2006 United States Tennis Association Incorporated Community Grant Guidelines

Transcription

1 2006 United States Tennis Association Incorporated Community Grant Guidelines One of the ways the United States Tennis Association Incorporated ( USTA ) continues to succeed is through awarding grants to not-for-profit organizations that promote and develop the growth of tennis and use the sport of tennis to build stronger, healthier communities. The USTA will typically award grants from the Community Grant Program in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 USD. Types of Grants The USTA awards two (2) types of grants. Project/Program Support A grant made to an organization for a specific program or project promoting the growth and development of tennis. (i.e. Developing new team based play programs to retain players, marketing projects that reach out to non-traditional tennis audiences, new tournament series/formats that use transition equipment, etc.) Organizational Capacity Building Support A grant made to an organization to improve the organizations effectiveness and performance. Organization effectiveness is defined as the ability of an organization to fulfill its mission through a blend of sound management, strong governance, and a persistent rededication to achieving results. The USTA supports community tennis associations with programs that meet the USTA s grant initiatives, including: Tennis Program Development Developing new on-court tennis programs or improving and expanding existing on-court tennis programs. Marketing and Promotion Assisting organizations to market and promote their organization and its tennis programs, services and activities. Training and Education Assisting organizations with on-court tennis training staff, and volunteer leadership training and education, Board development training and education. Limitations: The USTA Community Grant Program offers grants to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), or 501 (c)(7) organizations that demonstrate their commitment to the mission of promoting and developing the growth of tennis and building stronger, healthier communities through tennis. If you are seeking support for a program/project and are not classified as a nonprofit organization you may use a fiscal agent or sponsor. A fiscal agent or sponsor is a nonprofit organization that will serve as your project's fiscal agent by USTA Community Grant Program 2006 Page 1 of 6

2 receiving and administering the funds. For more information of fiscal agents, visit The Foundation Center at The USTA Community Grant Program does not fund: Individuals General operating support for nonprofit organizations (i.e. unrestricted funding for administrative salaries, office expenses, etc.) Capital projects Programs or projects that do not promote and develop the sport of tennis. Commercial organizations Proposal Guidelines: 1. Send six (6) complete copies of your proposal, including cover sheet, 10 page (maximum) proposal plus attachments. 2. Your proposal must be typed, single-spaced, single-sided on white/very light colored, 8 ½ x 11inch paper. 3. Use standard typeface no smaller than 10 points and no less than.5 inch margins. 4. Binders and folders are not accepted. 5. Proposals by fax are not accepted. 6. Please answer all of the questions in the order listed. 7. Please use headings as provided. 8. Please do not include any materials other than those specifically requested at this time. 9. Please do not send videotapes, t-shirts or other promotional material. USTA Community Grant Program 2006 Page 2 of 6

3 USTA Community Grant Cover Sheet (Two Pages Maximum) (Please feel free to make copies of this form or generate this cover sheet electronically.) Please answer all questions on this page, do not refer to attachments. Today s Date: / / USTA Organization ID Number: mm dd yyyy 1. Legal Name of Organization: [as it appears on the IRS letter] 2. Federal Tax ID Exempt # from the IRS Letter: 3. Address of Organization: City: State: Zip: Phone Number: Fax Number: Website: 4. Executive Director/CEO/President Name: Phone Number: (Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.) First Name Last Name 4. Contact person for this application: [if different from Executive Director/CEO/President] (Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.) First Name Last Name Phone Number: 5. Summarize Organization s Mission or Purpose: (two or three sentences) 6. Type of Grant Request: (please check one) Project/Program Support Building Organizational Capacity 7. Please select one of the following funding areas that fit your program and/or organization s focus. Tennis Program Development Tennis Marketing Initiatives Training and Education Other: (Please describe) 8. Grant Request: $ Period of time in which funds will be spent: From To 9. Organization s total budget: $ Project/Program s budget: $ (if applicable) 10. Fiscal year: / / to / / mm dd yyyy mm dd yyyy 11. Summary of project or grant request (two to three sentences) 12. Project title (if project support is requested): 13. Letter from IRS stating tax status? Yes No (Please attach copy) If no, please explain and/or identify your fiscal agent and attach the written agreement from the fiscal agent. 14. Signature of Executive Director/CEO/President Signature of Board Chair, indicating approval USTA Community Grant Program 2006 Page 3 of 6

4 USTA Community Grant Program Proposal Outline I. Narrative Ten pages maximum. A. Organization Background: Describe the work of your organization, addressing each of the following: A brief description of its history, mission, goals and objectives, services, overall size, number of individuals served. The need or problem that your organization works to address, and the population that your organization serves, including geographic location, socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability and language. Current programs and accomplishments. Please emphasize the achievements of the last two years. (i.e., what are your specific accomplishments in your community?) Number of paid full-time staff, number of part-time staff, number of volunteers, number of Board Members. Please provide the demographics of your staff, volunteers and board in terms of gender and race/ethnicity. Your organization s collaborations/relationships both formal and informal with other organizations working to meet the same needs or providing similar services. Please explain how you differ from these other agencies Previous funding received from the USTA, include funding from USTA National, Section and/or District offices, as well as The USTA Tennis and Education Foundation. B. Funding Request: Please describe the program for which you seek funding. Please explain the project/program detail, including: A statement of the need or problem that you are seeking to address; Identify the projects goals and objectives; The population that you plan to serve and how this population will benefit from the project; Include the number of individuals to be served; Strategies and activities that you will employ to implement your project; The proposed staffing pattern for the project, and the names and titles of the individuals who will direct the project; A timeline and length of project; Identify the anticipated results; How the project contributes to your organization s overall mission; and Identify other organizations that will be involved as collaborators. C. Training, Education and Professional Development: Please explain the training, education and/or professional development opportunities that you provide your staff, volunteers, tennis instructors, etc. Include a proposed schedule of training and education that your organization will participate in, in the upcoming year. (This may include your own training programs, national workshops, regional workshops, USTA Section workshops, Development Coach Workshops, USPTA or PTR workshops, etc.) D. Evaluation: Please explain how you will measure the effectiveness of your activities. What evaluation tools are being used to measure the program/project s success? Explain your specific goals for the program/project and how they will be objectively monitored and measured. Directly answer the following question: How will you know whether the program/project demonstrated success? How will the program/project and what is learned from it enhance your organization s ability to promote and develop the growth of tennis after the grant period? USTA Community Grant Program 2006 Page 4 of 6

5 E. Program Sustainability: Provide a reasonable plan for the financial sustainability of the program after the conclusion of funding from the USTA, such as indicating where additional support will likely be sought. If you have applied for funding from other sources, list these potential sources, amounts you are seeking and when you expect a decision to be made on these requests. II. Budget/Financials The following information must accompany all proposals, regardless of the size of request. Not all categories are applicable, however. You may submit this information as an attachment and in the format most convenient to you; it should, however, include as much of the following detail as possible. A. Program/Project Budget and Budget Narrative for the year of the grant. Revenue: include a description and total amount for each category that is relevant to your organization. (Skip categories where you have no revenue.) Revenue Categories: 1. Grants and Contracts Local Government State Government Federal Government Foundations Corporations United Way/other federated campaigns Individual Donors Other (specify) 2. Earned Revenue Events Publications and Products Fees Other (specify) 3. Membership Income 4. In-kind Support (donated goods, services, equipment, non-cash items, volunteer hours) 5. Other (specify) 6. Total Revenue Expenses: Include the total amount for each category that is relevant to your organization. (Skip categories where you have no expenses.) Expense Categories: 1. Salaries (specify total salary budget, number of positions and whether full-time or part-time) 2. Payroll Taxes 3. Fringe Benefits 4. Consultants or Professional Fees (itemize type(s) or consultant(s) and fees) 5. Insurance 6. Travel 7. Equipment 8. Supplies 9. Printing and Copying 10. Telephone and Fax 11. Postage and Delivery 12. Rent and Utilities 13. Maintenance 14. Evaluation 15. Other (specify) 16. Total Expenses USTA Community Grant Program 2006 Page 5 of 6

6 B. Organization s Budget for the year of the grant. III. Supporting Documentation 1. A list of your Board of Directors, including the principal business or professional affiliation of each. Contact information does not need to be included. 2. A copy of your most recent IRS letter indicating your agency s tax-exempt status, or, if not available, a written agreement from your organization s fiscal agent. 3. A copy of the current Certificate of Good Standing from your Secretary of State s Office, if not available, a copy of the current Certificate for your organization s fiscal agent. 4. One-paragraph resumes of key staff, including qualifications relevant to the specific request. 5. Your most recent audited financial statement and annual report and IRS Form 990. If your organization does not have an audited financial statement, please submit your most recent IRS Form No more than four examples of articles written in the last year about or evaluations of, your organization, if available. 7. Current letters of support from participating organizations and/or the target population benefiting from the proposed effort (maximum of four letters; dated within the last 12 months) 8. Current letters of support from your USTA Section and USTA District office Please notify both offices early in the process to obtain these letters. (maximum 2 letters; dated within the last 12 months) IV. Proposal Development Resources: If you need assistance with writing a proposal, please feel free to check out these organizations below. They are wonderful resources that provide tips for writing effective grant proposals. You should also contact your USTA Section and USTA District office for assistance. The Foundation Center: Maintains lists of training and technical assistance resources such as grantwriting guides for grant seekers. Their website includes a Learning Lab: Proposal Writing Short Course. Website: InnoNet Online Tool Box: A free resource to help grant seekers design proposals. The site, has step-by-step instructions on program planning, evaluation, and fundraising, plus tips, examples, sample surveys, and interview guidelines. Fundraising Help & Ideas for Nonprofit Organizations, V. USTA Community Funding Proposal Deadline: All proposals for funding must be received by Tuesday, November 1, Applicants will be notified in late December. Send six (6) copies of your proposal to the address listed below. United States Tennis Association Incorporated Community Grant Program Attn: Erin McManmon 70 West Red Oak Lane White Plains, NY If you need assistance in completing your proposal, please contact your USTA Section and/or USTA District office or send questions to grants@usta.com. The USTA Community Grant Program Guidelines are posted on the USTA website at USTA Community Grant Program 2006 Page 6 of 6