Community Engagement Investments Application Guidelines

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2 Community Engagement Investments Application Guidelines Trident United Way (TUW) is committed to investing in initiatives that support systemic and community-level improvement in Education, Financial Stability, and Health within the Tri-County region (Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties). TUW currently has five funding pools (see graph below). This Application Guide is specific to the Community Engagement Investments only. Trident United Way is pleased to announce this investment opportunity focused on enhancing community engagement efforts by nonprofits in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. Community Engagement refers to the process an organization uses to engage and connect the community for the purpose of advancing their work or advancing toward a common goal. Some examples of engagement activities include one-time, episodic and short-term events (like festivals/fairs, conferences, expos, etc.), episodic outreach, volunteer engagement activities, and trainings aligned with TUW s areas of focus in Education, Financial Stability and Health. The Goals of TUW Community Engagement Investments are: To assist partners to embrace effective practices in community engagement in TUW areas of focus: Education, Financial Stability, and Health To provide supplemental funding for eligible community engagement activities To create an investment entry point for organizations that may be new to TUW Page 1 of 9

3 To provide a toolkit of effective practices and a learning opportunity for organizations via a TUW information session To assist agencies in building and broadening their base of support and their connection to the community INFORMATION SESSIONS Organizations interested in applying are required to attend an information session prior to submitting their application. The purpose of the information session is: To provide an overview of the application and reporting guidelines and the review process To connect organizations new to TUW to a network of nonprofits To provide toolkits and templates based on effective practices in community engagement that will help organizations plan and implement successful activities. Topics include: Developing a Timeline Marketing and Public Relations Engaging Volunteers Tracking and Evaluation The information sessions are required for all organizations applying for a Community Engagement Investment. Space at the information sessions may be limited and therefore, we ask that organizations register to attend and limit attendees to two staff and/or volunteers. The two sessions are on the following dates (you are only required to attend one of the two events below). Information Session Dates: April 9th, from 3:00pm-4:00pm (For returning applicants only. Online session!) April 10th, from 2:00pm-4:00pm (Required for all new applicants) Register online at: Note: if you previously attended an information session in 2016 or 2017, your attendance at this information session is not required. You are strongly encouraged to attend the webinar on April 9 th instead. Please funding@tuw.org to get login credentials for the online application. Page 2 of 9

4 Depending on the size of the organization, a Grant Writer, Volunteer Coordinator, Program Coordinator, Marketing, or Executive Director may be the appropriate designee to attend the information session. Regardless of whether an organization receives a funding award, all attendees will leave the sessions with a toolkit to assist them in implementing successful community engagement activities and will be added to TUW s network to receive updates and announcements about trainings or other activities. CRITERIA FOR FUNDING TUW is interested in making investments that will help its partners embrace effective practices in community engagement in the TUW areas of focus described below: Education: Helping youth, K-12, achieve academic success Health: Promote healthy lifestyle and address social determinants of health Financial Stability: Helping families and individuals achieve financial stability Volunteer Engagement: Effectively engaging volunteers to leverage work in education, financial stability, and health We are looking for initiatives that will enhance your organization s community connections by building capacity, strengthening partnerships and improving systems in the tri-county area and provide measurable results that lead to a deeper level of community engagement. AVAILABLE FUNDING The total available funding pool is $50,000 in this investment period (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019). The total funding pool of $50,000 is split into two rounds of funding at $25,000 each. The majority of awards will be made at funding levels A and B listed below. Funding levels: A. $1,000-$3,499 B. $3,500-$5,499 C. $5,500-$10,000 Please be realistic in your budget projections and ask for exactly what you project you will need to carry out a successful community engagement activity. Only one award at level C above will be given per funding round, if at all. Page 3 of 9

5 ACTIVITY PERIOD FOR FUNDING AWARDS Activity must occur between July 1, 2018 and June 30, Disbursements will occur during this time period, but no earlier than July 1, 2018 and no later than June 30, Again, there are two rounds of funding within this Investment Period. The first application deadline is April 14, 2017 at 5pm. The second application deadline is TBA. Organizations may only submit one application per round. If your organization is funded, you are not eligible to apply in the round immediately following your award. Therefore if your agency was awarded a grant in July 2018, it may not apply in the subsequent round two APPLICATION AND AWARD NOTIFICATION TIMELINE Current Round: April 9 th and 10 th, 2018 Information Sessions April 16 th, 2018 Application available online April 27 th, 2018 at 5:00PM Application Deadline July 2018 Award recipients notified Fall 2018 Round: TBA HOW TO APPLY Community Engagement Investments are open and competitive. If your organization is receiving funding from TUW through a different funding pool, you are not precluded from applying for this opportunity. Application Steps: Step 1: Register for and attend one information session (if not previously attended). Before leaving the information session, organizations will be required to indicate whether or not they are going to apply to be given application log in credentials. Step 2: Apply online through the TUW Andar online application portal. Please note: after attending an information session and indicating your intent to apply, you will receive your login credentials by April 16th, Step 3: Applications must be submitted by 5pm on April 27th and those not submitted by that time will not be considered. Page 4 of 9

6 Incomplete applications will not be considered, so it is important that all applicants upload the required documents and completely fill out the application. Complete and submit your application prior to the deadline if possible. Doing so will allow you to problem-solve should issues occur. Applicants are strongly advised to contact TUW before the deadline to ensure that your application is complete by 5pm on April 27 th, If document uploads are incorrect or incomplete TUW will notify applicants immediately following the deadline that their application will not be considered. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS At the time of application, these documents are required: Verification of Federal Nonprofit Status as demonstrated by ONE of the following: o IRS 501(c)3 letter for your organization o A copy of the filed IRS form 1023 applying your organization for registration as a 501c3 with the IRS o If your organization uses a fiscal agent, please submit their IRS 501(c)3 letter. (see appendix) o If your organization is a religious organizations that has not registered as a 501(c)3 with the IRS, you must certify that the organization meets the requirements for exemption under IRC section 501(c)(3): Current SC Secretary of State Charity Registration or Exemption Form (see appendix) Activity Budget (applicants must use the TUW budget template provided) If funded, the following documents will be required before disbursement: Federal Counterterrorism Compliance Form (provided by TUW) Documentation proving your relationship with the fiscal agent if applicable After activity is completed: Activity Report submit within 30 days (form provided by TUW) Budget Report submit within 60 days (form provided by TUW) Page 5 of 9

7 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS To effectively monitor program success and learn from results, TUW has developed a reporting tool that organizations are expected to use. Funded organizations must submit an Activity Report (form provided by TUW) within thirty days of completing their activity. Additionally, funded organizations will be required to submit a simple Budget Report (form provided by TUW) within 60 days of program completion. Funded organizations will be given instructions on how to submit their reports. Please retain receipts, invoices, or any other information documenting your activity expenses, as you may be asked to provide additional information. If for any reason there are changes which impact the implementation of your activities and/or the timely submission of your reports, you are expected to proactively communicate this to TUW. Additionally, funded organizations are expected to proactively communicate changes in their primary contact information to TUW. USE OF FUNDS Funds must only be used to provide the activity outlined in the application. In the event the total spent on eligible expenses at the event does not equal or exceed the amount received, the organization is required to return the over-payment within 30 days of the event occurring. In addition, if the event does not occur for any reason, the funds are to be returned to TUW by the date of the scheduled event. Please see the section below titled Community Engagement Activities Ineligible for Funding for a list of ineligible expenses. MARKETING STANDARDS TUW requires funded organizations to include the TUW logo on any Flyers/Brochures/collateral materials for activities funded by Trident United Way. TUW may request that organizations mention TUW funding in news releases and social media efforts for said activity. TUW may share Facebook posts about upcoming funded events. Finally, in celebration of your efforts, TUW reserves the right to share information, success stories and/or photos from your funded activity (provided in your Activity Report). Page 6 of 9

8 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING: Do not primarily serve residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and/or Dorchester counties in South Carolina Offering religious worship, counseling, instruction, or proselytizing as a requirement for service Denying service to a potential clients or beneficiaries on the basis of any of the following: race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran, and/or disability status Supporting an individual or a specific family, such as those requesting scholarships, fellowships, or benefits assistance Debt reduction Endowment or capital campaigns Routine operating expenses of the organization (e.g. utilities, rent, and salary) Operating expenses typically represent spending for such things as: o Employee salaries/wages and overhead o Office space rental and utilities costs o Computer hardware and software maintenance contract expenses o Telephone and internet services o Insurance costs The purchase, distribution, or sale of alcohol ORGANIZATIONAL ELIGIBILITY: Eligible organizations must serve a population of individuals at or below 200% of the poverty level. TUW focuses on serving individuals in or near poverty (200% or below). Organizations that are not eligible to apply: (1) classified as a private foundation by the Internal Revenue Service or (2) engaging in political activities as defined by the IRS or (3) do not have a minimum of three independent board members that are not related and non-compensated or (4) organizations that are government entities. QUESTIONS? For further information please contact funding@tuw.org with Community Engagement Investment in the subject line. Page 7 of 9

9 APPENDIX A: Sample IRS 501c3 letter Page 8 of 9

10 APPENDIX B: Sample SC Secretary of State Charity Registration or Exemption Form Page 9 of 9