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Grant Opportunities

Grant Opportunities
September 22, 2025

Creative Fundraising Ideas to Try This Fall

Pumpkin spice lattes at every coffee shop, changing colors in the trees and spooky decorations just around the corner… It's that time of year again! Autumn is often celebrated for its hayrack rides, pumpkin carvings and haunted houses, but what about its philanthropy opportunities?

How can you use this time to raise money for your favorite causes? Make this season about more than just pumpkin spice lattes and costumes. Check out some of these ideas on how you can give back this month.

 

Have a bonfire.

Bonfires are always a blast, especially during the fall. There’s just something about that chilly night air in stark contrast to the warm fire. See about hosting a community bonfire and ask for sponsorship from local businesses willing to donate to the cause. Be sure to promote the event and the organization it supports beforehand and sell tickets to neighbors. The bonfire can be as big or small as you want it; no matter what, guests will have fun and know their money is going to a worthwhile cause!

 

Play in a football tournament.

Of course, what’s the most important part of fall? Football season! Get in the spirit by asking friends, family and neighbors to participate in a football tournament. Let players get teams together and pitch in a small amount of money to give to the organization in order to participate in the tournament. Who knows? If you get enough players you could even have multiple divisions, or get creative and host a Harry Potter quidditch tournament. Afterwards, everyone can enjoy drinks and snacks together while watching the real football players on TV.

 

Promote a pie eating contest.

Everybody loves pie, and everybody especially loves eating pie during fall! This October, try promoting a pie eating contest within your community. Ask for donated pies from local bakeries or even homemade pies. Participants can put in a small amount of money to participate, or viewers can bet on who they think is most likely to win by donating money. Afterwards, the winner can receive a small portion of the earnings, with the rest going towards a local nonprofit. Really want to get creative? Try hosting a pie baking contest beforehand to get even more participants and have the eaters enjoy the best tasting pies around.

 

Trick or treat for a cause.

Getting to dress up in funny costumes and getting free candy? Trick or treating is the best! This Halloween, your kids can have a great time trick or treating while still helping out for a cause in their community. Check with local nonprofits in your area for flyers or information beforehand, then hand them out during the trick or treating time. Ask for donations and see if neighbors are willing or able to donate. You get to enjoy Halloween while raising money for those in need.

 

Host a Halloween party.

And of course, the classic: host a Halloween party. Start planning your Halloween party early. Celebrate the spooky holiday next month by raising money or collecting donations for a cause at the same time. Host a party for friends and neighbors, and ask them to bring money, donation items or food for entry to give to a local charity project. Then, dance the spooky night away feeling confident in helping others in your community.

This fall, make the season about more than just pumpkins and ghost stories. Give back to your community by trying out some of these spooky awesome fundraising ideas. You can help make someone else’s spooky season just a little bit better by practicing altruism this autumn. Because when we all help each other out, it’s scary how great things can be.

The Fremont Area Community Foundation funds grants for civic improvement, health and recreation, social services, arts and culture, and educational purposes in Fremont, Nebraska, and surrounding communities. Grants are made from the earnings from the Foundation's Fremont Forever Fund, from the Lester A. Walker Fund, and from funds advised by particular donors. Grantees must be qualified charitable organizations and no grants are made to individuals except in the form of scholarships.

To apply for a grant, organizations must submit an application form with supporting documentation (different procedures are used for donor-advised funds.) The form provides complete instructions for submitting a grant application. The Grants Committee meets four times per year to review grant requests and make recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Directors for final approval.

The map shows the area where the Fremont Area Community Foundation generally provides grant funding which covers almost 3,000 square miles and includes the following zip codes:

Dodge County: 68025, 68026, 68664, 68063, 68072, 68044, 68031, 68649, 68057, 68621, 68633

Washington County: 68002, 68034, 68029, 68008, 68009, 68023, 68068

Burt County: 68038, 68020, 68045, 68061, 68019

Cuming County: 68788, 68791, 68716, 68004

Colfax County: 68629, 68641, 68643, 68601, 68659, 68661

Butler County: 68036

Douglas County: 68064, 68069

Saunders County: 68050, 68041, 68040, 68018, 68015, 68064, 68073, 68066, 68070, 68648

Grant requests that would benefit communities outside this area are considered on an individual basis.

September 22, 2025

Creative Fundraising Ideas to Try This Fall

Pumpkin spice lattes at every coffee shop, changing colors in the trees and spooky decorations just around the corner… It's that time of year again! Autumn is often celebrated for its hayrack rides, pumpkin carvings and haunted houses, but what about its philanthropy opportunities?

How can you use this time to raise money for your favorite causes? Make this season about more than just pumpkin spice lattes and costumes. Check out some of these ideas on how you can give back this month.

 

Have a bonfire.

Bonfires are always a blast, especially during the fall. There’s just something about that chilly night air in stark contrast to the warm fire. See about hosting a community bonfire and ask for sponsorship from local businesses willing to donate to the cause. Be sure to promote the event and the organization it supports beforehand and sell tickets to neighbors. The bonfire can be as big or small as you want it; no matter what, guests will have fun and know their money is going to a worthwhile cause!

 

Play in a football tournament.

Of course, what’s the most important part of fall? Football season! Get in the spirit by asking friends, family and neighbors to participate in a football tournament. Let players get teams together and pitch in a small amount of money to give to the organization in order to participate in the tournament. Who knows? If you get enough players you could even have multiple divisions, or get creative and host a Harry Potter quidditch tournament. Afterwards, everyone can enjoy drinks and snacks together while watching the real football players on TV.

 

Promote a pie eating contest.

Everybody loves pie, and everybody especially loves eating pie during fall! This October, try promoting a pie eating contest within your community. Ask for donated pies from local bakeries or even homemade pies. Participants can put in a small amount of money to participate, or viewers can bet on who they think is most likely to win by donating money. Afterwards, the winner can receive a small portion of the earnings, with the rest going towards a local nonprofit. Really want to get creative? Try hosting a pie baking contest beforehand to get even more participants and have the eaters enjoy the best tasting pies around.

 

Trick or treat for a cause.

Getting to dress up in funny costumes and getting free candy? Trick or treating is the best! This Halloween, your kids can have a great time trick or treating while still helping out for a cause in their community. Check with local nonprofits in your area for flyers or information beforehand, then hand them out during the trick or treating time. Ask for donations and see if neighbors are willing or able to donate. You get to enjoy Halloween while raising money for those in need.

 

Host a Halloween party.

And of course, the classic: host a Halloween party. Start planning your Halloween party early. Celebrate the spooky holiday next month by raising money or collecting donations for a cause at the same time. Host a party for friends and neighbors, and ask them to bring money, donation items or food for entry to give to a local charity project. Then, dance the spooky night away feeling confident in helping others in your community.

This fall, make the season about more than just pumpkins and ghost stories. Give back to your community by trying out some of these spooky awesome fundraising ideas. You can help make someone else’s spooky season just a little bit better by practicing altruism this autumn. Because when we all help each other out, it’s scary how great things can be.