Community Heart & Soul
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is resident-led community engagement, economic development, history and culture, or town planning, the foundation's model may suit you, but only if your community has a population under 30,000, since that is its eligibility limit.
- Half of its grants were $10,000 or less, so a modest request is the realistic size, although its largest grant was $100,000, to Innovia Foundation, a regranter, so that figure is not a cap.
- Applicants must show a documented cash match of at least $10,000 and a letter of support from the governing body, so arrange both before you start.
- Contact the foundation first to learn the programme and eligibility, then you will be matched with a Certified Heart & Soul Coach, complete the Getting Started activities and only then apply for a Seed Grant; applications are rolling, so there is no closing date to miss.
- Repeat funding accounted for 14% of its grant dollars in the filing, so it does not rely heavily on the same grantees.
Overview
Community Heart & Soul is a US private foundation based in Shelburne, VT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Community Heart & Soul develops and implements a resident-led process for small cities and towns to identify the priorities, places and traditions that matter to people who live, work and play there, then turn them into action. Residents work with local officials to strengthen engagement, build trust, spark economic development and honour history and culture. Its Seed Grant Program supports resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to launch the model. The process centres on broad participation, local priorities and action plans that guide future town planning; communities complete guided preparatory activities with a Certified Heart & Soul Coach before applying.
Themes
- Community engagement
- Economic development
- History and culture
- Town planning
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Washington, Pennsylvania, Montana, Iowa, Georgia and the United States.
How to apply
Communities contact Community Heart & Soul to learn about the programme and eligibility, are matched with a Certified Heart & Soul Coach, complete guided Getting Started activities, and then apply for a Seed Grant.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 14% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 23 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Lead organisations may be local governments, IRS public-charity 501(c)(3) nonprofits or informal resident-led groups.
- The community must have a population under 30,000.
- A documented cash match of at least $10,000 is required to support the early phases of implementation.
- Applications require a letter of support from the governing body.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit letters of support from other partners and champions to demonstrate commitment to the process.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 21%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 8%
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 14% of grant dollars went to organisations Community Heart & Soul had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 55% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 10 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Innovia Foundation · Washington and idaho heart and soul$100,0002025 tax year
- Montana Community Foundation · Montana heart and soul$30,0002025 tax year
- Pennsylvania Humanities Council · Pennsylvania heart soul$20,0002025 tax year
- Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque · Peosta, ia heart and soul$10,0002025 tax year
- Legacy Foundation · Cedar lake, in heart and soul$10,0002025 tax year
- Community Foundation of St Clair County · Yale, mi heart and soul$10,0002025 tax year
- Barry Community Foundation · Nashville, mi heart and soul$10,0002025 tax year
- Village of Arcadia · Arcadia, oh heart and soul$10,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Roberta Mayer — Director
- Carol Bertrand — Director of Finance
- Mark Sherman — President
- Nancy Van Lilligen — Director
- Janice Izzi — Vice-Chair
- Tony Wood — Director
- Christopher Byrne — Secretary / Treasurer
- Lyman Orton — Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $2,841,506 | $130,000 | $21,667,313 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,348,524 | $22,807 | $22,883,213 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,676,378 | $220,000 | $22,482,025 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to Community Heart & Soul?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required