2016 GRANTMAKING GUIDELINES
About Us As one of Florida s largest community foundations, the Community Foundation works for Palm Beach and Martin Counties in multiple ways, playing multiple roles. For donors, the Foundation offers an effective way to manage giving by providing expert philanthropic advice rooted in a deep knowledge of our community and an array of philanthropic vehicles and services. For the community, the Foundation serves as a grant maker and a civic leader and awards grants to the region s nonprofits to help meet community needs, fulfill donors philanthropic wishes and strengthen the nonprofit sector. Using local knowledge, networks, influence and creativity, the Foundation brings people together to improve the community s quality of life now and in the future. Founded in 1972, the Foundation has total assets of more than $150 million and has awarded over $110 million in grants and scholarships in Palm Beach and Martin Counties. For more information, visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org. Our Mission To facilitate informed philanthropy and together, with our donors, serve as the leading catalyst for building vibrant communities. Our Goals Connect philanthropists and partners with opportunities to make a difference. Promote philanthropy in all we do. Identify, lead and collaborate on important community issues. Make strategic grants that address community issues and support effective nonprofits. Leverage our human, financial and informational capital to achieve lasting change. We are able to accomplish this by Connecting donors to needs and causes that are meaningful to them; Investing donors funds prudently to achieve lasting results; and Leading collaborative solutions to community issues. 1
Table of Contents Guiding Beliefs... 3 Priorities for Grantmaking... 3 Evaluation of proposals... 3 Eligibility... 4 Competitive Grantmaking Program... 5 NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT... 5 ARTS and CULTURE... 6 ENVIRONMENT... 6 FIELD OF INTEREST GRANTS... 7 HOW TO APPLY... 7 REVIEW PROCESS... 7 TIMELINE (subject to change)... 8 2
GUIDING BELIEFS Based on the belief that community is more than geographic locale it is an idea that exists in the minds of people sharing common hopes and concerns the Foundation s grantmaking programs share, by design, common values. The overriding goal is to develop a shared vision of building a sense of community. PRIORITIES FOR GRANTMAKING The proposed program(s) should emphasize one or more of the Community Foundation s grantmaking program areas, priorities and values to: Create a sense of community through neighborhood outreach and involvement. Promote shared values, common interests, and collective action among divergent groups that have little or no history of working together. Strengthen the capacity of existing institutions to reach a broader segment of the community. Collaborate between two or more organizations or groups. Support neighborhood-driven efforts. Provide an innovative response to a community need that does not unnecessarily duplicate other efforts. Provide opportunities to understand the value of diversity. Equip people to help themselves. Concentrate on prevention and education. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS The following are reviewed to determine the strength of the request and/or the potential fit for the particular funding source. Need Capacity of Applicant Organization Impact of Proposed Project Cost Investment of Funds Partnership, leverage and systemic approaches are key components of successful proposals. The Community Foundation seeks to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability within its own operations and among the organizations with which it partners and provides funding. As one of multiple considerations within the overall grant review process, grant requests that demonstrate an organization 3
has embraced and incorporated improved environmental practices and/or environmental sustainability may receive a higher priority. ELIGIBILITY The Community Foundation will accept proposals from community organizations primarily based in and serving Palm Beach and Martin counties that seek to address one or more of the specific program priorities identified within a major program area below. Applicants must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and not be classified as a private foundation. Applicants may request funding to support personnel/salaries, benefits and direct program expenses. In addition, organizations are encouraged to include costs for evaluation and administrative overhead (up to 10% of the total request). All expenses, outside of the administrative line item, must be directly related to the proposed project. Grants will not be generally made for the following purposes: Routine operating expenses. Endowments or building campaigns. Fund-raising events, celebration functions and/or fund-raising feasibility studies. The same project for which the Community Foundation has provided grant support for three years. Religious organizations for religious purposes. Grants to individuals. Scholarship funds to support participation in an organization s program, unless there is a compelling rationale based on community needs. Funding for existing obligations or in order to replenish resources used to pay for such obligations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, sexual preference or national origin. Applicants must hold similar standards. Competitive grant applications from organizations known to have discriminatory policies will not be considered. 4
COMPETITIVE GRANTMAKING PROGRAM Grants are available from our Community Impact Funds, established by visionary philanthropists, and are awarded through an open and competitive application process. Opportunities vary from year to year. Resources are limited and organizations are encouraged to seek only the dollars necessary. Organizations are typically eligible to maintain a single contract and will not submit an application for funding until that grant cycle is completed. The total amount per year for individual grant awards is typically $55,000. Multi-year requests will be considered for periods generally not to exceed three years. Successful proposals may include multi-year strategies beginning with planning in the initial year and implementation of the program in the second and third years. While reporting will be required throughout the grant period, an evaluative summary on the results will be due at the end of the funding period. Multi-year awards aim to support efforts that seek to create long-term community impact. NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Grants made through the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation The Community Foundation believes in building a more dutiful community where neighborhoods are healthy, housing is affordable and all people can develop to their full potential. 1. Proposals will address the problems and issues of areas that experience low income and declining neighborhoods. Initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for individuals where they live and work will address the heart of this funding priority. Proposals might address: a. Targeting a specific and well defined geographic area of need. b. Creating a new or expanding an existing successful program that will provide affordable housing in a stable setting/neighborhood while creating healthy and livable communities through neighborhood revitalization. c. Supporting strategic neighborhood planning that may include training and technical assistance, organization development of leading neighborhood organizations. 5
d. Forming public-private partnerships in the project approach addressing these issues and including partners who bring a variety of essential services to the proposed program. e. Generating opportunities for neighbors to come together to craft and implement comprehensive quality-of-life plans. ARTS and CULTURE Grants made through the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation The Community Foundation in partnership with the MacArthur Fund at the Community Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. We support arts and culture because we believe that a diverse and flourishing cultural community contributes to the overall civic and economic vitality of societies and the well-being of its people and neighborhoods. Proposals can address any of the following: a. Incorporation of arts and culture in community development and/or neighborhood revitalization (creative place-making). b. Equipping artists with the necessary tools to develop their own businesses so that they can earn livable wages from their art. c. Programming that incorporates the targeted audience and anticipated artists during planning processes. d. Community-based educational programs that offer arts integration for underserved or disadvantaged communities. e. Program initiatives whose purposes are to address issues of diversity by bridging cultural divides. ENVIRONMENT Grants made through the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur and the Environmental Funds of the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation supports the preservation of our beautiful community and serves in a leadership capacity in promoting causes that are important to the region. Our environmental grantmaking program seeks to preserve, enhance or improve the watersheds, habitat, natural resources and urban environments of our two county area. Proposals may address any of the following: 6
a. Education and advocacy campaigns that demonstrate to citizens, politicians and policy makers the long-term cost and effect of neglecting conservation efforts in our communities. b. Research, investigation, training, surveys and/or programs that will advance the restoration and conservation of urban waters by improving water quality through activities that also support community revitalization and other local priorities. c. Opportunities that preserve the integrity of natural land resources. FIELD OF INTEREST GRANTS The Community Foundation s Field of Interest Grant Program accepts proposals by invitation only. Qualifying nonprofits are identified through Philanthropy Online when grant dollars are available from charitable funds at the Community Foundation that have specific interest areas. Based on the information submitted in your Organization Profile in Philanthropy Online, your organization may be eligible for consideration from one or more of the Community Foundation s funding sources. We encourage you to keep your profile updated with the most current information. For a listing of interest areas please visit: http://www.yourcommunityfoundation.org/grant-opportunities. HOW TO APPLY Creating your Organization Profile in Philanthropy Online is the first step in seeking funding from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Your profile will provide the opportunity to showcase your organization and projects before foundation staff and donors. Your profile must be completed before submitting a grant proposal. The profile will also showcase your organization to donors, even if you do not make a specific grant request through our Community Impact grant making program. We encourage you to keep this information updated as your program and needs change. Once your profile is complete, select Grant Opportunities on the left-hand menu and select 2015 Competitive Grant Application to apply. All grantseekers will submit a Letter of Inquiry to begin the proposal process. REVIEW PROCESS When inquiries are received by the Community Foundation, they will be assigned to a Community Investment Officer. Your Officer will contact you 7
during the due diligence process. If the Foundation determines that the project described in the inquiry meets eligibility, the Community Foundation will contact the organization to request a full proposal. If needed, a site visit will also be requested. The Community Investment and MacArthur Advisory Committees comprised of members of the board and the local community will review the LOIs and make final recommendations to the Community Foundation s full board. The board determines the outcome of all requests. If a grant is awarded, notification will include the terms of the grant and any special conditions cited in the board s decision. Applicants are typically notified of the outcome of their request within two weeks of the board meeting. TIMELINE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Competitive Grants LOI process opens Grantseekers Orientation Martin County November 2, 2015 November 13, 2015 Grantseekers Orientation Boca Raton Grantseekers Orientation West Palm Beach November 13, 2015 November 16,2015 LOIs due back to the Foundation December 4, 2015 Send full proposal invites/loi declinations January 11, 2016 Full proposals due back to Foundation February 1, 2016 Complete site visits as necessary February 2-26, 2016 Board approval and recommendations May 11, 2016 8