Opportunity Overview
The Kelsey Trust Winter 2026 Grant Cycle, administered in collaboration with the Vermont Community Foundation, supports organizations and projects serving people in the Lake Champlain Basin. Winter grants typically focus on children and families, basic human needs, and health.
Funding
The Trust states that its current fiscal-year grants budget is roughly $200,000, some of which may already be committed, and that grants typically range from $5,000 to $10,000. The current program page does not establish a hard per-applicant maximum or a mandatory match/cost-share percentage.
Priority Areas
Relevant priorities include children at risk with serious educational, emotional, nutritional and social needs; educational access and opportunity for underserved populations; and health and nutrition programs that promote health and well-being among underserved populations or provide nutrition to families in need.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants must serve the people and/or environment of the Lake Champlain Basin, with a strong preference for organizations located in the Basin. Applicants must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), a public agency or municipality in the Basin, or use an eligible nonprofit fiscal agent where permitted.
Deadline and Application Process
The Winter 2026 Letter of Interest deadline is December 1, 2026. The controlling page does not publish a submission time or time zone. Applications require an Organization Statement and a Letter of Interest and are submitted electronically through the Vermont Community Foundation Online Grants Manager. The Trust may request additional information after LOI review.
N9+ and QC Healthcare Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 72/100. The opportunity has a clear Lake Champlain Basin health, underserved-population, children/family and education focus, reasonable lead time, and a recurring winter health-oriented cycle. The main constraints are regional geography, limited unsolicited awards, and modest typical grant size.
N9+ Fit: 30/100. A qualifying nonprofit or public applicant could potentially propose a modest health-access or underserved-care project involving remote physical examination, guided examinations, vitals or telehealth-enabled encounters, but the current Trust guidance does not specifically establish medical-device, telehealth-equipment or clinical-technology costs as allowable. Any N9+ component must be applicant-led and confirmed as allowable.
QC Healthcare Fit: 20/100. A limited service-partner role may be possible for a legitimate applicant health project, subject to applicant need and funder approval.
Direct Vendor Review
Dr. Miltie, LLC is not within the stated direct applicant classes. The credible path is an eligible Lake Champlain Basin nonprofit, public agency or municipality pursuing its own project, with Dr. Miltie or QC Healthcare participating only if the applicant’s project and Trust rules legitimately support that role.
Next Action
Potential applicants should confirm Lake Champlain Basin eligibility, prepare the required Organization Statement and concise LOI, identify a concrete health, children/family or educational need, and submit through the Online Grants Manager by December 1. Any N9+ or QC Healthcare component should be confirmed with the Trust before final budgeting.
Program contact: Emma Marks, emarks@vermontcf.org, 802-388-3355 ext. 269.
Official source: Vermont Community Foundation – Kelsey Trust.