Release Date: February 7, 2014 Due Date: March 31, 2014 at 5:00pm FY15 Breakthrough Fund Request for Proposals
February 7, 2014 Dear Jewish Community Leaders, Thinkers, and Innovators, The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF/Jewish Federation) is pleased to release this Request for Proposals (RFP) for the first full-scale cycle of the Breakthrough Fund, a catalytic grant program launched in Fall 2013 to encourage smart growth and innovation in the nonprofit sector. Breakthrough Fund grants will position community programs to remain nimble and responsive to both current and emerging needs. Through this RFP, JUF/Jewish Federation will award up to $1 million in grants for new programs, capacity-building efforts, and novel approaches that address local human needs or engage members of the Jewish community across their lifetimes. Breakthrough Fund grants will support not only proven organizations that create and expand value-added programs and services, but also new voices, visions, and ideas that have never before been able to emerge in the Chicago and overseas communities. We are fortunate that our Chicago Jewish community is healthy with numerous and diverse viewpoints, ideas, and programs, some of which are just evolving and some of which have been sustained forces for over a century. The JUF/Jewish Federation recognizes that in order for our community to continue to grow and realize the values that drive our work every day values like caring for those in need, expressing shared ideals through collective action, and looking out for our fellow Jews worldwide we must be willing to take risks and to invest time, energy, and money in trying new and unknown approaches to our work. We must be willing to both build on prior successes and learn from creative missteps. Three overarching goals are at the core of the Breakthrough Fund: 1) Meet local human needs 2) Engage the Jewish community across the lifespan 3) Strengthen Israel and the global Jewish people Three primary strategies are expected to be employed in order to achieve the desired innovation and opportunity: A) SEED FUNDING (up to $25,000) will support short-term investments that yield long-term community impact B) MEZZANINE GRANTS (up to $200,000) will build upon prior phases of innovation C) GROWTH CAPITAL (up to $450,000) will sustainably bring best practices to scale Please review the attached Request for Proposals and consider submitting an application prior to the deadline of March 31, 2014 at 5:00pm. There will be an Applicant Workshop on Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at 9:30am at the Jewish Federation headquarters. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the Breakthrough Fund goals, application process and requirements, and evaluation criteria. We thank you for your commitment and willingness to try new and promising approaches to serving our community and look forward to working with you. Sincerely, David S. Rubovits Senior Vice President, Planning & Allocations David Sherman Chair, Breakthrough Fund Review Committee cc: David T. Brown Steven B. Nasatir Page 2 of 7
General Guidelines Breakthrough Fund grants are intended to allow organizations to overcome barriers or develop and launch new innovations that have high potential to transform Jewish life and/or change the landscape of human service delivery in our community. Applicants should only apply for Breakthrough Fund grants to: a) Answer questions that matter (through research, focus groups, market studies, etc.) to the community s ability to understand our interests and needs, or to our ability to develop responsive or proactive programs b) Grow organization capacity to deliver innovative services (through training, technology, etc.) c) Increase Jewish community access to new products, ideas and programming. Applicants must be prepared to serve individuals or communities within the Chicago Metropolitan region or Israel and the global Jewish community. Ideally, applicant agencies should have a local office within the region. Proposals for international projects will be considered by invitation only. Organizations must be prepared to demonstrate how they are serving the Jewish community. Available Funding Amount Available: Up to $1 million dollars will be awarded through this Breakthrough Fund grant cycle. Size of Grants: Grants will be considered in three different categories, with each applicant organization allowed to apply for one Breakthrough Fund grant per funding category per RFP cycle: - Seed Funding of up to $25,000; - Mezzanine Grants of up to $200,000; and - Growth Capital of up to $450,000. Duration of Grants: Breakthrough Fund awards in the Seed Funding category will be 12 months in duration. Funds are to be expended during the grant period of July 1, 2014 June 30, 2015. Applicants in the Mezzanine Grant category may apply for 12-month or 24-month grants of up to $200,000 total (no more than $100,000 per year). Applicants in the Growth Capital category may apply for 12-month, 24-month, or 36-month grants of up to $450,000 total (no more than $150,000 per year). Mezzanine and Growth Capital grants, regardless of the duration of the grant term, will also begin on July 1, 2014. Future Funding: Breakthrough Fund grants are to be considered one-time, non-renewable grants. There is no guarantee of funding beyond the grant term (12 months for Seed Funding; up to 24 months for Mezzanine Grants; up to 36 months for Growth Capital grants). Based on program outcomes, community need, communal priorities, and available resources, programs may be able to apply for subsequent grants through future RFPs. Grantees should not count on Breakthrough Fund support to provide ongoing core programmatic support. Eligibility Nonprofit Status: Applicant organizations must be not-for-profit organizations, though they need not possess 501(c)(3) status. Synagogues and other Jewish worship organizations are invited to apply as long as they are in good standing with their home state and file all necessary financial documentation required of them. Page 3 of 7
Jewish Federation affiliation: Breakthrough Fund applicants may come from inside or outside the current Jewish Federation system of agencies. Fiscal Sponsorship: If an organization is neither 501(c)(3) certified nor a house of worship, they are required to identify a fiscal sponsor for their application and provide proof of a fiscal sponsorship agreement. More information about fiscal sponsorship, including links to fiscal sponsorship agreement templates, can be found through Grant Space, which is the Foundation Center s learning community for the social sector. Visit http://grantspace.org/tools/knowledge-base/individual-grantseekers/fiscal-sponsorship/fiscal-sponsorship. Program Exclusions: The following are excluded from Breakthrough Fund grant consideration: - Ongoing general operating expenses for existing programs - Fundraising campaigns - Funds to cover existing financial deficits - Programs not proposed for implementation in the Chicago Metropolitan area (unless invited) Deadline Final proposals must be emailed to grants@juf.org on or before Monday, March 31, 2014 at 5:00 pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered under any circumstances. Focus Areas and Program Design Focused Investment: The Breakthrough Fund aims to support programs that offer significant, high-potential value-added benefits and opportunities to the Jewish community in the Chicago Metropolitan area, Israel, and worldwide. The Breakthrough Fund is specifically focused on initiatives that can demonstrate relevance and applicability to the entire community, beyond the current reach of the applicant organization. Sustainable, systemic change is central to the goals of the Breakthrough Fund and successful proposals will demonstrate how that change can be begun, accelerated, or accomplished through the proposed efforts. Programs supported by the Breakthrough Fund must address at least one of three targeted goals, utilizing one of the following three strategies: GOAL 1: MEET LOCAL HUMAN NEEDS Address needs emerging from health care reform. Meet on-going needs of chronically poor individuals as well as the new poor. Develop programs addressing diverse and ever-changing members of the community. Reduce barriers to inclusion for underserved populations. GOAL 2: ENGAGE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY ACROSS THE LIFESPAN Expand current or launch new Jewish experiences that inspire youth. Strengthen Jewish congregational life. Increase adult participation in Chicago Jewish communal life. Engage groups who are underrepresented in Jewish communal life. Impact Jewish journeys and reinforce a Ladder of Continuum that encourages ongoing participation and exploration across the lifespan. GOAL 3: STRENGTHEN ISRAEL & THE GLOBAL JEWISH PEOPLE Care for impoverished and/or endangered Jewish communities around the world. Build and encourage Jewish identity and peoplehood. Strengthen Israeli civil society and preparedness. Sustain and grow U.S. public opinion and policy support for Israel through advocacy. Page 4 of 7
SEED FUNDING: SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS YIELDING LONG-TERM IMPACT Time-limited research Capital renovation or equipment/software purchase Activities associated with the launch of a new program or model Planning and development efforts that may lead in the longterm to expanded services or community access to inventive programs, products, or ideas Applicant Workshop MEZZANINE GRANTS: BUILDING UPON PRIOR PHASES OF INNOVATION Implementing new curricula, strategies, best practices, or program models based on earlier research Expanding a successful pilot or demonstration project to wider audiences or for lengthier terms Long-term planning or research that answers questions that matter to the community s ability to understand interests and needs, or to develop responsive or proactive programs GROWTH CAPITAL: SUSTAINABLY BRINGING BEST PRACTICES TO SCALE Significant investments in program infrastructure and organization capacity that will expand proven programs reach and scale. Replication of existing services and models in new geographies or with new audiences An applicant workshop will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2014, from 9:30-11:00am for interested organizations to learn more about the Breakthrough Fund goals, RFP, application process and requirements, and evaluation criteria. The workshop will be held at Jewish Federation headquarters, 30 South Wells Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, in the Lillian and Larry Goodman Conference Center. Attendance at the applicant workshop is not required but is strongly encouraged. Please RSVP to Tasheia Richardson by Friday, February 14, by emailing TasheiaRichardson@juf.org. Application Instructions All applicants must submit the following in order to be considered for a Breakthrough Fund grant. A submission checklist is included on the Breakthrough Fund application form for your convenience. Breakthrough Fund application form Proposal narrative - All applicants must submit a clear and concise narrative that addresses the following: - Opportunity: What community needs will your program address or what available opportunity will your project seize? What tangible shift or change can be begun, accelerated, or accomplished through the proposed initiative? - Innovation: What is the Breakthrough that the proposed project is intended to achieve? How will you use one of the following methods to advance the goals of the Breakthrough Fund? - Answer questions that matter (through research, focus groups, market studies, etc.) to the community s ability to understand our interests and needs, or to our ability to develop responsive or proactive programs - Grow agency capacity to deliver innovative services (through training, certification, technology, etc.) - Increase Jewish community access to new products, ideas and programming. - Overall program goals - Description of program activities and a timeline for completion Page 5 of 7
- Agency capacity to carry out the proposed program: What is your history, mission, vision, and philosophy or theory of change? Who are they key staff responsible for the project s success and what are their qualifications? - Roles of all organizations and consultants with whom you will partner to carry out this project - Applicability of your project to the wider community and how it will offer value or insights beyond your organization s walls: How will the community in which you operate look different if your program is successful? - Mezzanine Grant applicants must include all of the above in their proposal narrative and also include: - Measurable objectives - Brief methodologies for evaluation of program impact and success - Sustainability plan to ensure the continued operation and success of the program after Breakthrough Grant funding ends - Growth Capital applicants must include in their proposal narrative all of the information requested above and also include - Detailed implementation plan Required Attachments - For all applicants - Organization budget for FY14 and FY15 - Project budget, using the Breakthrough Fund budget form provided - Proof of nonprofit status - Current year Board of Directors list - If an organization does not have a Board of Directors, they must provide a written statement explaining the governing structure and framework used to ensure appropriate financial and management controls - Organization logo or representative photograph - For Mezzanine Grant and Growth Capital applicants only - Logic model, using the Breakthrough Fund logic model form provided - For applicants using a fiscal sponsor only - Fiscal sponsorship agreement signed by both organizations - Board of Directors list for the fiscal sponsor in addition to the list for the applicant organization Documentation and Reporting Grant Agreement: All grant recipients will be expected to sign a grant agreement with the Jewish Federation that details the scope of work funded by the Breakthrough Fund, including specific deliverables and their timeframe for completion. Required Reports: All 12-month grant recipients must submit a report on their achievements and finances by August 28, 2015. Mezzanine and Growth Capital grantees receiving 24-month grants will be required to submit a progress report by August 28, 2015 as well as a final report by August 29, 2016. Growth Capital grantees receiving 36-month grants must submit progress reports on the above dates as well as a final report by August 28, 2017. Detailed information about the format of these reports will be included in the grant agreement. Page 6 of 7
Sharing Results: Breakthrough Fund grantees will represent a diverse and exceptional group of organizations that are rich in knowledge, ideas, subject matter expertise, and proven results. In addition to financial and programmatic reports to the Jewish Federation, Breakthrough Fund grant recipients may be asked to participate in grantee workshops, present their results to Jewish Federation committees or community meetings, and/or share lessons learned, best practices, and results in written reports for public dissemination. Selection Criteria and Timeline Funding Decision Timeline: Final funding decisions will be made in June 2014. Payment Schedule: Grant agreements will be mailed on or around July 1, 2014. Upon execution of a signed grant agreement, checks will be issued for the first payment toward the grant amount (number of payments depends upon duration of the grant). - Seed Funding, 12-month Mezzanine Grant, and 12-month Growth Capital recipients will receive 50% of their grant award in the first payment and 50% of their award by January 1, 2015. - Recipients of 24-month Mezzanine and Growth Capital grants will receive 50% of their grant award in the first payment; 25% by July 1, 2015; and 25% by October 1, 2015 (October payment is contingent upon sufficient progress in the first year of the grant). - Recipients of 36-month Growth Capital grants will receive their full Year 1 grant amount in the first payment. Year 2 and Year 3 grant payments will be made in two installments each. Payments will be made for the Year 2 award as follows: 50% by July 1, 2015 and 50% by October 1, 2015 (October payment is contingent upon sufficient progress in the first year of the grant). Payments will be made for the Year 3 award as follows: 50% by July 1, 2016 and 50% by October 1, 2016 (October payment is contingent upon sufficient progress in the second year of the grant). Selection Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated by a committee of Jewish Federation professional and lay leadership who will consider the following: - Strength of Innovation - Alignment with Breakthrough Fund Goals and Strategies - Demonstrated Opportunity/Need for the Program - Likelihood that the program model/approach will deliver on Breakthrough Fund goals - Organizational Capacity, including past performance on initiatives supported by prior Breakthrough Fund grants or other Jewish Federation grants or allocations - Sustainability beyond the grant term (for Mezzanine Grant and Growth Capital applicants) - Correlation between the budget and the proposed scope of work; is the budget realistic? Site Visits: Growth capital applicants may be asked to participate in a site visit prior to funding decisions. Contact Information All questions about this Request for Proposals should be directed to: Sarah Follmer phone: 312-357-4547 Senior Planning Associate, Strategic Partnerships email: SarahFollmer@juf.org All inquiries received by March 26, 2014 will be addressed within 48 hours of receipt. We will respond to all questions in the order they are received. We are sorry, but due to high volume we cannot guarantee a response to questions submitted after this date. Page 7 of 7