The Windham Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Vermonters. Its mission encompasses support for agricultural preservation, environmental enhancement, broad educational efforts, the promotion of arts, crafts, and Vermont traditions, meeting basic human needs, and historic preservation that benefits the wider community.
The grant program aims to support a wide range of initiatives that align with the Foundation’s goals such as operational support, special initiatives, capacity building, matching, and challenge grants. Specifically, it supports projects in agricultural preservation and food systems, environmental initiatives, education, arts and culture promotion relating to Vermont, basic human needs, and historic preservation with broad community purposes. The Foundation emphasizes an organization's competency, financial stability, leadership strength, and the project's long-term viability when awarding grants. Approximately $65,000 is allocated quarterly, with individual grants rarely exceeding $10,000 and typically ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. There’s a preference for projects showing clear budgets and potentially collaborating with other nonprofits. Organizations are limited to three consecutive years of funding, with a required break after this period. Larger grants may necessitate reporting on project success to the Foundation.