Our grantmaking

We use grants to improve equitable access to the education and training pathways that lead to Vermont’s most promising jobs -- and to inspire hope in the value of college and career training. Read on for more information about our giving philosophy and processes.

Over fifteen hundred electricians, nearly 4,000 nurses, and over 2,700 software developers and testers: these are the kinds and numbers of high-pay, high-demand jobs expected to open in Vermont in the next ten years. While we know that these and most other promising jobs require education or training after high school, fewer than half of young people in Vermont enroll in degree programs directly after high school, which is the lowest in New England according to the New England Secondary Schools Consortium. That continuation rate is even lower -- 31 percent -- for Vermont students from low-income backgrounds.

With this data in mind, we use grants to help make the education and training pathways to Vermont’s most promising jobs more visible, more accessible, and more affordable. We envision a Vermont where all people have accessible opportunities for career education and advancement and where no promising job goes unfilled for lack of a qualified applicant. Embedded in that vision are college and career training systems that drive equity and resilience. In all we do, we’re committed to a relational approach that centers equity and takes the long view.

What we fund

Pre-pandemic, we offered a competitive grant program that supported growth-stage efforts and programs seeking funding to pilot a model or a big idea, demonstrate effectiveness, expand delivery, or improve systems coordination. These annual grants typically ranged from $25,000 to $75,000 and were often funded for multiple years. During the pandemic, we paused our competitive grant program and are instead providing capacity support to core partners and proactive grants to efforts focused on public educator workforce development and diversification. If your work aligns with that priority area, please contact us to discuss your project and funding opportunities.

Through our invitation-only grant processes, we proactively invite grant proposals ranging from $10,000 to over $100,000 for systems development or systemic change efforts. We also award smaller, multi-year grants to ongoing and mission-aligned programs, networks, and events. These "sustaining" grants typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 annually. Read more about the Foundation’s sustaining grants. 

In late 2022, alongside the publication of our updated Vermont's Most Promising Job brochure with the Vermont Department of Labor, we launched a mini-grant program that awards $250 - $2,500 to schools, libraries, and community organizations to support career awareness and exploration, especially as it relates to the Vermont's Most Promising Job content. If you have an idea for how a small amount of funding would help your efforts, please contact us. We promise a speedy turnaround on funding decisions and no formal proposal or reporting requirements.

A core value of the McClure Foundation is working cooperatively with those who are focused on similar objectives. To that end, our funding strategies are intentionally aligned with both the Vermont Community Foundation’s commitment to closing the Opportunity Gap and Advance Vermont’s commitment to increasing the percentage of working-age Vermonters with a postsecondary credential. We are also committed to learning from and alongside other education equity, postsecondary attainment, and workforce development practitioners and funders.

Who may receive funding

Grant applications are accepted from organizations that are located in or serve the people of Vermont. Organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a public agency, school, or municipality in the state of Vermont. Nonprofit organizations or community groups who do not have 501(c)(3) status may apply for grant awards if another eligible organization acts as a fiscal sponsor.

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, political affiliation, military service, physical or mental ability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds made available by the McClure Foundation.

Grant applicants must employ staff and provide services without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, political affiliation, military service, physical or mental ability.

How to contact us

At any time of year, we encourage you to reach out to Executive Director Carolyn Weir at cweir@vermontcf.org or 802-388-3355 x239 to discuss how your idea or project lines up with Foundation priorities.