ABOUT THE PROGRAM GRANT GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION

Transcription

1 ABOUT THE PROGRAM GRANT GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION

2 ABOUT THE PROGRAM Neighborhood Connections is a special grants program of The Cleveland Foundation designed to assist Cleveland neighborhood groups to strengthen the social networks in their communities while creatively addressing their most important concerns. Grants are intended to spur small, grassroots community efforts and, while doing so, to assist groups and individuals in the community to connect with others. Grants may be used for a wide array of activities and projects, and groups are encouraged to think in new ways about what will work to make their communities stronger. All grant applications accepted will be in keeping with The Cleveland Foundation s interest in improving the community by enhancing the lives of those who live in Cleveland s neighborhoods. Neighborhood Connections is guided by a Grant Making and Monitoring Committee whose members review all grant applications and make funding decisions. The Committee is composed of 18 Cleveland residents with a history of community involvement. PROGRAM PURPOSE Neighborhood Connections was created to enable community groups to help improve the quality of life in Cleveland neighborhoods. PROGRAM GOALS 1. Stimulate the development of new projects designed by grassroots groups to address their most pressing concerns and issues. 2. Encourage new and stronger relationships among grassroots organizations and more established community-based organizations. 3. Support opportunities to develop community leadership and organizational capacity. GRANT SCHEDULE Grants are awarded twice yearly in May and November. Grant applications are due in February and August, respectively. Precise deadlines are announced on the Web site ( or are available by calling (216) and asking for Neighborhood Connections. GRANT AMOUNT Grants will be awarded in amounts between 500 and 5,000. Grant recipients must secure a dollar-for-dollar match equal to the amount requested form the program. The match can be in the form of cash, volunteer labor or donated goods or services. (For purposes of this program, the value of volunteer labor is per person, per hour.) Grant duration is up to one year. A group may apply for only one grant at a time. Groups may receive only one grant within a one-year time period.

3 GRANT ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION INFORMATION Any neighborhood-based group is eligible to apply, whether or not they are incorporated and are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. In order to receive a grant, groups without 501(c)(3) status will need to partner with a 501(c)(3) group to serve as the fiscal agent (see Fiscal Agent below). Grant applicants that are 501(c)(3) organizations should include a copy of their IRS determination letter with their application. ELIGIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS Grants are available in all neighborhoods in the City of Cleveland. We would like to know which neighborhood your project will impact. Bellaire Puritas Glenville Shaker Square Buckeye Hough Slavic Village Cedar Central Kamm s Corners South Collinwood Clark Metro Lee Harvard Stockyards Cudell Mt. Pleasant Tremont Detroit Shoreway North Collinwood Union Miles Downtown Ohio City University Fairfax Old Brooklyn (including Brooklyn Centre) Westown Forest Hills St. Clair Superior To determine which neighborhood your project is located in, please check the Neighborhood Eligibility section of the program s Web site ( or call and ask for Neighborhood Connections. Fiscal Agent Grant applicants that do not have 501 (c)(3) status must identify a neighborhood-based fiscal agent to handle the grant money. Fiscal agents must be 501 (c)(3) organizations and must provide a letter indicating a willingness to function as a fiscal agent. This letter must accompany the grant application along with the 501 (c)(3) IRS determination letter of the proposed fiscal agent. Other Indications of Support Grant applications should include letters of support from community partners whose cooperation or involvement is necessary to the project s success. In addition, letters of commitment from governmental agencies or schools should be included when appropriate. For example, if the project involves public property, the governmental entity associated with the property should include a letter of support for the project and a commitment to provide whatever service is required to accomplish the project. Neighborhood Connections does not make grants to: Capital campaigns Individuals Endowment funds Lobbying efforts For-profit entities Political groups Fundraising events Religious organizations for religious purposes Government agencies or departments Single businesses

4 WHAT APPLICANTS SHOULD EXPECT There will be technical assistance and program orientation meetings each grant cycle to assist grantseekers in preparing their proposals and to answer their questions. Each session will include information on how to apply, what information applications should include and how to seek help. Visit the Neighborhood Connections Web site ( or call and ask for Neighborhood Connections for information on dates and times of all sessions. After proposals have been submitted, a number of groups will be called to be interviewed. Groups invited to an interview will receive a call within three to four weeks of submitting their proposal. A total of up to three individuals may attend the interview. Participants are permitted to bring supporting materials to the interview. Graphics, including charts or materials produced, as well as program beneficiaries, are appropriate at these interviews. For those who receive funding, prior to fund release, grantees and their fiscal agent will be required to attend an orientation session. These sessions will provide assistance with the implementation of the grant proposal. Technical assistance also will be available during the grant period on a routine basis and as needed. Shortly after receipt of the grant check, groups may be asked to participate in a technical assistance meeting. Within a month after grant activities are completed, grant recipients will be expected to provide a report regarding outcomes and accomplishments. A small number of grants will be evaluated on an in-depth basis. If chosen for this assessment, a grant recipient will be expected to cooperate with all evaluation requests. Program staff will be available to provide assistance in successful grant management. INSTRUCTIONS Please complete the attached application and submit it to: Neighborhood Connections The Cleveland Foundation 1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1300 Cleveland, Ohio All materials must be submitted on an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper, preferably one sided. To be considered for funding, complete application materials must be received at The Cleveland Foundation by 5:00 p.m. on the date proposals are due. We will provide you with confirmation that we have received your grant proposal. If you have questions about the application or program, please contact the Neighborhood Connections program manager at , neighborhoodconnections@clevefdn.org or visit our Web site at

5 GRANT APPLICATION AND BUDGET FORM Please complete the application and budget form as thoroughly as possible. Organization name: Mailing address: Phone number: Zip code: Fax number: address: Amount you are requesting from Neighborhood Connections (500-5,000): Please indicate in which neighborhood your project will be implemented. (check only one) Bellaire Puritas Glenville Shaker Square Buckeye Hough Slavic Village Cedar Central Kamm s Corners South Collinwood Clark Metro Lee Harvard Stockyards Cudell Mt. Pleasant Tremont Detroit Shoreway North Collinwood Union Miles Downtown Ohio City University Fairfax Old Brooklyn Westown Forest Hills St. Clair Superior Please visit the Neighborhood Connections Web site ( or call and ask for Neighborhood Connections to see how neighborhood boundaries have been defined for purposes of this program. Contact person: Contact phone number: (if different from above) Contact address: (if different from above)

6 Organization type (select the one that best describes your group): Arts & culture group Block club or residents council Community-based organization Faith-based group Merchants or business association Neighborhood association/center Safety group School-affiliated group Youth organization Date organization established: Does your organization have a 501 (c)(3) designation (tax exempt according to the IRS)? Yes No (If yes, please include IRS determination letter with this application) How many people are actively affiliated with your organization? Has your organization ever applied for a grant from any source before? Yes No Has your organization ever received a grant from any source before? Yes No If yes, what was the source of your most recent grant? Please provide a name for your proposed project: What issues or groups does your project address? (select the one that best describes your project) Arts Beautification Capacity building Communications Community event Community planning Education Health issues/counseling Leadership development Safety/security Technology Other (please specify) Briefly describe the project for which you are seeking funds. What is the problem(s) being addressed? What activities will be undertaken to address this concern?

7 Project description continued What are the goals of the project?

8 How will you know your project is a success and how will you measure your project s benefits? Please briefly describe how people who live in the impacted neighborhood have helped to put this project together.

9 Please provide a work plan for your project, including completion dates for each aspect of the project. A work plan includes a list of all the major steps included in your project, listed from first to last time wise. Please be as specific as possible. Activity: Completion date: What other organization(s) will you work with to accomplish this project? For each group, please provide the organization s name, address, a contact person and phone number. Fiscal agent (if applicable): Fiscal agent organization contact person: Fiscal agent address: Fiscal agent phone number: address: Year fiscal agent was established: Fiscal agent s organizational purpose:

10 PROJECT BUDGET (Please use additional sheets if you need more space) You are obligated to match the amount of the Neighborhood Connections grant with other money or donations (including volunteer labor). Project Income Sources: Cash Source Neighborhood Connections Subtotal cash Amount In-Kind Sources (This includes volunteer labor, goods, services and supplies that are donated) Type and source Volunteer per hour Subtotal in-kind Value Total Income (cash plus in-kind) Project Expenses: Item Neighborhood Connections Other Sources Personnel Contract services Space Equipment Supplies (specify) Other (specify) Other Other Total expenses Total Note: please attach price quotations for equipment and materials

11 NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS PROPOSAL CHECKLIST Five-page proposal is completely filled out Budget page is completely filled out Any necessary letters of support from cooperating organizations are included 501(c)(3) determination letter is included; if group does not have 501(c)(3) status, the determination letter of the fiscal agent is included along with a letter from the fiscal agent agreeing to assume that role All materials are on 8-1/2 x 11 paper, unbound (please, no videos, CD ROMS, etc.)

12 Thank you for your interest in Neighborhood Connections. If you have any questions about the program or how to fill out a grant application, visit our Web site at or call and ask for Neighborhood Connections. Mail completed grant application and budget form to: Neighborhood Connections The Cleveland Foundation 1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1300 Cleveland, Ohio Neighborhood Connections 1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1300 Cleveland, Ohio Fax neighborhoodconnections@clevefdn.org