The Ugandan dance troupe “Dance of Hope” performed for Gorham, NH students thanks to a Neil and Louise Tillotson DASH grant (Courtesy photo.)
Dash Grant Program
The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund’s Dash Grant program supports one-time purchases or activities that benefit residents of Coös County, NH and bordering communities in the U.S.
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The Dash grants program provides rapid grant awards ranging from $250 up to $2,000 to eligible organizations.
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Rolling. You can apply anytime between January 3 and December 14, 2025.
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Grants will take three weeks or less to process for an expedited turnaround.
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The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund awards grants that support nonprofit organizations to advance the Tillotson Fund’s vision to revitalize communities.
Requests that support one-time projects and activities focused on the people and places of Coös County — and communities that share a border with Coös County — are invited to apply. Projects should not extend past a year in length; however, extensions can be granted.
Examples of awards:
- to provide marketing materials for a one-time community event
- to sponsor a school field trip
- to hire a consultant to support a project or activity
- to purchase or replace equipment or furniture
- If you already have an award from the Large or Local Grants Program, you are still eligible to apply to the Dash Grants Program.
Because funding is limited, your organization is eligible to apply once per calendar year. However, please carefully consider your organization’s needs and refrain from applying year after year so other organizations might benefit from this limited resource. A project should be unique to that calendar year — repeated requests for the same project will not be considered eligible. For example, a request in one year to support a specific community event would not be considered eligible in the following year(s). However, the organization could apply in the following year(s) for a different project purpose.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Tax-exempt organizations under any part of the section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code
- State or local government agencies or unit of government
- Grassroots organizations, collaborative or coalitions may apply with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor. (Learn more about what it means to have a fiscal sponsor and the responsibilities involved for both the fiscal sponsor and the grassroots organization.)
The Tillotson Fund does not make Dash grants for:
- Operating and/or ongoing program expenses such as salaries, benefits, rent, utilities, capital expenses, supplies, etc.
- Expenses for ongoing or recurring programs, events or activities (e.g. facilitator fees for an annual convening that happens each year)
- Capital campaigns
- Expenses already incurred
- Out-of-region projects
- Sectarian or religious programs
- Community foundations unless they serve as a fiscal sponsor
- Individuals or endowments
- Budget shortfalls
- Support for political activities, i.e., lobbying
- Organizations or projects that discriminate based on age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, national or ethnic origin
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and its Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals and will not knowingly make grants (including those recommended by donor-advised fundholders), to organizations whose mission or programs promote hate, or run counter to principles of basic respect, justice and equity.
Application and grant process
Learn more about the program and determine eligibility.
Please review the Grantseeker Guide (English and French) and the video/audio recording and PowerPoint (view French translation) from the 2024 Grantseeker Information Session.
Create an organization profile and complete an application in GrantSource.
Visit GrantSource and create your organization profile by clicking on “Register here” located under “New to the system.”
If you already have a profile in the system, please log in and update information including contacts, mailing address, mission statement, number of employees, operating budget, and board of directors. Your organization profile must be up to date in order to apply for funding.
If you do not have access to the internet or cannot apply online, please contact Christa Hollingsworth by email or at 603-225-6641 ext. 265 for further assistance.
Complete the online application.
Log into the online system and open the Dash Grants docket. The application consists of one question — “Please describe your project including a narrative description, intended outcomes, community partners that might be involved, and any other information that might be helpful.”
You will be asked to upload a project budget (PDF format). Budget line items should not include operational expenses such as salary, benefits, rent, utilities, or capital expenses.
Receive funding status.
Requests will be notified of funding awarded or declined within three weeks after submission.
Share the good news.
You will not be asked to submit a report at the end of your project year. However, stories, photos, events or news articles relating to your project are welcome. We also invite you to provide feedback about how the process worked for you and how it might be improved as your experience with the program is important to us.
Recent Dash Grants
Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust
To purchase motorized equipment and a storage shed.
Bethlehem Redevelopment Association
To support the purchase of a laundry system for The Colonial Theatre.
Bethlehem Trails Association
To redesign the website.
City of Berlin, NH
To purchase equipment for a Disc Golf Course in Berlin, NH.
Milan and Dummer Ambulance
To purchase a new portable radio and pager to fulfill an urgent need.
Treecity Arts
To purchase branded t-shirts for Berlin, NH's PorchFest.
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