Open Spaces Sacred Places: The Healing Power of Nature

Transcription

1 Open Spaces Sacred Places: The Healing Power of Nature National Awards Program for Integrated Research and Design Projects Request for Proposals Final Request for Proposals: The TKF Foundation announces the final phase of the Open Spaces Sacred Places (OSSP) National Awards Program. The program was enacted in 2 phases, a Planning Grant Phase, now closed, (see note under 2. Eligibility Qualifications) and an open call for proposals. Final Awards will fund development of significant new sacred public green spaces in urban settings that demonstrate a combination of high quality design-build and rigorous research about user impacts. The total remaining funding pool is $4 million. Funding will be provided to cross-disciplinary teams that are able to 1) conceptualize, plan, design and implement an open and sacred green space, 2) conduct associated research study(ies), and 3) communicate scientific findings. TKF seeks to identify projects replicable in their intent. Projects should also be generalizable in the challenges they address to serve as potential archetypes for urban areas across the U.S. A Message from the Founders By 2030, two-thirds of the world s population will live in urban environments. Today more than 80% of the U.S. population resides in cities. Many city dwellers experience daily stress, constant attention demands, and have concerns for personal safety and privacy. People are often disconnected from 1

2 others at the emotional and spiritual level, from the community that surrounds them, and from the natural world that ultimately sustains them. In The Great Work, Thomas Berry wrote, "The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong. To be alienated from this community is to become destitute in all that makes us human. The TKF Foundation is committed to reconnecting human beings to the larger sacred community of nature and the earth that sustains us. For the past 16 years, the TKF Foundation has funded the creation of Open Spaces Sacred Places. We have heard from thousands of people that such spaces have the power to make a positive difference in one s life. One user wrote in an OSSP journal, It is in green spaces like this that I can let out a breath I didn t know I was holding. First hand experiences with OSSPs, the feedback found in the site-based journals, and a personal belief that nature can heal, unify, and uplift the human spirit these are the foundations for our national Awards Program. Grants will be awarded for integrated design and research to study and document the impact of Open Spaces Sacred Places on people living in urban settings, particularly people or communities that face difficult situations or challenges. We hope that this Request for Proposals will inspire you to work with colleagues from a range of disciplines to think openly, design creatively, study deeply, and share broadly with others what you learn about the transformational power of nature. 2

3 All terms in bold are defined in Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms. I. Key Information about the Awards Purposes 1. Purpose of Awards Program: Investigating and Communicating the Impacts of Open Spaces Sacred Places a. The goals of the TKF Foundation awards are to facilitate a deeper human experience through a personal connection to spirit in nature, and to improve individual lives and communities by providing more opportunities to experience nature as a sacred place in the city. The awards will directly support the design and implementation of significant new Open Spaces Sacred Places sites that are intended to address critical issues concerning the resilience of mind/body/spirit of both individuals and communities living in challenging urban environments. b. Awarded projects must include associated research that seeks to understand user impacts when people encounter and experience such open, nature-based, sacred places. Of particular interest for study is the role of OSSPs in human resilience. How can the experience of OSSPs provide capacity to cope with adversity and overcome challenge? TKF will support research that demonstrates how OSSP environments help people to overcome risk factors and protect communities. c. As the nation and world s population becomes more urban, there are concerns about livability in high-density settings. Concerns include declining human well-being and health, such as impaired emotional state, spiritual and social alienation, decreased resiliency, increased stress-related and sedentary-lifestyle-induced illness and/or chronic disease. Meanwhile, the experience of nature in cities is known to enhance quality of life, improve mental state, and alleviate negative health impacts. In addition, people who come together to create and steward green spaces often form community bonds and beneficial relationships that may be transformational for these individuals and the communities in which they live. Finally, busy urban lifestyles may preclude opportunities and time for reflection, spiritual connection and growth, and experiences such as healing, reconciliation, forgiveness or thanksgiving. d. The TKF Foundation has funded more than one hundred OSSPs. Such spaces are quiet places of respite and reflection that serve broader purposes and benefits in urban communities. Testimonials suggest that OSSPs contribute to urban livability, improved human health and well-being, community building, and spiritual replenishment. The new Awards Program will continue to support the creation of new OSSPs, but with an added dimension: research studies will investigate site-based impacts on individuals and nearby communities. Successful applicants will propose how to assess the far-reaching 3

4 and potentially significant benefits of easily accessible, restorative green spaces in cities, in order to demonstrate the importance of OSSPs for people in all urban settings. e. A Foundation goal is to use evidence about the benefits OSSPs to develop outreach that will guide future urban planning and design. TKF will coordinate communications of design innovations and scientific results across the funded projects in order to develop national level urban policy guidelines. f. The Awards Program is intended to inspire cross-disciplinary teams to come together to address compelling human needs by providing access to Open Space Sacred Place sites in urban areas. Each award will support two major, integrated activities: i. Design, development, and construction of a prominent OSSP that will serve a community or user group that faces particular challenges or concerns, integrated with, ii. Research to study, understand, and communicate user benefits and impacts, which will contribute a broader and empirically significant understanding about the vital role of OSSPs in health, human well-being, and human renewal and resilience. 2. Desired Outcomes from Awards Program. The TKF Foundation expects several important outcomes from the OSSP National Awards Program. Foundation staff will work with project teams to achieve the following outcomes: a. Creation of new open, sacred green spaces, intentionally designed to soothe body, mind, and spirit. Located in stressful urban environments, these OSSP s will effectively provide a community of users the opportunity for a deeper human experience within nature. b. Applied research that demonstrates measurable impacts of each OSSP, and reflects site design intentions of improved human health and well-being, with particular attention to how the OSSP experience contributes to resilience. c. Empirical findings, based on rigorous research and communicated in peer-reviewed publications, that will enhance theoretical understandings of the values of nearby urban nature in cities. Published results from awarded projects will be used to develop national recommendations for urban planning and community design. 4

5 d. Development of processes and best practices for cross-disciplinary collaboration with multiple stakeholders and practitioners as they develop, implement, and study creative nature-based approaches to address extreme human challenges. e. Establishment of a national network of TKF-funded Open Spaces Sacred Places that will serve as demonstration and study sites into the future. TKF encourages projects that are scalable and/or envisioned as a model for demonstration, teaching, or replication in other communities. f. New knowledge, data and understandings drawn from across the funded projects that may be communicated in a manner that advances national urban public policy approaches to the creation and preservation of contemplative urban green spaces. 3. Open Spaces Sacred Places Philosophy and Background a. About the TKF Foundation i. The TKF Foundation is a private grant-making foundation whose purpose is to inspire and create Open Spaces Sacred Places in nature, which elevate the human spirit and are physically and philosophically open and accessible to people of all beliefs, faiths, cultures and abilities. ii. In a time when people are more and more surrounded by the built world, beset by ever increasing stress, and overwhelmed by technology, the Foundation s goal has been to create open, sacred places where people can be in nature and reconnect to themselves, to the land, and to each other. Our nation has a rich legacy of natural beauty and beautiful landscapes. Thoreau, Emerson, Muir, and so many who came before them wrote eloquently of the deep connections of the human spirit and nature. The Foundation believes it is critical for 21st century humankind to once again embrace and talk about nature as a sacred place. Yet, our nation is now a highly urbanized land. TKF partners with organizations to create nature-based sacred places in urban settings out of a desire to deepen human spiritual and social connections, reduce stress, and increase sense of community. Moving beyond funding, the Foundation approaches its grantees as genuine partners in a common cause. In our work with grantees, we consult, mentor leadership capacity, share insight into what we have seen work best, provide introductions, and foster relationships among community members and the necessary related professionals who help design and build OSSPs. iii. Since its founding in 1996, TKF has funded the creation of more than 125 sacred green spaces, largely in the Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC area. In addition 5

6 to financial support, the Foundation provides each space with a signature bench and a journal for visitor reflection and response. Over the years, TKF has collected and catalogued more than 25,000 stories, written in journals by myriad visitors to these sites, which attest to the power of these open spaces sacred places and the benefits that derive from the opportunity to be in nature. iv. The mission of the TKF Foundation is to: Provide the opportunity for a deeper human experience by inspiring and supporting the creation of public green space that offers a temporary place of sanctuary, encourages reflection, provides solace, and engenders peace and wellbeing. b. Definition of Open Space Sacred Place i. Open Spaces Sacred Places are public, outdoor, urban green spaces designed with a variety of purposes in mind: healing and remembrance; peace and reconciliation; rest, respite and stress reduction; reflection, meditation and response to the natural world around. Each of these spaces is a unique expression of a situation, population or place-based need that was recognized by a Firesoul a person who burns with the idea that access to nature can be a potent solution to some of the most intractable challenges we face in some of the toughest urban environments. ii. Open has two different meanings for TKF. First, an open space is one that is physically open, feels welcoming and is non-threatening to those who spend time in it. Second, an open space is one that is philosophically, ideologically and culturally open to the public, meaning all persons, regardless of race, gender, faith, culture or belief, are invited to enter the space. The space is for use by a whole community of different people rather than just one particular group. iii. The word sacred has many definitions, but for TKF, a sacred place is a space in nature, set aside from everyday life, which is meant to invite users into a deeper, healthier and more peaceful relationship with themselves, their neighbors, and the created world. Sacred spaces are internationally designed to lift the human spirit and offer the opportunity for individual transformation, rather than simply to provide space for recreation or relaxation. Sacred space experiences provide a time and place for respite from the pressures of the world around and an opportunity for a deeper human experience through spiritual connection to nature. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. Our hope is to accentuate what we believe is the increasingly critical 6

7 need for more open, urban green space where individuals can connect with the earth, and in doing so, with their own spirituality. II. Key Information about Application Procedures This section contains detailed information about the proposal document, including required content, format, and all required supplemental materials. 1. Important Dates a. Proposal Submittal Opens: June 15, 2012 at 9:00 am EST b. Proposal Submittal Deadline: June 29, 2012 at 3:00 pm EST c. Grant Agreement Contracts will be mailed in January 2013 and will provide details on fund disbursement. d. Awards will be announced January 31, 2013 e. Funded projects must begin site construction by July 1, 2013 f. Physical project site must be completed by December g. Research must be completed and ready for publication by no later than January To receive notifications and updated information about the OSSP National Awards RFP, visit 2. Eligibility Qualifications Note: The TKF Foundation awarded planning grants in 2011 to enable teams to develop their OSSP project concept in advance of the National Awards RFP. A prior planning grant award is not a criterion for eligibility for the National Awards, nor will planning grant recipients be favored in the National Awards review process. The Awards Program is open to any project proposal that meets the eligibility criteria listed below. Each project must meet each of these conditions for funding eligibility: a. Eligible grantees include certain organizations that are classified by the IRS as public charities and not as private foundations. Such eligible public charities include: 7

8 i. Institutions such as colleges, universities, schools, hospitals, medical research facilities, religious institutions and governmental units as more specifically described in Section 170 (b)(1)(a)(i-vi) of the Internal Revenue code, and ii. Publicly supported charities that can document their non-private foundation status with a recent IRS determination letter. b. Project Teams must: i. Be cross-disciplinary in makeup. ii. Include an identified Firesoul(s). iii. Have both an institutional and a community-based partner and include at minimum a landscape architect or designer and a social scientist or health research partner. c. Project Site Requirements i. The project site must be located in the United States. ii. The project site must be outdoors and located in an urban setting. Communities that have a population of more than 50,000 and density greater than 1,000 persons per square mile will be considered urban. Projects serving specific or defined populations of less than 50,000 will be considered at the discretion of TKF. iii. The site must be free and open to the general public. iv. Site design must provide for the permanent inclusion of a TKF-provided bench and waterproof journal and for descriptive signage that indicates the site as an Open Space Sacred Place. v. Site designs must include plant and other natural materials. vi. Eligible applicants must be willing to agree to maintain the Open Space Sacred Place in good condition and repair until at least December 31, 2020 and to declare their intention, barring unforeseen circumstances, to maintain the Open Space Sacred Place in good condition and repair for at least 20 years from its completion date. As an express condition of the grant, a letter in a form acceptable to the TKF Foundation must be provided signed by the owner or 8

9 owners of the property on which the Open Space Sacred Place will be constructed certifying as follows: 1. That they are the sole owner or owners of full legal title to the property, 2. That they have reviewed the grant proposal submitted by the applicant and are in full support of it, 3. That they have full authority, without the consent or approval of any other person or entity, to permit the construction and maintenance of the Open Space Sacred Place on the property and to permit its availability to the general public, 4. That the property is not subject to any liens or encumbrances that have not been disclosed in writing to the TKF Foundation, and 5. That the Open Space Sacred Place may continue to be maintained on the property and made available to the general public at least through December 31, NOTE: It is not required that the applicant own the project site as long as the legal owner or owners are willing to make the certifications to TKF that are stated above in this RFP. vii. Proposals must include a plan for long term maintenance, at a minimum through 2020 that addresses required human and financial resources. viii. Design must comport with the relevant environmental performance standards of the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES), as described in the 2009 Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks ( 3. Project Deliverables Projects selected for an OSSP Award will be required to produce the following deliverables at the end of the grant period: a. A report that describes the project, including successful practices and approaches applied and lessons learned through the creation of the OSSP site. b. Pre- and post-construction process documentation and visual records (such as photographs or video), per recommendations of the TKF Foundation staff. c. A report of the research effort and findings related to the human benefits or outcomes associated with user or visitor experience of the OSSP. d. Paper(s) submitted for a peer-reviewed science publication. 9

10 e. Development and implementation of a science and policy-directed communications plan that will broadly share the project s results. f. A programming and implementation plan that addresses ways to encourage use of the space by the public and ongoing learning and demonstration uses by professionals and policy makers in the field. (See glossary for definition of Demonstration Site.) g. Development of a presentation for delivery at professional or science conferences. 4. Proposal Content Specifications Each proposal must include all of the following elements: Note: All narrative content is to be single spaced, Times New Roman font, 12-point type, 1- inch margins. Where indicated, word count and page limits apply. a. Cover Form (use template provided/see Appendix 2 and Appendix 2.1, if applicable) b. Point of View statement (250 words) Briefly state the team s philosophy or point of view to communicate an understanding of the concept and intent of Open Spaces Sacred Places. c. Abstract (maximum length 1 page, use template provided/see Appendix 3) d. Project Narrative (maximum length 10 pages) i. Description of the project including: 1. Statement of need 2. Intent or purpose and goals of the OSSP 3. Intended audience/target population served (see Guidelines, section 5.b.) 4. Location, size and description of the proposed site. ii. Description of the intended team, its cross-disciplinary philosophy and integrated process (see Guidelines, section 5.c.) 1. Identify the lead Grantee and provide documentation of the Grantee's eligibility (see Eligibility Qualifications 2. a) such as the IRS 501(c)(3) letter. 2. Team makeup Confirm that minimal required team members are on board. Identify principal team members by name, title and organizational affiliation. Identify the Firesoul(s) within the team. Qualifications across the team must include the requisite knowledge, experience, and skills to achieve design, research, communications, and educational/advocacy outcomes. 3. Statement of cross-disciplinary philosophy. 10

11 4. Work plan for how site design and research will be integrated throughout project implementation. iii. Description of community engagement plan (see Guidelines, section 5.d.) iv. Literature Review (maximum length 2 pages) Highlight key background research and publications in narrative form, then synthesize the main concepts or methods that are specifically relevant to the proposed project, research question(s) and target population. The review should include any prior publications that have been authored by the applicants that support the proposal s design and/or research activity. v. Description of the design approach (see Guidelines, section 5.e.) 1. State a design point of view that will engender the end-users intimate connection with nature and themselves. 2. Identify how that design intent is reflected in the schematic design solution proposed. 3. Creatively interpret and include the 4 OSSP design components, portal, path, sense of surround, destination point(s). 4. Highlight anticipated constraints and opportunities presented by the site, the user population, or other influences. 5. Describe how stakeholders have and will continue to participate in the design process. vi. Description of the research approach (see Guidelines, section 5.f.) 1. Identify research questions(s) or hypotheses(s). 2. Describe the expected learning or outcomes of the research. 3. Describe methodology and approach for data collection and analysis. 4. Highlight the potential impact or significance of the proposed study for the public, academic and professional peers, and/or policy-makers. 5. List potential publication opportunities for the proposed research based on team members prior published works and scientific affiliations. vii. Plan for demonstration and ongoing study use. 1. Describe how the site will be made available to peer professional communities and policy makers as well as members of the public who wish to learn more about Open Spaces Sacred Places and their impact. 2. Describe any plans or potential opportunities for ongoing or follow-up studies to be conducted on site. 3. Describe how the site will be activated for users (i.e. ongoing programming, outreach and user engagement plans) 4. Identify who/what organization will be primarily responsible for ensuring the site s accessibility and use as a demonstration and study site. viii. Communications Plan (see Guidelines, section 5.g.) 11

12 e. Timeline Include a preliminary communications plan for dissemination of site outcomes and research results to peer scientific, professional and/or policy audiences. Describe major activities and milestones over the duration of the project (maximum length 1 page). f. Budget and Narrative The foundation seeks proposals that demonstrate cost-consciousness and seek best value. i. Include a budget schedule that provides description of costs and expenses by category (use template provided/see Appendix 4). ii. iii. Include a budget narrative (maximum length 3 pages) that specifically breaks down funds being requested. Describe estimated hourly rates for those working on project, contracts and their rates, and projected travel. Include the Site Development Worksheet, one per site proposed (use template provided/see Appendix 6). NOTE: Planning Grant award recipients are required to include a budget variance report with their final application, summarizing any differences between budgeted and actual expenditures. g. Supporting Documents i. A letter in a form acceptable to the TKF Foundation must be provided signed by the owner or owners of the property on which the Open Space Sacred Place will be constructed certifying as follows: 1. that they are the sole owner or owners of full legal title to the property, 2. that they have reviewed the grant proposal submitted by the applicant and are in full support of it, 3. that they have full authority, without the consent or approval of any other person or entity, to permit the construction and maintenance of the Open Space Sacred Place on the property and to permit its availability to the general public, 4. that the property is not subject to any liens or encumbrances that have not been disclosed in writing to the TKF Foundation, and, 5. that the Open Space Sacred Place may continue to be maintained on the property and made available to the general public at least through December 31, ii. List of publications or references cited in the proposal and literature review. 12

13 iii. iv. Proposed schematic design of the OSSP and other illustrative materials of the site, including a site plan, 3-D rendering, and site photographs. Team qualifications including CV or resume for principal team members (maximum length 2 pages each). v. A brief mission statement for each team organization. vi. vii. viii. List of relevant similar projects undertaken by members of team (maximum length 2 pages). Letters of commitment or support from appropriate institutional officials, confirming the institution s commitment to the project. Other letters of support, such as from partners, scholars in the field, and staff involved in carrying out the work may be included as appropriate. (maximum 10 letters) 501c3 letter or other indication of tax determination. See 2.Eligibility Qualifications section a. Note: This must be the final page of your submission. 5. Guidelines for Open Spaces Sacred Places Project Proposals a. Criteria for OSSP National Award Selection i. The TKF Foundation will determine which cross-disciplinary applicant teams will receive an award based on a comprehensive best value evaluation. Proposals will be evaluated on how well the narrative embodies the TKF mission and philosophy, as well as the intentions of the National Awards Program. TKF is seeking projects of the highest caliber that will invite and inspire people to take a moment to pause and, in the words of John Muir, let nature s peace flow into you. Winning projects will embody the potential for significant human and policy impacts, and for possible national replication. The stature, recognition, and significance of key team members prior work will be a critical factor. ii. An automatic disqualification may occur if the proposal does not include the following elements: 1) description of how an outdoor, urban, open space sacred place will be created, including a schematic design and 3-D rendering of the OSSP, 2) indication of a target human population or community in need, 3) description of the collaborative efforts of a cross- disciplinary team, 4) a significant applied research component that studies or evaluates the transformative impact on individuals of time spent in the OSSP, in terms of wellbeing and resilience, and 5) description of how the community had been engaged in the envisioning process, i.e. participation in charrettes or design 13

14 workshops. In addition, the proposal must address: 1) how a communications plan will assure that the research findings will be broadly disseminated, and 2) how the space will be used for ongoing study and demonstration purposes if funded. b. Target Population(s) Served i. Proposals must identify a target user group or community and must detail the specific nature of this population s challenge or need. ii. Target populations must be at risk, disadvantaged or disenfranchised and must face physical, economic, environmental, emotional or spiritual challenges that may be ameliorated by time spent in nature. If poverty, alone, is identified as the challenge facing the target population(s) to be served, then the rate of poverty in the community served must be clearly stated and exceed 14%. c. Project Team and Process i. A cross-disciplinary team that demonstrates the qualifications and experience needed to complete a substantial project is required. ii. The team should be fully assembled and must demonstrate the requisite areas of expertise. iii. Teams are required to include, at minimum, a Firesoul, an institutional partner, a community based partner, a landscape architect or designer, and a social scientist or health researcher. The team may also include, but not be limited to, an urban redevelopment professional, a communications specialist, an artist, a spiritual guide, an educator, a policy advocate, a community leader, a facilitator or others. Team members will work together to develop a holistic approach to the creation and study of a proposed new space using a collaborative project design process. iv. Applicants will use an integrated process of site and research development. TKF seeks proposals where site and research design are collaboratively developed and integrated. The research parameters and specific site plan should be coordinated to insure the creation of an open, sacred place and to optimize the research goals. Site design should both be informed by and support the research study purposes. 14

15 v. The team will also envision a plan for public communication of results and ongoing use of the space for professional training and demonstration purposes. d. Community Engagement i. The project should engage the target population of users and other stakeholders in a way that gives form to community voice. The cross-disciplinary team will involve the community of users to be served as active partners on the project employing interactive approaches (such as design charrettes or workshops) to encourage dialogue and develop a shared vision, and provide the basis for the schematic design included with the award application. ii. Stakeholders should be engaged during the site design process to identify needs, tap local knowledge, and inform research investigations. The project team will work with the community to determine the environmental, economic, and socially equitable outcomes for the project. e. Design i. The purpose of the NOSSP Awards design initiative is to provide the opportunity to experience the transformational power of nature on the human spirit, through intentionally designed, contemplative urban green space, and to understand how design interventions may best facilitate that interaction. We seek to create spaces with inspired design solutions that emanate from the aspirations of the community or individuals they serve, and to marry this designed space to a wellconstructed and powerful research question(s) that, if answered, can inspire other such spaces to be built. ii. These creative partnerships, brought together, should inspire the highest level of accomplishment by all parties involved in these awards. The design excellence of the OSSP will insure that it is embraced by its community of users as an end in itself a place of respite, spiritual renewal, and peace imbedded as a long term destination place for and by the greater community. iii. A description of the symbiotic relationship between the proposed schematic design and research elements should be included in the design narrative. iv. Using specific design examples from your proposal, indicate how they will impact the user s opportunity to experience restorative urban nature. 15

16 v. TKF Foundation requires: 1. Project designs that serve individuals in communities in need, especially those facing physical, economic, environmental, emotional or spiritual challenges. 2. Creative use, interpretation, and inclusion of sacred place design elements Portal, Path, Destination and Sense of Surround which allow the users to step outside of themselves to a different place: one of being in and a part of nature, not a part from it. (see TKF web site for more information about these elements: 3. Inclusion of a TKF-provided bench and waterproof journal in the design of the space is required. All completed new OSSP sites will be required to participate in the journal database project by providing TKF or its appointee with copies of journal writings from the site on a regular basis. 4. If appropriate, public art may be incorporated as an element of the OSSP. f. Research i. The overarching purpose of the Awards research is to engage a community of scientists across the nation to generate more complete knowledge about the benefits and impacts that result from user experiences of nature-based sacred spaces in cities. Observations within previously built OSSP sites suggest that time spent in sacred places in nature can be transformational, providing remarkable experiences of renewal and restoration. While investigators may focus on a single project site it is expected that the sum of studies across the initiative will serve as an insightful, conceptually based body of knowledge that will serve to focus attention on and support the creation of OSSPs across cities. ii. Studies will be place-based, with research questions and methods to be developed in coordination with the cross-disciplinary site design and construction team. Research questions and methodological approaches should be informed by prior research findings in the social science and public health disciplines, and should seek new advances in concepts or theory about the role of nature in physical and spiritual human wellbeing and resilience. iii. It is expected that the proposed science will be rigorously designed and implemented, leading to peer-reviewed publication. The research section of the proposal should clearly state the research questions or hypotheses that will direct the science efforts. Expected learnings or outcomes should be explained, particularly as they relate to prior research. Methods for data collection and 16

17 analysis should be described and explained. It is important to call out the qualifications of team members who will conduct the research. iv. The TKF foundation recommends that the development of research questions be guided by a research literature review. The Foundation has prepared a preliminary literature review that provides examples of key studies. These sources suggest several opportunities for research (Figure 1, page 18). Proposed research may address any combination of these opportunities but should be framed in a way that would be of interest to urban decision-makers. Some examples of how studies might be focused include: 1. Better documenting and articulating a user s transformational experience while directly in an OSSP. 2. Investigating the positive influence on the mental and/or physical state of the user after a site visit or in between site visits. 3. Examining the impact of an OSSP experience on how a person functions across different contexts, such as home, school, work and/or community. 4. Providing data to support an economic implications study for use by urban decision makers. g. Communications 17

18 i. Proposals must include a communications plan for dissemination of site outcomes and research results to peer-reviewed scientific, professional and/or policy audiences. ii. Team makeup must clearly reflect organizational capacity to effectively implement a creative and effective communications effort. iii. TKF encourages applicants to consider and incorporate ways to deploy and disseminate visitor reactions and writings collected through the on-site Open Spaces Sacred Places journal. iv. Real-time documentation of the project development, community engagement and/or design process is encouraged (i.e. video, blog, rss feeds, photography, reports, publications). v. Specifically, pre- and post-construction process documentation using visual records (such as photographs or video) is required. vi. TKF may support awardee communications efforts and/or publish or otherwise promote public materials generated by the project through its Open Spaces Sacred Places web portal or other vehicles. h. Budget i. Reasonable expenditures that are directly incurred (direct costs) to achieve your project s purpose and outcomes will qualify for grant funding. These include staff salaries (and benefits) or contracts for project designers, facilitators, researchers, content experts, and other consultants. They may also include direct investments in materials, products and services used in the design, construction, research and communication of the project. Please note that research costs are in a separate section of the RFP budget template. ii. Indirect costs of up to a maximum of 15% are allowable only on direct costs of research personnel salaries, wages, and benefits. Indirect costs are expenditures incurred in the conduct of research that are not readily or effectively traceable to specific expense activities, and may include but are not limited to: office space, telephone, office equipment rental and usage, utilities, and general office supplies. Containment of indirect costs will be an important criterion in the selection process. 18

19 iii. Budget should include any anticipated program income, contributed services or voluntary match. TKF encourages participation by additional funding partners in order to strengthen and extend the financial base for the project, to assure that the project will provide the best possible user experience and research outcomes. Preference will be given to proposals demonstrating additional funding sources and partners and/or in-kind providers of goods, property or services. Applicants are encouraged to investigate and propose co-funding opportunities. 6. National Open Spaces Sacred Places Awards Timeline 02/01/2012: Open Spaces Sacred Places Awards RFP Issued 02/28/2012: NOSSP Informational Webinar 06/15/2012: Proposal Submittal Opens 9:00 am EST 06/29/2012: National OSSP Award Applications Deadline 3:00 PM EST 1/31/2013: National OSSP Award Recipients Announced 07/01/2013: Site Construction must begin 12/31/2015: Site Construction must be completed 01/15/2018: Research report complete 7. Proposal Submission All materials must be submitted electronically via our website: Unfortunately we will not be able to accept submissions via or hard copy mail. All submissions should be condensed into 1 PDF file with a maximum file size of 50 MB. Only one proposal submission per project/team will be accepted. If multiple proposals are submitted only the most recent submission will be reviewed. Incomplete applications will be ineligible for review. 19

20 8. More Information All information about and updates to this RFP will be posted at Interested parties are encouraged to register to receive notifications of changes to the grant opportunity. Please visit to register. Questions may be submitted by to until 12 noon EST on 6/15/2012. Questions submitted to TKF will be posted to the website. An informational webinar will be held on Feb 28, 2012 and a recording will be made available at after March 5, Webinar reservations will open February 8, To sign up, please click here All funding decisions are at the sole discretion of the TKF Foundation. All grants will be awarded subject to specific conditions contained in the TKF grant agreement contract. TKF Foundation will coordinate development of an imbursement payment schedule tied to specific deliverables on an individual project basis. 20