Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund – Dash Grants Program

The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund’s Dash Grants Program focuses its grantmaking and work in Coös County, NH and communities in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont that share a border with Coös County. Programs, projects or agencies that operate beyond these borders, provided they offer clear benefit to the people and landscapes of Coös County, may also be eligible for funding.

There is an equivalent program in Quebec, Canada, the Coaticook Express Grant Program, for organizations based in or serving the residents of the MRC de Coaticook.

Please contact us if you are unsure about geographical fit.

The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund awards grants that support organizations, coalitions, and other tax exempt entities (such as schools and municipalities) to advance the Tillotson Fund’s vision to revitalize communities.

Requests that support projects and activities focused on the people and places of Coös County and surrounding communities are invited to apply. Projects should not extend past a year in length, however extensions can be granted.

Examples of awards:

• to provide marketing materials for a one-time community event
• to sponsor a school field trip
• to hire a consultant to support a project or activity
• to purchase or replace equipment or furniture

If you already have an award from the Large or Local Grants Program, you are still eligible to apply to the Dash Grants Program.

Because funding is limited, your organization is eligible to apply once per calendar year. However, please carefully consider your organization’s needs and refrain from applying year after year so other organizations might benefit from this limited resource. A project should be unique to that calendar year — repeated requests for the same project will not be considered eligible. For example, a request in one year to support a specific community event would not be considered eligible in the following year(s). However, the organization could apply in the following year(s) for a different project purpose.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Tax-exempt organizations under any part of the section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code
• State or local government agencies or unit of government
• Grassroots organizations, collaborative or coalitions may apply with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor. (Learn more about what it means to have a fiscal sponsor and the responsibilities involved for both the fiscal sponsor and the grassroots organization.)

The Tillotson Fund does not make Dash grants for:

• Operating and/or ongoing program expenses such as salaries, benefits, rent, utilities, capital expenses, supplies, etc.
• Expenses for ongoing or recurring programs, events or activities (e.g. facilitator fees for an annual convening that happens each year
• Capital campaigns
• Expenses already incurred
• Out-of-region projects
• Sectarian or religious programs
• Community foundations unless they serve as a fiscal sponsor
• Individuals or endowments
• Budget shortfalls
• Support for political activities, i.e., lobbying
• Organizations or projects that discriminate based on age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, national or ethnic origin

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals, and will not knowingly make grants (including those recommended by donor-advised-fund holders), to organizations whose mission or programs promote hate, or run counter to principles of basic respect, justice and equity.

The Dash grants program provides rapid grant awards ranging from $250 up to $2,000 to eligible organizations. Grants will take three weeks or less to process for an expedited turnaround.

2023 Dash Grants 

Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, $1,998, to support the high school internship program in 2023.

Berlin & Coos County Historical Society, $2,000, to hire a grant writer to assist in applying to the NBRC.

Bethlehem Trails Association, $2,000, to purchase a new winter grooming machine.

Boys & Girls Club of the North Country, $2,000, to replace building’s exterior lighting.

Canaan Naturally Connected, Inc., $1,000, to purchase Welcome to Beecher Falls signage.

Canaan Vermont Historical Society, $2,000, to provide stipends to students organizing the collection and conducting tours.

Carriage Lane Players, $2,000, to support heating costs for 2023.

City of Berlin, NH, $2,000, to develop a racial equity policy.

Colonel Town Players of Lancaster Inc., $2,000, to provide scholarships to students attending summer camp.

Connecticut River Artisan Group, $2,000, to support art-related classes and exhibits.

Coös County Family Health Services, $2,000, to sponsor the River Fire 5K fundraiser.

Coös Economic Development Corporation, $2,000, to hire a consultant to revise the organization’s three-year strategic plan.

Gorham Middle High School, $1,900, to cover travel expenses for high school field trip to Quebec.

Gorham Public Library, $2,000, to support the Live Family Theater Program.

Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, $2,000, to support Essex County, VT youth participation in 2023.

Great North Woods Center for the Arts, $1,500, to cover travel expenses to attend an East Coast Music Showcase.

Littleton Studio School, $2,000, to purchase a Glass Fusing Studio.

Lunenburg, Gilman, and East Concord Senior Citizens, Inc., $1,925, to assist in the purchase of a commercial freezer.

Maplewood Station, $2,000, to hire a consultant to develop a USDA grant application.

Mount Washington Observatory, $1,658, to develop a new website and provide staff training.

New England Forestry Foundation, $1,984, to print and install signage at five community forests.

North Country Alliance for Balanced Change (NCABC), $1,770, to support the Solarize North Country project to encourage purchase of solar installations.

North Country ATV Club, $2,000, to support Landowner Appreciation Day trail cleanup.

North Country Pride, $2,000, to purchase event supplies and storage space.

Racial Unity Team, $2,000, to establish ambassadors and volunteer base in Coös County, NH.

Rockin’ the Park, $1,500, to support the 2023 Rockin’ the Park summer outdoor concert series in Lancaster.

Root To Rise, $2,000, to hire a consultant to coordinate the North Country Food and Agriculture Summit.

SAU #7 Colebrook, Pittsburg, and Stewartstown, $2,000, to support construction of an outdoor classroom in Colebrook, NH.

SAU #7 Colebrook, Pittsburg, and Stewartstown, $2,000, to support Colebrook Academy baseball team trip to Cooperstown, NY.

SAU #7 Colebrook, Pittsburg, and Stewartstown, $2,000, to offer middle school students 6 life skills workshops.

SAU #20, $2,000, to support a Chem Free Celebration for Gorham High School seniors.

SAU #20, $1,735, to purchase an AED plus for Gorham High School sporting activities.

Stay Work Play NH, $2,000, to support a Policy & Pints Pop-up series in Coös County.

St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts, $1,500, to update the stage backdrop and replace curtains in the Main Hall.

Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center, $2,000, to cover the costs of plumbing and electrical projects.

The Loading Dock, $2,000, to purchase equipment including a POS system, audio equipment and a refrigerator.

Theatre Up, $1,800, to offer free performances to low-income adults, families, and seniors.

Town of Bethlehem, NH, $2,000, to promote sustainability through education and engagement.

Town of Canaan, VT, $1,350, to purchase and install light posts for the cemetery sign.

Tri-Town Bicycle Inc., $2,000, to support the Safe Routes to School initiative.

Vermont Council on Rural Development Inc., $2,000, to support the 2023 Vermont Community Leadership Summit.

Vermont Farm-to-School Inc., $2,000, to purchase food for Thanksgiving boxes for residents of Canaan, VT.

Weathervane Theatre Alumni Association, $2,000, to purchase and install a garage door for the Grange Hall.

Friends of the Weeks Memorial Library, Inc., $1,500, to support library programming and events.

Weeks State Park Association Inc., $2,000, to conduct a flora inventory of Cape Horn in Northumberland, NH.

Whitefield Little Free Pantry, $2,000, to pilot a volunteer gleaning program and support food purchases.

Whitefields Official Library Friends, $2,000, to expand library adult programming.

Women of the Mountains Birth Initiative, $2,000, to support participation in NNEPQIN Fall Conference and print marketing materials.

Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network, $2,000, to replace the gallery’s display window.

Deadline: Rolling

You can apply anytime between January 3 and December 15, 2024