Here, you’ll find all the information you need to apply for a Community Sponsorship, express interest in a Community Grant, or manage your account. Before submitting your request, make sure to review the types of support available, the eligibility requirements, frequently asked questions, and the process for submitting your application.
Explore Sponsorships and Grants
Community Sponsorships support an organization’s fundraising efforts through events or general support.
- Funded by KeyBank
- Event-based or general operating support
- Community Sponsorships on average range from $500 to $5,000
Applying for Community Sponsorship
Community Sponsorship requests will be reviewed by a local representative and decisioned within 90 days. Requests can be submitted January through October.
Community Grants support organizations for which contributions are tax deductible and that invest in programs that align with our funding priorities and advance equity, fostering positive change in the community.
- Funded by KeyBank Foundation
- Programmatic support that aligns with funding priorities
- Community Grants range on average from $10,000 to $25,000
Additional Eligibility Requirements
In addition to our general eligibility requirements, Community Grant-eligible organizations should:
- Have an annual operating budget of at least $100,000
- Be in operation for a minimum of 3 years
Application Process
Community Grant requests are submitted by invitation only. If you are interested in partnering with KeyBank Foundation, please complete an Expression of Interest to share information about your organization and priorities. A local representative will review your submission and provide a response within 90 days.
Review and manage your submitted and in-progress requests and requirements.
General Eligibility Requirements
Applying for Community Sponsorships and Community Grants
We support organizations that serve individuals or small businesses in the communities where KeyBank has a retail presence. See eligible communities.
We do not provide philanthropic support to the following:
- Individuals
- Organizations that discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation
- Programs operated by religious organizations for religious purposes
- Memberships, lobbying, or political activities, advertisements, athletic teams, booster clubs, and organizations outside the United States; organizations that are inconsistent with U.S. equal opportunity policies; and selected organizations with Internal Revenue Code Section 509(a)(3) status
Frequently Asked Questions about Philanthropy
Eligibility
KeyBank Foundation has three funding priorities: Neighbors, Education, and Workforce. The vast majority of Ccommunity Grants support programming that aligns with one or more of our funding priorities. For more information, visit key.com/foundation.
KeyBank Foundation is careful not to award grants that are disproportionate to an organization's operations. Therefore, having an operating budget of at least $100,000, ensures that an organization’s size aligns with our minimum Community Grant size.
Alaska
- Aleutians West
- Anchorage Municipality
- Fairbanks North Star Borough
- Juneau City and Borough
- Kenai Peninsula Borough
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough
- Kodiak Island Borough
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Colorado
- Adams
- Arapahoe
- Boulder
- Broomfield
- Denver
- Douglas
- El Paso
- Jefferson
- Larimer
Connecticut
- Capitol Planning Region
- Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
- Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
- Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
- Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region
- South Central Connecticut Planning Region
- Western Connecticut Planning Region
Florida
- Collier
- Lee
- Palm Beach
Idaho
- Ada
- Bannock
- Bingham
- Bonneville
- Canyon
- Cassia
- Gem
- Madison
- Payette
- Teton
- Twin Falls
Indiana
- Boone
- Elkhart
- Hamilton
- Hendricks
- Howard
- Johnson
- Kosciusko
- Madison
- Marion
- Marshall
- Morgan
- Shelby
- St. Joseph
- Starke
- Steuben
Massachusetts
- Hampden
Maine
- Androscoggin
- Aroostook
- Cumberland
- Hancock
- Kennebec
- Knox
- Lincoln
- Oxford
- Penobscot
- Sagadahoc
- Waldo
- York
Michigan
- Lenawee
- Livingston
- Monroe
- Oakland
- Washtenaw
- Wayne
New York
- Albany
- Bronx
- Broome
- Cattaraugus
- Cayuga
- Chautauqua
- Clinton
- Columbia
- Cortland
- Dutchess
- Erie
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Genesee
- Greene
- Jefferson
- Lewis
- Livingston
- Madison
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- New York
- Niagara
- Oneida
- Onondaga
- Ontario
- Orange
- Orleans
- Oswego
- Otsego
- Putnam
- Rensselaer
- Rockland
- Saratoga
- Schenectady
- Schoharie
- St. Lawrence
- Sullivan
- Tompkins
- Ulster
- Warren
- Wayne
- Westchester
- Wyoming
Ohio
- Ashtabula
- Butler
- Clark
- Clermont
- Columbiana
- Cuyahoga
- Defiance
- Delaware
- Erie
- Fairfield
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Geauga
- Greene
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Huron
- Lake
- Lorain
- Lucas
- Mahoning
- Medina
- Montgomery
- Ottawa
- Portage
- Richland
- Sandusky
- Stark
- Summit
- Trumbull
- Warren
- Wood
Oregon
- Benton
- Clackamas
- Hood River
- Jackson
- Josephine
- Lane
- Linn
- Marion
- Multnomah
- Polk
- Washington
- Yamhill
Pennsylvania
- Allegheny
- Bucks
- Butler
- Carbon
- Chester
- Erie
- Fayette
- Lehigh
- Montgomery
- Northampton
- Philadelphia
- Warren
- Washington
- Westmoreland
Utah
- Box Elder
- Cache
- Davis
- Salt Lake
- Summit
- Tooele
- Utah
- Weber
Vermont
- Addison
- Chittenden
- Franklin
- Grand Isle
- Rutland
- Windham
Washington
- Benton
- Chelan
- Clallam
- Clark
- Cowlitz
- Grant
- Grays Harbor
- Island
- King
- Kitsap
- Lewis
- Lincoln
- Mason
- Okanogan
- Pacific
- Pierce
- San Juan
- Skagit
- Snohomish
- Stevens
- Thurston
- Whatcom
- Yakima
Application Process
Community Grants are funded through the KeyBank Foundation and support programs that align with our funding priorities and equity lenses. Preferred programs are those that provide direct services to beneficiary populations.
Community Sponsorships are paid through KeyBank and typically support events.
Find out more at key.com/foundation.
Starting in 2025, KeyBank Foundation will be using an Expression of Interest as the first step in our engagement strategy with new community partners. The Expression of Interest is a brief information request submitted through our grant management system that allows you to introduce your organization and share your priorities so that we can identify potential opportunities for philanthropic partnership.
Yes, there is no restriction on the number of times an organization may apply. However, we typically do not award multiple grants and sponsorships to the same organization within the same calendar year.
Community Sponsorship requests can take up to 90 days for processing, so we recommend submitting an application at a minimum two months before the decision is needed. If you are applying for an event that takes place in the first quarter of the year, submit your request by the end of October to ensure there is enough time for our review process. KeyBank does not accept applications in November and December.
Community Sponsorship requests are accepted from January through the end of October. KeyBank does not accept Community Sponsorship applications during the months of November and December.
To start a new Community Sponsorship request, select Apply for Community Sponsorship.
Community Grant requests are by invitation. If you are interested in connecting with the KeyBank Foundation, please submit an Expression of Interest form.
Community Grants range in size from $10,000 to $25,000 with an average size of $15,000.
Application Technical Issues
Your online account contains all in-progress requests, previously submitted requests, and assigned requirements. The account is user-specific and tied to an individual’s email. If you are new to an organization and looking to access previously submitted requests, email the KeyBank Foundation.
If you are trying to sign on to your online account and get an error message that says “Invalid Email”, an account already exists for that email address. We recommend resetting your password by clicking on the “Forgot Password” link located under the Password field.
You can quickly and securely reset your password online.
- Sign on to your account and select “Forgot Password” under the Password field.
- You will receive a system-generated email from mail@grantapplication.com with a temporary password and link to reset your password.
- Note, once you select “Forgot Password,” your account’s “Current Password” becomes the temporary password provided in the email. It will be your password until you successfully complete the reset password process.
Uploading an attachment is a two-step process:
- Select “Choose the File” to select the file you wish to attach.
- Once the file appears on the form, select “Upload.”
Note, when the file has been successfully attached, it becomes a blue hyperlink, and there is an option to “Remove” the file.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the application, please email the KeyBank Foundation for assistance.