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The Orton Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.1M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.0M
Decision Time
1mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $130,000 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 seed grants (with $10,000 local match required)
  • Decision Time: Rolling basis for partnerships
  • Geographic Focus: Small cities and towns across the United States (populations under 30,000-50,000)
  • Primary Model: Community Heart & Soul program

Contact Details

Community Heart & Soul (operating arm of Orton Family Foundation)

Overview

The Orton Family Foundation was founded in 1995 by Lyman Orton, proprietor of the Vermont Country Store, with profits from his family business. Based in Vermont with offices in Middlebury and Denver, the foundation has invested more than $10 million developing and field-testing its signature Community Heart & Soul program. Since 2005, Community Heart & Soul has been implemented in more than 130 small cities and towns across the United States. The foundation operates primarily as a direct service provider through its Community Heart & Soul program, which helps small towns engage residents in community planning using a proven four-phase process. In 2023, the foundation made 10 awards totaling $130,000. The organization now operates under the name Community Heart & Soul, with the Orton Family Foundation serving as the parent 501(c)(3) entity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Heart & Soul Seed Grants: $10,000 grants for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to start the Community Heart & Soul model

  • Requires 1:1 cash match ($10,000 from participating municipality or partnering organization)
  • Full match does not need to be secured at time of application
  • Covers Heart & Soul Coaching, project coordination, and project-related expenses

Regional Partnership Programs: The foundation partners with community foundations, state humanities councils, and other place-based organizations to fund Community Heart & Soul implementation in specific regions

  • Recent partnerships include Western New York, Southeast Michigan, Iowa and Midwest communities, Pennsylvania, Montana, and other states
  • Funding amounts vary by partnership

Priority Areas

  • Resident-driven community planning for small cities and towns (populations under 30,000-50,000)
  • Civic engagement that involves all residents in identifying what matters most to their community
  • Long-term community development based on shared values and community character
  • Rural revitalization and downtown redevelopment guided by resident input
  • Community cohesion and trust-building across diverse resident groups

What They Fund

The foundation focuses exclusively on supporting communities implementing the Community Heart & Soul process, which includes:

  • Training and certification of local Community Advisory Teams (CAT)
  • Certified coach support throughout the 2-year process
  • Public engagement activities (storytelling projects, art installations, community events)
  • Development of Heart & Soul Statements (community value statements)
  • Integration of community values into comprehensive plans and policy decisions

What They Don't Fund

  • Traditional charitable causes unrelated to community planning
  • Individual projects not connected to the Community Heart & Soul process
  • Large cities or communities over 50,000 population
  • One-time projects without long-term community engagement component

Governance and Leadership

Founder and Board Chair: Lyman Orton, proprietor of the Vermont Country Store, who grew up in Vermont and has deep roots in small-town America

President (Community Heart & Soul): Mark Sherman (joined July 2020), holds MBA from University of Washington, brings strategic marketing and operational expertise

Key Leadership Team:

  • Al Getler, Vice President of Market Development (joined July 2023) - former media and newspaper executive, volunteer firefighter and EMT in South Hero, VT
  • Justin Samuel, Vice President of Communications - communications and marketing leader with background in Geology and Strategic Communication
  • Sara Lightner, Senior Program Director - former Peace Corps Director of Programming and Training, from small-town Iowa

Lyman Orton on the Foundation's Philosophy: "Community Heart & Soul starts with one thing. Asking what matters most to residents. That's the catalyst. The reason it works is because everyone gets a chance to say what matters most to them." He further explains: "Community Heart & Soul has an emotional component built into it. It guides the residents to trust each other and to trust their feelings about their town to plan and decide their civic affairs for themselves."

The foundation's mission emerged from Orton's personal experience serving on his town planning commission in Weston, Vermont, where he witnessed the community nearly torn apart over a controversial amusement park development. Reflecting on that experience, Orton noted: "The scars on the side of the mountain healed faster than the scars in the community ever did."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Orton Family Foundation does not have a traditional grant application process where organizations submit proposals for unrestricted funding. Instead, communities apply to participate in the structured Community Heart & Soul program.

For Communities Interested in Participating:

  1. Complete the brief online questionnaire at https://www.communityheartandsoul.org/get-started/
  2. Schedule an introductory call with Community Heart & Soul staff
  3. Download the free Intro Book to understand the program requirements
  4. Work with staff to determine eligibility and funding options

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Small cities and towns with populations under 30,000 (some sources cite up to 50,000)
  • Official applicant must be a nonprofit organization or unit of local government, or have a fiscal sponsor meeting these qualifications
  • Process can be initiated by residents, community-based organizations, or local governments
  • Requires formation of a Community Advisory Team (CAT) of active community members

Seed Grant Application:

  • Applications accepted on rolling basis through the Community Heart & Soul website
  • Must demonstrate ability to secure $10,000 cash match
  • Links to application instructions and online portal available on program website

Regional Partnership Programs: Some communities may access funding through regional partnerships with community foundations or state agencies rather than directly through the Orton Family Foundation

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed on rolling basis
  • Initial introductory calls scheduled within weeks of inquiry
  • Full Community Heart & Soul process takes approximately 18-24 months (2 years) to complete all four phases
  • Some communities take 2-5 years depending on local circumstances

The Four-Phase Process

Phase 1 - Imagine: Heart & Soul teams are formed; goal is to build awareness, interest, and commitment across all community segments

Phase 2 - Connect: Teams gather stories from residents and develop "Heart & Soul Statements" identifying what matters most and what residents love about their towns

Phase 3 - Plan: Residents develop action plans guided by Heart & Soul Statements to inform future town planning

Phase 4 - Act: Town and city councils officially adopt Heart & Soul Statements, incorporate them into comprehensive plans, and use them to guide future policies and decisions

Note: "The completion of the Community Heart & Soul model is really just the beginning, as it launches a new way of doing business that nurtures a more vibrant community far into the future."

Support Provided

  • One-on-one coaching from trained, certified Community Heart & Soul Coaches throughout the process
  • Access to Community Heart & Soul Field Guide and resources
  • In-person training on each phase of the model
  • Training on community network analysis, workplans, resident engagement, story collecting, developing value statements
  • Regular community of practice calls with the national Community Heart & Soul Network
  • Ongoing connection to nationwide network of 130+ communities implementing the model

Success Rates

The foundation made 10 awards in 2023, 9 awards in 2022, and 5 awards in 2021. More than 130 communities have participated in the program since 2005. Given the specialized nature of the program and the support provided, communities that begin the process typically complete it.

Application Success Factors

The Orton Family Foundation's model is fundamentally different from traditional grantmaking - success depends on community commitment rather than proposal quality. Key factors include:

Demonstrated Community Commitment: The program requires formation of a Community Advisory Team representing diverse community segments. Communities must show ability to "involve everyone" - a core principle of the model.

Local Financial Support: The $10,000 cash match requirement demonstrates that local government or partner organizations are invested in the process. This match can come from municipalities or partnering organizations.

Long-Term Perspective: The foundation emphasizes "playing the long game" as one of three core principles. Communities must be prepared for an 18-24 month process and ongoing implementation afterward.

Focus on Process Over Product: Successful communities embrace the four-phase methodology rather than seeking quick fixes. As the foundation states, completion of the model "is really just the beginning."

Examples of Successful Community Projects:

  • Golden, Colorado: Over 2,000 residents (11% of population) participated in creating Golden Vision 2030. Low-income and immigrant communities previously suspicious of city government built relationships through Heart & Soul events. As of 2019, more than 20 publicly funded improvements informed by the vision were completed or underway.
  • Damariscotta, Maine: Storytelling built trust between old-timers and newcomers, identifying shared values that were incorporated into a design charrette and eventually the town's comprehensive plan.
  • Essex/Essex Junction, Vermont: Discovered a template for civil resolution of longstanding barriers between overlapping municipalities, leading to unification of three local school districts.
  • Cortez, Colorado: Creation of a designated graffiti wall dramatically reduced vandalism incidents.
  • Bucksport, Maine: After dominant paper mill closed, community used Heart & Soul for local renewal.

Regional Partnership Opportunities: Communities in areas with existing partnerships (Montana, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Midwest, Western New York, Southeast Michigan) may have additional support and funding available through those regional programs.

What the Foundation Values: Based on Lyman Orton's statements, the foundation prioritizes emotional connection to place, trust-building among residents, and resident-driven decision-making over top-down planning.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not traditional grantmaking: The Orton Family Foundation operates a direct service model. Communities don't apply for grants to use however they wish; they apply to participate in a structured 2-year program.

  • Seed grants require matching funds: The $10,000 seed grant requires a $10,000 local match, creating a total project budget of $20,000. Secure commitments from your municipality or local partners.

  • Population size matters: Focus is on small cities and towns under 30,000-50,000 population. If your community is larger, this program is not a fit.

  • Regional partnerships may offer easier access: Check if your state or region has an existing partnership with Community Heart & Soul (Pennsylvania, Montana, Iowa, Western New York, Southeast Michigan have known partnerships).

  • Process requires significant local capacity: You'll need to form a Community Advisory Team, dedicate staff time for coordination, and commit to 18-24 months of intensive community engagement.

  • Long-term impact is the goal: The foundation's evaluation found that in communities that fully implemented the model, Heart & Soul values were informing policy decisions and comprehensive plans were revised to reflect community input.

  • Start with the free resources: Download the Intro Book and complete the questionnaire before pursuing formal involvement. The foundation wants communities to understand what they're committing to.

References

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