Annually, the Board of Directors set aside monies from the unrestricted funds to make grants to the community.  The Board of Directors has prioritized the grantmaking desires of the Foundation.     

The Foundation places highest priority to funding projects which are:

• New and innovative projects or programs, including start-ups
• Projects which Foundation funds can be used as match, seed money or challenge grant funding from other donors
• Projects which will make a significant impact in the community
• Projects which act as a catalyst for action and community participation
  

The Foundation places lower priority towards requests in the following areas:

• Individual and team travel expenses
• Individuals, except in the forms of scholarships
• Multi-year or long term funding
• Fund the creation of an endowment
• Programs that fall appropriately under government funding
• Annual appeals
• Projects considered part of the school curriculum
• Attendance to conferences, seminars or other projects
• Annual campaigns
• Projects where the DCCF is the sole funder

The Foundation will typically not fund: 

• Political activities
• Make-up operating deficits
• Post event or after the fact situations
• On-going operating expenses
• Debt reduction
• Religious organizations for religious purposes