yavapai County:  in Camp Verde on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Hotel at Cliff Castle, Jerome Ballroom, (downhill from the Casino), 333 Middle Verde Road, Camp Verde; and in Prescott on Thursday, March 10, 2011, 9:00 to 11:00 am, at Prescott College, Crossroads Center, 220 Grove Avenue, Prescott.

The workshops will focus on YCCF’s 2011 open competitive grant cycle, including application instructions. YCCF staff will review the online application system as well as eligibility requirements and guidelines. Staff and grant committee members will also be on hand to answer questions following the workshops. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the workshops to learn about significant changes in this year’s application and process.

Workshop attendance is free and open to the public, but space is limited. To register, contact Tracey McConnell, YCCF grants and operations coordinator, at tmcconnell@azfoundation.org or (928) 499-9795. Please indicate which workshop you plan to attend.  

Last year, YCCF awarded more than $167,000 to 26 Yavapai County organizations. Grant funding may be awarded in interest areas including youth programs, social services, healthcare, eye care, music and art, the environment and law enforcement canines.

YCCF awards grants from a variety of local endowed funds every year. YCCF accepts funding requests from qualified nonprofit organizations, public schools, municipality and tribes in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.  Grant applications will be available online beginning Thursday, March 24 at www.azfoundation.org/grants. All applications must be submitted by noon on Thursday, April 21.

Grant applicants must have an updated online profile at www.azfoundation.org and be a designated 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, or qualify as a public school, municipality or Tribe. Organizations that have received YCCF grant funding in 2009 or earlier must confirm that their final reports have been received by YCCF/ACF in order to be eligible for future funding. Grant applicants must provide services within Yavapai County geographic boundaries.  Any Sedona agencies submitting proposals for funding to YCCF must use the funding to benefit residents of Yavapai County outside of the Sedona city limits (as defined by the Sedona Fire District).

The Yavapai County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Arizona Community Foundation, is an 18-year-old permanent philanthropic endowment for the enduring benefit of the community.  It secures, manages and allocates donors’ gifts for charitable purposes in the County while working to improve the quality of life for local residents.  Since the inception of YCCF in 1993, the Community Foundation has contributed more than $2 million to Yavapai County nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. To learn more, visit www.yavapaifoundation.org or call (928) 499-9795.