The Windham Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Windham Foundation is a Vermont-focused funder that supports the Grafton region in funding areas of educational programs, local food initiatives, land conservation for public use, environmental protection, social services, cultural resources, and historic preservation.

IP TAKE:  The Windham Foundation recognizes that “the social and economic vitality of a town is maintained through many activities.” is a relatively small funder, but it likes to make its money go a long way by funding a wide variety of local organizations. Windham offers a variety of grant types, including “operational support, special initiatives, capacity building, matching and challenge grants.” This may not be a great funder for organizations looking for substantial, long-term funding, as its grants are capped at $10,000 and it does not like to fund any given group for more than three years in a row. However, it appears to be a highly accessible funder for small local groups, offering four grant rounds per year with clearly defined guidelines.

Uniquely, Windham also offers in-kind donations in the form of cheese. The foundation does not specify that this cheese is only for groups working in the area of food security or hunger prevention, so presumably any local nonprofit with cheese-related needs may apply.

PROFILE: Established in 1963, the The Windham Foundation is the foundation of Dean Mathey and is committed to preserving rural life in Vermont. Mathey was a New York financier who spent his summers in the Vermont town of Grafton and wished to support the local community here. Its mission is “to preserve and enhance the social, economic, and cultural vitality of Vermont’s smaller communities and their rural way of life, especially within and around the town of Grafton, Vermont.” It focuses on local history, natural resources, and agrarian traditions in the state.

Windham has no specified program areas, but grants tend to support historical preservation efforts, ensuring open land stewardship, and education and charitable programs in Grafton. Other topics of interest include environmental protection, social services, local food, cultural resources, and the arts. Funding also supports the local elementary school and community programs as well in Grafton. The foundation has funded many local improvements in the town of Grafton over the years, including planting trees, highway projects, and hydrant systems.

The foundation also administers the Grafton Fund, which offers small grants of up to $1,000 for community projects. Requests for these grants can be submitted at any time. Windham makes in-kind donations of cheese to organizations serving the community or promoting healthy lifestyles for children through its subsidiary, Grafton Village Cheese Company. In addition to awarding grants, the foundation operates the Grafton Village Cheese Company and the Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center. These are all social enterprises that the foundation keeps going to drive the region’s rural economy.

Important Grant Details:

Grants generally range from $500 to $10,000. Foundation grants have been awarded to the Housing Project Brattleboro, College of St. Joseph, Global Campuses Foundation, Governor’s Institute of Vermont, and the Vermont Jazz Center. Other featured grantees include the Vermont Hut Association, Food Connects, and the Rockingham Free Library. Grantmaking is restricted to the region around Grafton, Vermont, and many grassroots groups receive the funder’s support.

  • Applications are accepted through the foundation’s online grant portal

  • Deadlines generally fall in March, June, September, and December.

  • Applicants must provide a proposal of no more than three pages detailing their organization, purpose of funding, and plan to sustain funding.

  • Site visits are not required, but Windham reserves the right to audit use of funds

  • Windham prefers not to provide funding to any organization for more than three years in a row.

  • Requests for donations in the form of cheese are reviewed monthly and must be made at least four weeks in advance of the requested ship date.

To get in touch with the foundation, grantseekers can fill out its online contact form or call 802-843-2211. Nonprofits can expect a reply from the staff within about two business days.

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