Cape Cod Young Professionals, Inc. (CCYP) is seeking to fund creative projects and programs that address key needs for young professionals age 45-and-under on Cape Cod.
This fall, CCYP’s Giving Circle Grant Program will award up to $10,000 to area nonprofits that offer solutions and resources specifically for young professionals in areas like year-round housing; civic engagement; child and dependent care; and business development. CCYP invites
proposals from Cape Cod-based 501(c)3 nonprofits via the online grant application at
www.capecodyoungprofessionals.org/GivingCircleGrant.
Individual grant awards range from $500 to $2,500, with funding announcements expected in September. The deadline to apply is August 31, 2018.
The Giving Circle Grant is made possible through CCYP’s Giving Circle, a unique collective giving program that pools charitable donations from nearly 100 monthly and annual donors to amplify impact and make a tangible difference in the lives of young professionals on Cape Cod.
Launched in 2015 in partnership with The Cape Cod Foundation, the Giving
Circle has awarded a total of $30,000 in grant funding to local nonprofits since its inception, while also supporting CCYP’s ongoing efforts to connect, engage, and advance Cape Cod’s young professionals community. Anyone can join the Giving Circle by visiting www.capecodyoungprofessionals.org/GivingCircle.
Through the Giving Circle Grant Program, Giving Circle donors participate in all aspects of the grant-making process, including the selection of giving priorities for each year. To be awarded, Giving Circle Grant projects must fit under one or more of these 2018 grant-making priority areas, and clearly demonstrate the ability to positively impact quality of life and career opportunity for young people on Cape Cod.
Giving Circle donors selected four grant-making priorities for 2018, priorities which were heavily informed by CCYP’s Community Needs Survey conducted earlier this year. A total of 400 respondents from across the region, primarily between the ages of 25 to 44, participated in the Community Needs Survey, indicating their top needs to live and work successfully on Cape Cod.
Housing; improved policies and civic engagement opportunities; child care; and business
development support topped the list of needs. These results are directly reflected in the 2018 Giving Circle Grant-making priorities. Grant-making priorities for 2018 are as follows:
1. Access to Housing – programs and projects that provide creative solutions for increasing the stock of attainable, year-round housing options on Cape Cod;
2. Policy Development and Civic Engagement – programs and projects that support non-partisan policymaking solutions for issues facing young professionals; engage young, working-age adults in the local government and policy-making process; or foster participation of young professionals in volunteerism and board service;
3. Child and Dependent Care – programs and projects that increase the availability, affordability, and/or accessibility of child or dependent care; and
4. Business and Economic Development – programs and projects that provide support to young professional entrepreneurs and small business owners to start, operate, or grow their business; provide training, assistance, or creative solutions for job creation and recruitment; or otherwise improve the landscape of business and job opportunities for young professionals on Cape Cod.