Healthy Eating, Active Living in the Lake Sunapee Region: Mini Grant Guidelines

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1 Healthy Eating, Active Living in the Lake Sunapee Region: Mini Grant Guidelines Our Mission The Wellness Connection: For a Healthy Lake Sunapee Region is a community health initiative founded by New London Hospital in 2013 and dedicated to meeting the needs of the communities we serve. Our mission is to provide the Lake Sunapee Region communities with a sustainable and collaborative long-term plan for measurably improving health and wellness. About The Wellness Connection Mini Grants We created the Community Mini Grant program to support small, short-term projects conducted by local organizations that will help us create a culture of wellness within our communities and make the healthy choices the easy choices. Organizations must be located within and/or serve The Lake Sunapee Region and meet funding guidelines. For the purpose of this initiative, the Lake Sunapee Region is defined as all towns in the Kearsarge and Newport School Districts as well as those served by New London Hospital: Andover, Bradford, Croydon, Danbury, Goshen, Grantham, Lempster, Newbury, New London, Newport, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Warner, Washington, and Wilmot. Mini Grant Details The mini grants are designed as one-time awards to fund a specific project or policy change. These grants are not meant to be a source of ongoing funding to meet the operating needs of an organization. They have been created to help organizations expand their current mission, programs, and/or partnerships. Although there may be some exceptions, organizations can apply one time per calendar year. While it is our goal to fund a variety of projects, your request must somehow promote and support healthy eating and/or active living in the Lake Sunapee Region. This project must meet a specific need or fill an existing gap in services, partnerships, or infrastructure, as demonstrated in the attached application. Average award size will range from $500 - $2,500. If your potential project request exceeds that amount, please contact Lauren Conkey at wellnessconnection@newlondonhospital.org to discuss details. 1

2 Funding Priorities Wherever possible, The Wellness Connection strives to align our goals, objectives and strategies with statewide initiatives. As such, priority will be given to evidence-based interventions and projects that support and promote equitable access to opportunities to be healthy. For example, we encourage proposals that address one of the HEAL NH goals as outlined in the Healthy People Healthy Places plan (listed below): 1) New Hampshire residents will have equitable access to options for getting around and safe, high quality places to play and be active. 2) New Hampshire residents will have equitable access to high quality, healthy food. Examples of projects that will be considered: *Please note this is not an exhaustive list. We welcome your creative ideas! If you have an idea for a project but have questions regarding eligibility, please contact Lauren Conkey using the contact information below. Efforts that support biking, walking, or other active transportation options (e.g. Safe Routes to School/Safe Routes to Play, Walking School Buses, Bike-to-Work Initiatives, etc.) Improved access to safe and healthy parks, playgrounds and/or other areas for community recreation (e.g. mapped walking/biking routes, bike racks, built environment improvements including the presence of cross walks, sidewalks, walking trails, etc.) Initiatives to increase the use of existing parks, playgrounds, and/or other places for community recreation Creation of new initiatives or networks that make healthy/local foods more accessible (e.g. Farm-to-School/Institution programs, CSA programs, Farmers markets, etc.) Creation of community gardens Policies or programs that support healthy food and beverage availability in K-12 schools, early care, and after-school settings (including decreased access to sugar-sweetened beverages) Improved or new partnerships among local organizations that support or advance opportunities to be healthy in the Lake Sunapee Region. Activities not eligible for funding: Sponsorships of one-time events or performances Sponsorships of seasonal events or performances Annual operating budgets Scholarship programs Staff salaries or benefits Activities that are solely religious in nature Programs that do not have a broad community benefit 2

3 Guiding Principles We believe in a collective impact approach to create a culture of wellness in the Lake Sunapee Region. Priority will be given to those projects that support new collaborations and partnerships among organizations to reduce redundancies, collectively address issues, and coordinate goals to maximize impact. We strive to create supportive, health promoting environments where people live, work and play. We encourage submissions from projects that seek to impart long-lasting change, breaking down barriers and making the healthy choice the easy choice for individuals. We support a multi-sector approach to reach all segments of the population, particularly those with demonstrated need. Our program will prioritize those projects that aim to increase health equity within the Lake Sunapee Region. Grant Cycle Applications will be reviewed twice per calendar year. We advise you to apply at least six weeks before the scheduled start date of your project. All funds must be used within 6 months of the award date, unless other arrangements are made at the time of your award. Who Can Apply? Eligible organizations include: non-profits with demonstrated 501(c)(3) status, including local/state government agencies, schools, community health centers, and other health-promoting organizations. Application Requirements To apply for one of The Wellness Connection mini grants, please complete the attached application packet and return to: The Wellness Connection c/o Lauren Conkey 273 County Road New London, NH Or submit electronically to: wellnessconnection@newlondonhospital.org Please include all attachments; incomplete applications will not be considered. The deadline for our current grant cycle is July 15,

4 Please direct all questions to: Lauren Conkey Wellness Program Director (603) Application Check-list Completed and signed application form Project narrative (no more than four pages) Detailed project budget (one page) Project timeline (one page) Letters of support* *If your application proposes collaboration between organizations or if the completion of your project requires approval by other state or local agencies, letters of support from those organizations are required at the time of application. In any other situation, the letters are welcomed but not required. 4

5 Grant Application Organization Name Address City State Zip County Website Phone Fax Organization Contact Prefix First Name Last Name Title Mission & Activities Organization Mission Communities/Population Served Employer ID number (EIN) Year Est. Number of paid employees Number of volunteers/members Project Description (one to two sentences) Key Components (Basic activities; populations served; measurable outcomes) Impact Area (check all that apply) Healthy Eating Active Living Communities served by project (if different from above) Approximately how many individuals will benefit? Project Budget Total Projected Budget Total Requested Any other funding sources? You may also include in-kind support. By signing this document, I certify the following: (1) The above information is correct to the best of my knowledge; (2) this organization is in good standing with the IRS, retains its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and is further classified as a public charity and not a private foundation; (3) this organization does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical circumstances, age, status as a veteran, or national origin. Name (printed) Title Signature Date 5

6 Project Narrative Organization Name: You may provide your answers in a separate document, but total narrative should not exceed 4 pages. 1. Organization Background and Mission: Please tell us a little about your organization, highlighting a few accomplishments or goals that best define your mission and work. 2. Name of proposed project: 3. What are the main goals of this project? Please list the specific goals, objectives, and strategies that will be implemented. 4. What is your target population and reach? Please identify the communities and specific population group(s) you intend to target (income, education, age, gender, geography, etc), including estimated reach. 5. What identified need or gaps will this initiative address? Will you create a new program/policy within the community, expand your existing services, or build capacity/connections between local organizations? 6

7 Project Narrative 6. What evidence supports this initiative? Please provide a brief research-based background on the community need and your proposed solution, including how this initiative connects with the goals and mission of The Wellness Connection. 7. How will you measure success? What process measures will you use to track progress? What are the intended outcomes? 8. Who will lead this project? Please list all person(s), organization(s) and their role(s). 9. How will you sustain the project at the end of the funding period? Is the project intended to create a long-lasting environmental/policy change? Do you have plans to secure additional funding or will you build capacity to continue the initiative? 10. Attachments: 1. Detailed Budget Please list all expenses (equipment, supplies, travel, etc) including in-kind contributions. 2. Timeline Please list all project activities and estimated timeframe for completion. 7