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The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$17.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17.5 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $232 million
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (typically)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $10,000+ (varies by fund)
  • Geographic Focus: Berkshire County (MA), Columbia County (NY), Northeast Dutchess County (NY), Northwest Litchfield County (CT)
  • Funds Managed: 550+ funds (approximately 95 make competitive grants)

Contact Details

Main Office:

Program Contacts:

  • Maeve O'Dea, Program Director (413.229.0370 ext. 111)
  • Caitlin Healy, Grants and Scholarships Operations Manager (413.229.0370 ext. 115)
  • Leila Kaplan, Columbia County liaison (lkaplan@berkshiretaconic.org)
  • Alÿcia Bacon, Equity Fund Officer (abacon@berkshiretaconic.org, 413.429.8414)

Overview

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation was established in 1987 in Salisbury, Connecticut with an anonymous $100,000 donation, becoming an independent public charity in 1990. With $232 million in charitable assets under management, BTCF has granted over $225 million to local organizations since inception, including more than $76 million in the past five years alone. The foundation serves a unique tri-state region of approximately 230,000 residents across 70 towns and three cities where New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts meet.

Under President Kara Mikulich's leadership (appointed 2024), the foundation operates with a mission of "strengthening communities through philanthropy and leadership" and a vision that "all residents have opportunity for economic mobility and a high quality of life." The foundation has significantly increased its grantmaking in recent years, distributing more than $20 million in 2022—a 74% increase over 2021. BTCF aligns its work around three strategic priorities: educational attainment, community engagement, and economic opportunity, while emphasizing core values of impact, innovation, inspiring generosity, equity, and excellence.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Equity Fund (Average: $10,000; Rolling/Monthly Reviews)

  • Supports BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations across all focus areas
  • Open to nonprofits, community groups with fiscal sponsorship, and individuals
  • Applications reviewed monthly on rolling basis
  • Three-step process includes community conversation component
  • Decisions within 3 months

Fund for Columbia County (Range: $2,500 - $7,500; Deadline: February 15)

  • Project grants, renewal grants, and general operating support
  • Priority to organizations serving underserved communities with BIPOC leadership
  • Larger amounts considered for exceptional projects
  • First-time applicants should consult with Leila Kaplan before applying

Planning and Technical Assistance Grants (Up to $10,000; Deadline: February 15)

  • For Berkshire County and Northwest Litchfield County organizations
  • Priority to organizations with budgets under $1 million and first-time applicants
  • Supports strategic planning, board development, organizational assessments, technology implementation
  • Cannot be used retroactively

Northeast Dutchess Fund (Amounts vary; December cycle)

  • Awarded over $250,000 in responsive grants in December 2024

Artist Support Programs (Range: $1,000 - $10,000)

  • Artist's Resource Trust for individual artists
  • Organizational support for arts organizations
  • Over $215,000 awarded to artists and arts organizations in recent cycles

James C. Kapteyn Prize ($10,000)

  • Annual recognition for exemplary high school teachers

Scholarships ($850,000+ annually)

  • Over 80 scholarship funds for students at all levels
  • Trade schools, colleges, universities, and graduate programs

Priority Areas

The foundation's competitive grants support:

  • Education: Educational attainment, youth development, teaching excellence
  • Arts & Culture: Creative economy, civic engagement through arts, individual artists
  • Health & Social Services: Services for elderly, health equity, family well-being
  • Economic Opportunity: Economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, workforce development
  • Civic Life: Community engagement, leadership development
  • Environment: Environmental protection
  • Organizational Capacity: Capacity building for nonprofits under $1 million budget

Equity Focus: Priority given to projects serving underserved and marginalized communities, including populations that are BIPOC, low-income, geographically isolated, LGBTQIA+, living with disabilities, refugees, or immigrants, and organizations with BIPOC leadership.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations that discriminate based on age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or religious belief
  • Religious organizations (except for non-religious, community-focused programs through faith-based organizations)
  • Organizations outside the Berkshire Taconic region (except case-by-case basis)
  • Annual appeals (fund-specific)
  • Fundraising events (fund-specific)
  • Capital campaigns (fund-specific)
  • Endowments (fund-specific)
  • Already-incurred expenses (fund-specific)
  • Bricks and mortar projects (fund-specific)
  • Retroactive funding (Planning & Technical Assistance)

Governance and Leadership

President: Kara Mikulich was unanimously appointed President in 2024 after serving as interim president and Chief Philanthropy Officer since 2018. She brings deep nonprofit sector experience and has stated: "I've spent my entire career in the nonprofit sector—working in, advocating for, and raising support for organizations that community foundations like BTCF exist to uplift. I love being rooted in community and working at the intersection of generosity and impact."

On the foundation's values, Mikulich notes: "This foundation is grounded in the values of place-based philanthropy, equity, and opportunity."

Regarding the region, she observes: "We live in one of the most beautiful regions in the country, we have very engaged residents, a vibrant nonprofit community, and a creative economy," while acknowledging it's "a place of great need, that is becoming increasingly unaffordable."

On equity work, Mikulich has said: "It is our call to center the work of BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations in our region who, too often, have been outside the sphere of our giving."

Executive Leadership:

  • Joseph R. Baker, Vice President, Finance & Administration (413.229.0370 ext. 112)
  • Maeve O'Dea, Program Director (413.229.0370 ext. 111)
  • Kelly Sweet, Director of Philanthropic Services (413.229.0370 ext. 118)

Board of Directors: The volunteer board consists of 20 members from across the region who set strategic direction and ensure sustainability. Recent additions include:

  • Karen Byers, former Managing Director and CFO of The John & Mary R. Markle Foundation
  • Carol Flaton, former banking and finance professional
  • Matthew King, Senior Counsel for Google
  • Michael Obasohan, Chief Diversity Officer for the City of Pittsfield

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application Portal: Most grant applications are submitted through the online grants portal at grantinterface.com. First-time users should create an account with email and password, then click "Apply" to view available grant opportunities.

Important Application Requirements:

  • Applicants must read eligibility guidelines before starting applications
  • Applications cannot be submitted via email or fax
  • Most applications open approximately six weeks before deadlines
  • All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on the deadline date
  • The same proposal cannot be submitted to multiple funds simultaneously
  • Multiple applications to different funds are permitted

Application Tips from BTCF:

  • Use the "Save As Draft" button frequently—applications don't need to be completed in one sitting
  • Back up your answers in a separate document
  • Have someone review your application before submission for clarity
  • Staff may contact applicants for clarification during review

Artist Funds Exception: Two artist funds use a separate SlideRoom portal instead of the standard grants portal.

Decision Timeline

  • Standard Review: Decisions typically made within 6-8 weeks after submission
  • Review Process: Applications reviewed by fund advisory committees; recommendations reviewed by BTCF's board of directors
  • Equity Fund: Decisions communicated within 3 months; includes community conversation component
  • Notification: Applicants notified of decisions; follow-up may include outcome conversations or narrative reports

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed, the foundation awards hundreds of competitive grants annually from approximately 95 funds that make competitive grants. In 2024 alone, the Fund for Columbia County awarded 40 grants totaling $180,425 from a single program cycle, indicating competitive but accessible opportunities.

Recent award volumes include:

  • 2022: Over $20 million awarded (74% increase from 2021)
  • 2023: $17.5 million in grants; $850,000+ in scholarships
  • 2024: $180,425 to 40 Columbia County nonprofits (one program cycle); $250,000+ from Northeast Dutchess Fund; $1 million+ in food security equipment grants

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by fund:

Fund for Columbia County:

  • Applicants with follow-up reports in good standing may apply to renew funding for up to 2 years after initial award
  • Renewal not guaranteed; applications reviewed competitively
  • Established nonprofits who have completed a previous grant cycle successfully are invited to apply for General Operating support
  • Recipients seeking renewed funding should submit new applications

Northeast Dutchess Fund:

  • Assessment of previous grants' outcomes required before future applications submitted

General Policy: For specific reapplication guidance after an unsuccessful application, contact grants@berkshiretaconic.org or 413.229.0370, as policies may vary by individual fund.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Fit is Essential: Organizations must serve residents of Berkshire County (MA), Columbia County (NY), Northeast Dutchess County (NY), or Northwest Litchfield County (CT). This is a tri-state region of 70 towns and three cities with approximately 230,000 residents.

Equity and Inclusion Matter: President Kara Mikulich has explicitly stated the foundation's commitment to "center the work of BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations." Multiple fund guidelines specifically prioritize organizations with BIPOC leadership and/or serving underserved communities (BIPOC, low-income, geographically isolated, LGBTQIA+, disabled populations, refugees, immigrants).

Strategic Alignment: Applications should connect to the foundation's three strategic priorities: educational attainment, community engagement, and economic opportunity. Use language that demonstrates how your work advances these goals.

Community Focus Over Operations: The foundation emphasizes "innovative ideas in education, entrepreneurship and community engagement, as well as basic needs such as housing and food." Projects should demonstrate clear community impact rather than just organizational sustainability.

Smaller Organizations Have Advantages: The Planning and Technical Assistance program explicitly gives "priority consideration" to organizations with annual budgets under $1 million and to first-time applicants to the program.

Follow Protocols for First-Time Applicants: For the Fund for Columbia County, first-time applicants—especially those with projects outside primary focus areas—should consult with Leila Kaplan (lkaplan@berkshiretaconic.org) before applying. This demonstrates respect for the process and helps avoid wasted effort.

Recent Successful Projects: In 2024, the Fund for Columbia County funded 40 projects furthering youth development, services for elderly, economic equity, civic engagement, arts and cultural programming, education, environment, and health and social services directly impacting Columbia County residents. Understanding these recent awards can guide application positioning.

Measurement Matters: The foundation emphasizes "impact" as a core value and reviews applications through advisory committees. Applications should include clear, measurable outcomes that demonstrate how capacity building will "enhance organizational strength and mission effectiveness."

Three-Step Engagement for Equity Fund: The Equity Fund uniquely requires a community conversation component between initial application and final decision. This reflects the foundation's commitment to relationship-based grantmaking and community leadership.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multiple entry points: With 95+ competitive grant funds, organizations can identify the best fit from specialized funds (artists, Columbia County, equity, planning/TA) rather than one-size-fits-all applications
  • Relationship-building valued: First-time applicants encouraged to consult program staff before applying; Equity Fund includes community conversation component
  • Equity is strategic priority: Not just a checkbox—President Mikulich has made centering BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations an explicit institutional priority
  • Smaller budgets prioritized: Organizations with budgets under $1 million receive preference in capacity-building grants
  • Rolling and fixed deadlines: Equity Fund reviews monthly on rolling basis; most other funds have annual February deadlines
  • Regional focus is non-negotiable: Must serve full-time residents of the four-county tri-state region; geographic restrictions enforced
  • 6-8 week decisions standard: Plan application timing accordingly, though Equity Fund takes up to 3 months due to community conversation component

References

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