OLEAN — Grant applications for the next funding cycle of the Community Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) are due Oct. 21.

The Community Fund at CRCF provides grants to deserving projects and initiatives that support efforts to meet the changing needs of the community, said CRCF Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit.

Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations.

The CRCF board of directors reviews applications based on the applying organization’s stability, the impact its work has on the community, the feasibility of the project proposed in the grant application and the role a grant from the Community Fund would play in the overall project, said Buchheit.

CRCF makes grants from the Community Fund twice a year, once in November and once in May.

“Responsive grantmaking is the focus of what CRCF does through the Community Fund,” said Buchheit. “And that can take a lot of different forms, but as we look back on some of the projects the Community Fund has supported over time, we are really proud of how the foundation has executed that goal over the years.

“The projects supported in the past did great things for community, providing support for things like increased accessibility to healthy food, special activities for seniors, safety initiatives for community youth and more,” she said. “The next step to continuing that work begins with the next round of grants in November, so we encourage deserving organizations to apply.”

Applications are available online at cattfoundation.org under the grant seekers tab. Applications may be completed online and emailed to foundation@cattfoundation.org.

Contact CRCF with any additional questions at 301-2723 or foundation@cattfoundation.org.

For 25 years, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation has been the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call 301-CRCF (2723), email foundation@cattfoundation.org, or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).