Non-profit organisations with high-impact work in the areas of education, youth development and the physical environment can now apply for a grant of either CI$25,000 or CI$50,000 as part of the Dart Grants programme.
“Dart Grants was established last year as a way to provide meaningful support to local non-profit organisations contributing positively to our shared community in Dart’s chosen areas of focus,” said Pilar Bush, Dart executive vice president with responsibility for community development.
In its inaugural year, Dart Grants awarded CI$250,000 to nine local non-profit organisations: Special Needs Foundation Cayman received the CI$50,000 Dart Grant while CI$25,000 each was awarded to the Alex Panton Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cayman’s Acts of Random Kindness, the Cayman Islands Sailing Club, the Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Literacy Is For Everyone, the Stingray Swim Club and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
“Dart staff were invited to participate in the process to select the recipient of the CI$50,000 Dart Grant from the top three finalists,” Bush said. “Our staff is passionate about giving back to the community we are all a part of, regularly making use of their employee benefit of paid volunteering leave to support the causes that matter most to them.”
Replicating last year’s process, the 2020 Dart Grants programme will involve a two-stage application and committee evaluation.
“Eligible non-profit organisations, including last year’s successful and unsuccessful applicants, are welcome to submit an expression of interest via our website,” Bush said. “Successful Phase I applicants will then be invited to submit a more detailed proposal to explain the need for and potential impact of their proposed initiative.”
Expressions of interests for a 2020 Dart Grant must be submitted by 28 February 2020. The application form is available online at www.dart.ky/about-us/community.
Local non-profit organisations seeking financial support of CI$10,000 or less, or corporate sponsorships such as tickets for charitable events or branded sponsorship of community events, can still apply for financial support outside of the Dart Grants programme.
“Applications for Dart Donations and corporate sponsorship partnerships are still available through our website,” Bush said. “Also available on our website is a new Tree Donation Nomination Form, which individuals and organisations can use to recommend areas for tree plantings.”
In December 2019, Dart announced it would donate 366 trees — one for each day of 2020 — to the Cayman Islands. The first 11 trees were planted by Dart volunteers at Airport Park last month.
“Our goal is to ensure the remaining trees are planted where they will flourish and benefit the community for years to come,” Bush said.
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This article appears in print in the February 2020 edition of Camana Bay Times.
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