United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States Request for Proposals (RFP) Investment Process

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1 United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States Request for Proposals (RFP) Investment Process This document provides prospective applicants with information in order to determine whether they wish to apply for United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States (UWDATS) funding as part of the Investment Process. The document includes: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ); Key Dates and Deadlines; Brief Overviews of: o Currently Sponsored Programs and New & Targeted Initiative Funding; o Evaluation Process; and o Performance/Outcome Measures. UWDATS is not able to fund all worthwhile applications. Each year, the UWDATS Board of Directors determines the amount of grant money available, based on financial conditions and annual fundraising campaign results. It is the goal of UWDATS to fund the strongest proposals based on established evaluation criteria with heavy emphasis on documented program performance. All applications are scored based on the following: Fit with the United Way focus area(s); Strong connection between community need for the program, client population and non-duplication of services with existing programs*; Measurable outcomes; and Program budget that is reasonable and appropriate for the activities required to achieve proposed outcomes. *While UWDATS strives to not fund duplicate programs, it may fund similar programs if the level of community need warrants it Funding RFP pg. 1

2 UWDATS will continue to study its Community Investment Model and resulting implementation in order to enhance its effectiveness. This may result in different implementation methods for future periods. This does not affect the current RFP. UWDATS does not fund capital campaigns, overall organizational operating expenses or direct payments to individuals such as scholarships. Funding FAQ Our agency has received United Way funding in the past. Can I apply in the Investment Process? Starting with the Investment Process (effective June 1, 2017), UWDATS provides three funding sources: 1. Currently Sponsored Programs (CSP): Only programs receiving UWDATS funding in the Investment Process are eligible to apply for CSP funding in the Investment Process. 2. New & Target Initiatives: This new funding source is designed for new or emerging programs that address targeted community-wide issues with research-based strategies in order to make significant and sustainable progress OR programs within the 10- county UWDATS service area that are not funded through UWDATS Currently Sponsored Programs. 3. Emergency Funding: Criteria for Emergency Funding applications will be available in summer What are the minimum requirements in order to apply for either Currently Sponsored Program or New & Targeted Initiatives funding? Be recognized as an organization exempt from federal income tax under I.R.S. Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Be primarily involved in providing program(s) and services that are health, education or human-service related and directly serve the UWDATS 10-county service area residents. Have an independent, volunteer governing body. Have an annual audit and a recent Form 990. If I am headquartered in an organization in another county outside the 10-county region that UWDATS serves but do programming within the 10-county region, can I apply for New & Targeted Initiatives funding? No Funding RFP pg. 2

3 Do I have to submit a Letter of Intent to apply for Currently Sponsored Program or New & Targeted Initiatives funding? A CSP Letter of Intent is not required because only programs already receiving funding in or current funded partners are eligible to re-apply. A Letter of Intent is required for all programs applying for New & Targeted Initiatives funding in the Investment Process. Letter is limited to two pages and should include a brief program description, fit within United Way pillar/funding criteria, population served, approximate funding request and plans for required match. The Letter of Intent deadline is January 20, The New & Targeted Initiatives funding application will be open only to invited programs on February 20, 2017; notification will take place in mid-february. Can my organization submit multiple applications in the Investment Process? Qualifying organizations can submit multiple program requests for CSP funding providing the intention is reviewed beforehand with the United Way Director of Community Building & Impact and approved by the United Way Community Impact Committee. Agencies will be asked to prioritize CSP funding requests and not all applications are guaranteed funding. Invited organizations can submit only one New & Targeted Initiatives funding application in the Investment Process. Are there funding guidelines for Currently Sponsored Program requests? There are no required minimum or maximum requirements for CSP funding requests. However, United Way best practices encourage all funded programs to have diversified funding streams. Is there a funding guideline for New & Targeted Initiatives requests? Funding requests are capped at $25,000. A 10% cash match is required. The match can be donations from other sources or funding provided by the requesting agency. Can I apply using a printed application? No, all applications MUST be completed through the United Way E-CImpact online database management system. Each agency has one Grant Software Manager who has access to the E- CImpact log-in information. Agency Grant Software Managers provide access to others in their organizations. Who decides how applications are funded? The applications are evaluated by a volunteer Investment Review Panel, made up of a wide range of local academics, retired professionals proficient in health and human services, community leaders and local investors. As UWDATS is a community-based fundraising organization, local investors have a significant role in evaluating applications. These individuals Funding RFP pg. 3

4 receive training on community needs and the process of reviewing funding applications. The panel s recommendations are submitted to the Community Impact Committee of the UWDATS Board of Directors for review and vetting. Final review and approval is the responsibility of the UWDATS Board of Directors. All board-approved funding decisions are final. Does the review process include agency tours or oral presentations? CSP applications do not require an agency tour or oral presentation as part of the review process. The evaluation process for New & Targeted Initiatives funding is currently under development. The process may include a tour or oral presentation. This will be determined in early 2017 prior to the online application being available. Key Dates December 19, 2016: Online CSP applications and scoring rubric available to organizations receiving funding in allocation cycle; workshop to be conducted to answer technical questions. Starting January 2, 2017: UWDATS starts accepting Letters of Intent for New & Targeted Initiatives funding. Starting January 9, 2017: UWDATS starts accepting CSP application process questions in writing. Such questions will be answered in writing via a Funding/Process FAQ, which will be updated twice weekly and sent out to a master distribution list. Names of organizations asking questions will not be disclosed. February 1, 2017: Letters of Intent for New & Targeted Initiatives funding due by 5 p.m.; no late submissions accepted. February 6, 2017: Online CPS applications due by 5 p.m.; no late submissions accepted February 20, 2017: Online New & Targeted Initiatives funding applications available to invited organizations. February 27, 2017: New & Targeted Initiative Workshop to review online funding application; open to invited organizations only. March 13, 2017: Online New & Targeted Initiatives applications due by 5 p.m.; no late submissions accepted Funding RFP pg. 4

5 *April 28, 2017: CSP Grant Awards announced (*dependent upon UWDATS Board approval) *May 26, 2017: New & Targeted Initiatives Grant Awards announced (*dependent upon UWDATS board approval) United Way Funding Program Criteria Currently Sponsored Program (CSP) Funding All UWDATS-funded initiatives are built on the three United Way pillars: health, education and income/financial stability. All applications are scored based on fit with these pillar or focus areas, including: Health Our community deserves to be healthy, safe and strong. Individuals and families engage in behaviors that support their health, wellness or safety. Vulnerable populations obtain needed physical and mental health care and services. Program provides basic needs that lead to physical health. Education A good education is the foundation for a successful life. Children and youth develop a strong foundation that maximizes their ability to learn. Children and youth develop individual strengths that build character and lead to academic and personal success. Children and adults with disabilities are enabled to achieve their highest quality of life. Income/Financial Stability Every citizen deserves to feel financially stable. Program provides for basic needs, including physical and/or financial security. Individuals/families navigate human and legal services to secure basic needs and address financial crises. Individuals/households improve money management skills to secure and maintain financial stability. CSP applicants will be asked to identify the program s primary pillar area but additional focus areas can be addressed within the application Funding RFP pg. 5

6 New & Targeted Initiatives Funding This funding source is designed for new or emerging programs that address targeted community-wide issues with research-based strategies in order to make significant and sustainable progress OR programs within the 10-county UWDATS service area that are not funded through UWDATS Currently Sponsored Programs. Collaboration and partnerships among community organizations are encouraged to address root cause issues. If the proposed program is jointly sponsored by multiple organizations, one 501(c)3 must serve as the primary designee or anchor organization in order to serve as the contact to United Way and funding administrator for the grant award. A Letter of Intent is required for all programs applying for New & Targeted Initiatives funding in the Investment Process. Letter is limited to two pages and should include a brief program description, fit within United Way pillar/funding criteria, population served, approximate funding request and plans for required match. The Letter of Intent deadline is January 20, The New & Targeted Initiatives funding application will be open only to invited programs on February 20, 2017; notification will take place in mid-february. New & Targeted Initiatives-funded programs must meet one of the following pillar areas, including: Health Targeted Health Focus Areas Programs using evidence-based approaches to address the growing obesity rate in the region through healthy nutrition and/or activity or access to healthy food.* Programs assisting individuals and families engage in behaviors that support their health, wellness and safety. Programs improving access to addictions/mental health services for adults and children, including services within schools.* Programs assisting vulnerable populations to obtain needed physical and mental health care services. Education Targeted Education Focus Areas Pre-kindergarten and early childhood programs ensuring children are ready for school. Programs providing academic and social supports and out-of-school learning opportunities for students in low- to moderate-income families for identified unmet needs.* Programs raising post-secondary education and career exposure.* Funding RFP pg. 6

7 Programs enabling children and adults with disabilities to achieve their highest quality of life. Income/Financial Stability Targeted Income/Financial Stability Focus Areas Programs providing basic needs. Programs helping adults acquire skills and credentials to attain living wage jobs and grow the local economy.* Programs helping reduce poverty by reducing barriers to work readiness.* Programs helping increase financial stability for low income working individuals and families. *Identified as new and targeted needs in the greater Dubuque community. All organizations funded in the Investment Process are required to run internal organizational United Way campaigns in 2017 and Evaluation Process The UWDATS evaluation process is led by staff, with technical assistance provided by a wide range of local academics, retired professionals proficient in health and human services, community leaders and local investors. As UWDATS is a community-based fundraising organization, local investors also have a role in evaluating applications. These individuals receive training on community needs and the process of reviewing funding applications. An important part of the evaluation process is providing feedback to applicants. After the Investment Process is completed, UWDATS will provide organizations with a debriefing upon request that will note strengths, recommendations and overall feedback. Specific scores will not be released. UWDATS makes its evaluation point values for the CSP and New & Targeted Initiatives applications available through a rubric. Both the rubric and point values are part of the online application package. The following information provides highlights of the online applications, including maximum character counts for each question. Because space is limited, providing listed information is acceptable. Please note that the software does not allow the use of bullets (please use dashes) or spell check. It is recommended that your application responses are written in a word document and then pasted into the grant software Funding RFP pg. 7

8 Application Highlights Organizational Cover Sheet Key Points Agency name and contact information Did the agency run a United Way campaign during the funding cycle Summarize agency mission and overall community impact. Yes or No Maximum 1,500 character count Program Information Key Points Program name PRIMARY United Way focus area Brief program description Program goals Amount of funding requested for this program POPULATION SERVED Population served by program and organization s experience serving the population Assessing/determining population s need Projected number of total unduplicated individuals served in program from 6/1/17 to 5/31/2018. PROGRAM DESIGN Collaboration with other community organizations/top 3 collaborations/partnerships PROGRAM OUTCOMES Minimum of 1/maximum of 3 measureable (SMART) outcomes required PROGRAM BUDGET SUCCESS STORY Client success story based on one of the defined program outcomes Select one: Health, Education or Income/Financial Stability Maximum 3,000 character count Maximum 2,500 character count Maximum 1,000 character count Maximum 1,000 character count Maximum 1,000 character count Maximum 750 character count What Makes Strong (SMART) Outcomes? Measureable Outcomes Funding RFP pg. 8

9 Specific: The issue, target group, time/place are specifically stated. Measurable: Defining what will be changed and by how much will allow for clear evaluation. Achievable: The scale/scope of what is being done, time and resources available are realistic. Relevant: Relates to the goals; are the building blocks/steps toward meeting the goals. Timely: A clear timeframe for anticipated change is set. Example Measureable Outcome By May 31, 2018, 70% of program participants report an increase in personal savings as a result of participating in the financial literacy program. For More Information Contact the UWDATS Director of Community Building & Impact by at chris.chapintilton@dbqunitedway.org Funding RFP pg. 9