Human Services Funding

Essex Human Services Fund

Every year, the Town of Essex, Vermont invites program funding requests from nonprofit organizations that support the delivery of vital community services.  Using a range of resources, the Essex Selectboard determines specific focus areas as human service priorities for residents of the Essex community. 

Timeline

March - A proposed appropriation to the Human Services Contributions Fund is presented to Town of Essex voters during Town Meeting as an article separate from the budget. 

June - The Selectboard approves the focus areas for the next round of applications.

December - Applications are accepted.

February 15 - Deadline for applications.

March & April - Applications are reviewed by a committee appointed by the Manager.

May - Proposed contributions are presented to the Selectboard for approval.

June - Approved contributions are issued.

Eligibility

Local area nonprofit organizations that serve Essex residents are encouraged to apply to the Town of Essex for funding contributions. Only those that are non-profit organizations who are considered a 501 (c)3 or that file an annual Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 tax return are eligible.  All funding proposals must align with the Essex Human Services Focus Areas.

2026 Essex Human Services Focus Areas:

Approved May 2025
  • Access to Community-Based Resources as a Source of Support for Health & Behavioral Health
  • Affordable Housing or Housing Assistance
  • Child or Family Support for Healthy Relationships
  • Emergency & Food Assistance
  • Increasing Workforce Development 

Fiscal Year 2025 Contributions

View the FY2025 Human Services applications (pdf) (Tip: applications are bookmarked)
View the FY2025 Approved Contributions List (pdf)

Scoring Process

Typically, requests are higher than the amount budgeted and recommendations for which applications to fund are given to the Town Manager and Selectboard for consideration. Scores from individual review committee members are added together and ranked in order. The review committee meets to discuss how to prioritize the requests.  Decisions are typically based on:

  1. priority to applicants demonstrating a commitment to making services accessible and user-friendly for Essex residents;
  2. priority to applicants demonstrating a need for the amount requested;
  3. priority to applicants supporting one or more of the approved focus areas;
  4. consideration if the request is reasonable (smaller requests have a better chance of fitting into the budget if the applicant scores well);
  5.  consideration if the applicant already receives funding from other areas of the Town of Essex annual budget;
  6. and consideration of how applicants may have used previous contributions (if applicable).