Applying for a Grant from WCRF

Grant Applications for Fall 2026 will open August 1

Application Requirement

The first step in applying to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation is to acquaint yourself with our funding guidelines, areas of interest, and ineligible uses of funds.  Then register your organization online and complete the full application.

Please carefully read the following sample questions, grant guidelines, & areas of interest. You must have a registered GuideStar profile as well as a Foundant profile to apply for funding. Please contact our Director with any questions.

Sample Grant Questions
Full Grant Guidelines

Areas of Special Interest

Community Development and Beautification
The Foundation supports projects that improve shared spaces, promote a better quality of life, enhance the image and appearance of our towns, and contribute to a more vibrant community.

Economic Development
The Foundation supports projects that improve the infrastructure and public services and create opportunites for growth.

Education and Arts
The Foundation supports new and innovative projects that promote lifelong learning, including academic, arts, athletic performance, and workforce preparation opportunities.

Human and Social Needs
The Foundation supports innovative projects that strengthen families, befefit young people, enrich the lives of senior citizens, and meet important community needs.

Organization Requirements

At least one of the following code sections may describe the applying organization:

  • IRC Section 170c(2),Section 170c(1) – Governmental units such as cities, counties, schools, community colleges, hospitals, etc.

  • IRC Section 501c(3) – Charitable, religious, or educational organizations

  • IRC Section 501c(4) – Social welfare organizations and local associations of employees

  • IRC Section 501c(6) – Business leagues, such as Chambers of Commerce

  • IRC Section 501c(19) - Veterans Organization

  • Register and update your organization’s charity profile at GuideStar.org

To enhance the impact of its grant making, the Foundation is especially interested in leveraging its grant awards; therefore, applicants are encouraged to secure other sources of funding in order to complete a project in addition to funding requested from the Foundation.

What we don’t fund

GRANTS ARE NOT AWARDED FOR THE FOLLOWING USES

  • Benefiting specific individuals, such as an individual applying for funding to pay for their education, a fellowship, etc.

  • Participating in, or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.

  • Supporting any specific or individual private for-profit enterprise.

  • Replacing an organization’s existing, long-term source of funding.

  • Funding operating deficits or providing long-term operating support

  • Supporting any organization that is not in compliance with the terms and purposes of any prior grant awarded by the Foundation.  If the organization has violated the terms of any prior grant, the organization will be considered ineligible until such violation has been resolved.

  • No grant application will be approved that is inconsistent with the tax exempt status of the Foundation.