FAQs

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.

Please send an email to marketing@fcumail.org with any questions.