Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

April 9 Deadline for Fund for Williamstown

March 2, 2011

SHEFFIELD, MA—The Fund for Williamstown announced today that April 9 is the deadline for 2011 applications. The fund invites applications for projects and services that benefit residents of Williamstown and help create a vibrant community responsive to diverse needs and voices.

The Fund for Williamstown is about making our community a better, more vibrant place to live. The fund supports proposals from both nonprofit organizations and individuals that will strengthen, enliven and enhance Williamstown. With an eye toward meeting the needs of a wide spectrum of residents, the fund awards grants for health and human services, cultural and educational programs and environmental protection. The fund is a catalyst for collaboration and for dynamic thinking about our community.

Past grants have included funds for Sundays@6, a series of community-building festivals aimed at enlivening and enriching downtown Williamstown, funds to support capital improvement through free access to video technology and training at Willinet, Inc., and funds for the Williamstown Youth Center to support the campaign for the construction of a new youth center at the Williamstown Elementary School.

Individuals, nonprofit organizations, community organizations and public agencies may submit applications. Applications and guidelines are available online. For more information contact Berkshire Taconic at 413.227.0370 or Liz Costley, Advisory Committee Chair at 413.458.5894.

The Fund for Williamstown, an endowment of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, was created in 2006 and began grant making in 2007. The Fund has approximately $25,000 available for grants this year.

A nine-member advisory committee of local residents will review applications and award grants based on the merit of the proposed project or service, its impact on the organization or community, and the ability of the applicant to carry out the project.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY, acting as an agent for positive change in the region. Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

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