GCAC GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS 

Before applying for a grant from The Garden Club of Allegheny County, note the following:

1. GCAC will only accept grant requests in line with its mission statement:

The mission of The Garden Club of Allegheny County shall be to promote greater knowledge of horticulture, stimulate interest in conservation and historic preservation, encourage community and environmental education, and participate in civic planning and planting programs.

2. All grant proposals must be sponsored by a current member of The Garden Club of Allegheny County. Please work closely with your sponsoring member to address questions or issues with your application.

3. Grant requests may be submitted between November 1st and January 15th. GCAC STRONGLY RECOMMENDS EARLY APPLICATION SUBMISSION

4. Applicants must be registered as a 501c3 organization.

5. Grants are made annually based on available funds. Historically they range between $5,000-$20,000; however, occasionally grants of $20,000 or more are made for especially compelling projects. If you are considering requesting a grant above $20,000, please ask your sponsoring member to contact the Chair of the Grants Committee at least six weeks before the deadline.  

6. All parts of the application form must be completed. The application will be submitted using the online form. All of the required attachments such as the most recent Audited Financial Statement or Financial Actuals, project budgets, list of Board Members are to be submitted as PDFs with the online application. Incomplete applications as of the January 15th deadline will not be reviewed.

7. If the grant application meets all requirements, including receipt of the required attachments, the proposing organization will be notified and the Project Director or a representative of the organization will be required to present the grant application to the GCAC Grants Committee in person on a date designated by the committee in late February/early March. Finalist organizations receiving funding will be advised in early Spring, shortly after the presentation meeting.

8. If a grant is awarded, the organization must submit a final report no later than May 15 of the following year. Submit all reports by email to gcacpgh@gmail.com. All projects must be completed by May 15 of the year following the year the grant is awarded. If the grantee anticipates that the project cannot be completed by May 15, wait to apply for a grant when you’re able to complete the project to fulfill this requirement. Grant awards must be used only for the purposes stated in the application and award contract.

9. All GCAC funds must be expended during the grant period, unused funds must be returned to the GCAC.

10. GCAC does not support general operating expenses, endowments or reserve funds.

11. Collaborative projects, and proposals demonstrating additional or matching financial support from organizations other than GCAC are strongly encouraged.