Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between the Fund and the Foundation?
- Who manages the Trust Fund?
- What are prevention programs?
- Besides preventing problems, what does the VCT Fund hope to accomplish?
- What is the grant cycle?
- Who is eligible to receive grants?
- What is the size of the grants?
- Does the VCTF have an endowment fund?
- What is the difference between the Trust Fund and the Vermont Children's Forum and the Vermont Children's Aid Society?
- What is the VCTF's relationship with the Turrell Fund?
1. What is the difference between the Fund and the Foundation?
The Vermont Children's Trust Fund was established in 1986 by an act of the Vermont Legislature. The Fund is a pool of money that was originally made up of a State allocation and Federal Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Formula Grants. Both continue to be awarded annually to the Trust Fund. The state allocation has been approximately $100,000 for the past 5 years. Federal funds have ranged from $200,000 to $250,000.
From the Trust Fund, grants are awarded twice a year to prevention programs throughout Vermont. Requests for funding for grants have exceeded funds available by as much as 7:1 in the past but has averaged 2:1 in recent years.
To help bridge the gap, in 1991 the Vermont Children's Trust Foundation was established to raise funds from the private and corporate sectors to add to the Trust Fund. For the past few years, the Foundation has contributed the following amounts for grants.
2006- $65,000
2007- $70,000
2008- $90,000
2009- $77,000
2010- $92,000
Additionally, the state legislature passed a bill in 1996 putting the Vermont Children's Trust Fund on the state income tax returns, Line 29 B. Annual donation income from the tax check-off averages $75,000.
2. Who manages the Trust Fund?
The Children and Family Council for Prevention Programs (CFCPP), a 21 member state advisory group appointed by the Governor for their expertise in childhood issues, oversee the Fund. Employees of the Agency of Human Services serve on the Council. The Agency of Human Services, with the guidance of the CFCPP members, approves grant awards. Members of the CFCPP established and served on the Foundation board.
At the request of the State of Vermont, in 2009 VCTF entered into an agreement to manage the Children’s Trust Fund on behalf of the State.
3. What are prevention programs?
Examples of prevention programs are parenting education classes, home visits and support groups for parents, after-school programs, teen community service, and mentoring programs.
Prevention programs have been proven to help reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, truancy, school drop- outs, teenage pregnancy, and other high- risk behaviors. They help prevent problems from occurring.
Prevention programs are open to the general public (not aimed at high risk populations), have voluntary participation, promote health and self-reliance, and positively influence the community.
4. Besides preventing problems what does the VCT Fund hope to accomplish?
The Vermont Children’s Trust Fund looks for programs with potential to bring about the following positive outcomes established by the Agency of Human Services-
• Infants and children thrive
• Children are ready for and succeed in school
• Children live in stable supported families
• Youth choose healthy behaviors
5. What is the grant cycle?
Applications are due in March and awards are made in June. The grant year is July 1 - June 30.
6 . Who is eligible to receive grants?
Non-profit organizations, as well as schools and municipalities are eligible. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible for VCTF grants.
7. What is the size of the grants?
Grants generally range from $500 to $15,000. In FY09 the average grant award was $7,000.
In 2009, a total of $495,425 was awarded to 79 programs.
More than $700,000 was requested by over 93 organizations.
In 2010, a total of $423,740 was awarded to 70 programs. More than $790,000 was requested by over 107 organizations.
8. Does the VCT Foundation have an endowment fund?
The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation has an endowment fund that it is currently building.
9. What is the difference between the Trust Fund and the Vermont Children's Forum and the Vermont Children's Aid Society?
The Vermont Children's Trust Fund awards grants for prevention programs.
The Vermont Children's Aid Society was founded as an adoption agency and works mostly with adoption and foster parents, which are intervention programs.
The Vermont Children's Forum (now called Voices for Vermont Children) is an advocacy group for policy issues.
Both organizations have received funding from the Trust Fund for prevention programs they have provided from time to time.
10. What is the Trust Foundation's relationship with the Turrell Fund?
In 1995 VCTF was approached by the Turrell Fund to help with the selection process for their annual award and to arrange an event for the Turrell Fund's presentation of the annual award to a Vermont prevention program providing exemplary service to children 12 and younger. This $25,000 unrestricted gift in honor of S. Whitney Landon is to be given to a different program each year. Two runner-up programs each receive $2,500.
Recipients:
1996-Champlain Valley Kids on the Block, Burlington
1997-Growing up OK, Addison NE Supervisory Union
1998-The Children's Room, Waterbury Center
1999-Windham County Reads Bookmobile
2000-Sara Holbrook Center, Burlington
2001-Unlimited Fathering Opportunities, Bennington
2002-Girls on the Run of Vermont, Statewide
2003-VerShare, Vershire
2004-Hinesburg Friends of Families
2005-VNA Family Room
2006- Winooski Family Center
2007- Stepping Stones Preschool
2008- Bright Smiles, Washington County
2009- Vermont Campaign To End Childhood
Hunger
2010- The Lamoille Valley Community Justice Program