Community Giving Grants
We’re excited to introduce a new approach to how we support our community.
Beginning in 2026, our Community Giving efforts will shift to a grant-based model, providing impactful investments in the organizations and initiatives that strengthen our region. This change was shaped by feedback from our Advisory Board and Community Partners, with the goal of creating more intentional, mission- and action-focused funding. Each year, we will award five $2,500 grants to nonprofit organizations serving our nine-county service area, including Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. Our application process is designed to be simple and accessible, while still giving us a clear understanding of your organization, your project, and the impact you aim to create. Applications will be reviewed by credit union leadership and our Board of Directors using a transparent scoring rubric that focuses on feasibility, community need, sustainability, and overall impact.
Key Dates
- Application Opens: May 1, 2026
- Application Closes: June 30, 2026
- Review Period: July - August
- Recipients Notified: September 9, 2026
Who Should Apply
We encourage nonprofit organizations located in or serving our three-county membership and greater nine-county CDFI service area to apply. Whether you’re an existing Community Partner or new to working with us, we welcome applications from organizations committed to making a meaningful difference in their communities.
What to Expect
The application is a short, straightforward form that should take less than 30 minutes to complete. You’ll be asked to share basic information about your organization, the project you’re requesting funding for, and the impact you expect to make. Our goal is simple: to invest in work that creates real, lasting impact across the communities we serve. If you have questions at any point during the process, we’re here to help.
APPLICATION
Click here to apply via our Qualtrics form.
The application is best viewed on a desktop or larger-screen device; however, you can complete and submit it on a mobile device or tablet if desired.
We prioritize organizations that have an existing relationship with our credit union or are open to building one.
We focus our funding on communities within our membership and CDFI service areas.
- Membership Service Area: Knox, Anderson, and Roane counties
- Greater CDFI Service Area: Blount, Campbell, Loudon, Morgan, Scott, and Union counties
We look for projects that are realistic and well-planned. Strong applications include:
- A clear plan and timeline
- Defined goals and outcomes
Please note that we do not require a budget for our Community Giving Grant application, as all recipients will receive the same amount. However, if you would like to provide specific details, there is a space to do so. Providing a budget will not automatically result in a higher application score.
We want to understand the “why” behind your project. Strong applications include:
- A clear description of the need or problem
- Explanation of who will benefit and how
- Long-term benefits to the community
We are looking to fund projects that align with our community development mission and create real, measurable impact. Strong applications:
- Clearly connect to community impact
- Show how funds will directly support action
- Include measurable outcomes or success indicators
Our goal with our Community Giving Grants is to fund mission-driven and action-focused projects. While event sponsorships remain an important part of our community support and are reviewed separately, they are not eligible for funding through the Community Giving Grant. This program is intentionally focused on supporting projects that deliver measurable outcomes and sustained impact beyond a single event.
Nonprofit organizations located in or serving our nine-county service area are eligible to apply. This includes Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties.
The application is a short, straightforward form that should take less than 30 minutes to complete. You’ll be asked to share basic information about your organization, the project you’re requesting funding for, and the impact you expect to make.
You’ll be asked to provide:
- Basic organization and contact information
- A brief overview of your project
- The need your project addresses
- How you plan to use the funds
- The impact you expect to make
No. While we value existing partnerships, we welcome applications from any nonprofit organization located in or serving our nine-county service area.
The application will ask if you are a current Community Partner and provides an option to indicate that you are an affiliate organization to a current Community Partner. The credit union will cross-reference this information with applicable active Community Partners as needed.
Our grant application is hosted through Qualtrics to help us collect application data in a consistent format and support a fair, structured review process. Responses are organized and scored against our published rubric before moving into manual review and discussion by credit union leadership and the Board of Directors.
No. The Community Giving Grant application will automatically close at 11:45 p.m. on June 30, 2026. Because the application is open for an extended submission period, all applicants are given the same opportunity and timeline to apply. To maintain a consistent review process, late submissions will not be accepted; we encourage applicants to submit early to avoid waiting until the final day.
Organizations may submit one application per funding cycle. If multiple applications are submitted, the application with the earliest time stamp will be reviewed. Please contact us at marketing@fcumail.org before submitting any additional applications due to errors, updated information, or updated needs.
We will award five (5) grants of $2,500 each to five different nonprofit organizations.
We prioritize projects that:
- Address a clear community need
- Have a realistic and well-defined plan
- Demonstrate measurable impact
- Create benefits that extend beyond a one-time effort
This grant is intended to support specific projects or initiatives rather than general operating expenses.
No. Event sponsorships are not funded through the Community Giving Grant. This program is focused on mission-driven, action-oriented projects with measurable outcomes and lasting community impact. Event sponsorship requests may still be submitted through our separate process.
Applications are reviewed by credit union leadership and the Board of Directors using a published scoring rubric. Key considerations include feasibility, community need, sustainability, and alignment with our mission. Credit union staff members who regularly work with our Community Partners will be excluded from the review process to eliminate potential bias.
You will receive a confirmation once your application is submitted. Applications will be reviewed in July and August, and all applicants will be notified once decisions are finalized.
All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by September 9, 2026.
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