COLUMBUS AREA UNITED WAY
COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS
GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION
Columbus Area United Way, Inc.
P. O. Box 1372
Columbus, NE 68602-1372
(402) 564-5661
www.columbusunitedway.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Purpose............................................................................................. 3
Criteria for Eligibility ..................................................................... 4
Application Guidelines/Timetable........................................................ 5
Application Cover Sheet.................................................................... 6
General Information........................................................................... 7
Proposed Budget............................................................................... 8
Board Listing..................................................................................... 9
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Community Impact Grant program is to provide health and human service agencies and organizations an opportunity to seek funds for immediate and creative responses to the most pressing human needs in our communities. Community Impact Grants can be applied for in two different areas.
1. One year demonstration or pilot project grant: Organizations are encouraged to test and develop new or improved ways of delivering needed services, services which address emerging or newly identified needs, or services which respond to previously unmet or undeserved needs within the Columbus area. The desired results of these demonstration/pilot projects will be improved delivery or services for persons in need, and a stronger more integrated human service network in our community.
2. Impact Grants: Organizations that already have programs established that are addressing recognized concerns in our community. Priority consideration will be given to programs that address one or more of the top ten critical issues of the latest Community Needs Assessment which is available from the Connect Columbus office. The objective of these impact grants will be to fund programs that will have measurable results that improve lives and make lasting change.
The
considerations for these grants include:
· Projects which provide services in response to community identified needs.
· Projects which respond to new and/or emerging needs.
· Projects which utilize the Impact Grant as matching funds to secure other grants for provision of human services.
· Projects that will secure other funds, either grant or direct contributions,
plus in-kind matching support.
· Proposals which document shared staff facilities and/or resources among two or more
agencies, organizations, joint agency-business, or joint agency-government proposals.
Special consideration will be given to projects which demonstrate a collaborative effort among groups.
· Projects which demonstrate the ability to become self-sufficient after initial funding.
· Projects not duplicated by other services/programs currently available.
· Projects which make extensive use of volunteers.
CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY
A. The applicant must be incorporated (or sponsored by an incorporated agency) as a non-profit human needs services agency/organization.
B. The applicant must have tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code. Groups/organizations who are not incorporated or who do not yet have tax-exempt status must be sponsored by a non-profit, tax exempt organization and provide a signed statement showing sponsorship agreement (call the United Way office for information)
C. The applicant’s primary geographical area of service and physical location must be in the
Columbus Area United Way service area (Platte, Colfax, Butler, Nance, Boone).
D. The applicant must have a certificate of non-discrimination.
E. The applicant must have an organized governing authority, comprised solely of volunteers,
with responsibility to implement a program and to administer and be accountable for the
dollars granted. The governing authority must represent the community which it seeks to
serve, consist of a minimum of five (5) members and meet regularly.
F. Requests for support must be consistent with the purpose of the Community Impact Grant Policy (see page 3).
The following are examples of items that will not be considered for Impact funding.
1. Direct financial assistance to individuals or families.
2. Capital expenditures unless there are matching monies or evidence of criteria need
for the item for program services.
3. Grants/stipends to conduct or attend conferences, seminars, and workshops.
4. Audits
5. Other items deemed inappropriate by the Columbus Area United Way Board of
Directors.
G. Impact Grant recipients will be allowed to seek extended funding beyond the first year for
stabilization purposes. This does not, however, obligate the Fund Distribution Committee to fund the reapplication but only to consider its request. To be eligible for consideration for a second period of funding, the organization must meet the following criteria.
1. All concerns (administrative, management, program, facility, financial, etc.) expressed by the Fund Distribution Committee at the time of first year’s funding will have been addressed with positive, demonstrated results by the organization.
2. Demonstrated effectiveness of the applicant’s program in meeting the proposed
community need;
3. Consistency of second year proposal with initial goals and objectives of the first year.
4. A clear and operable plan for generating other resources. Columbus Area United Way encourages applicants to avoid an over dependence on only a few fund raising sources.
5. A financial/program report from the preceding year.
H. Community Impact Grants will be considered on an annual basis.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES/TIMETABLE
The application and approval procedure is as follows:
1. By April 1, applications will be made available and advertising begins.
2. The Columbus Area
United Way will receive inquiries regarding Community Impact
Grants.
3. In response to the inquiry, the Grant applications will be distributed to the applicant.
4. The applicant must submit the narrative application (see pages 6-9) in writing responding
to the Community Impact Grant criteria.
5. Applications will be accepted postmarked no later than April 30th at 5:00 p.m. This includes those proposals sent by mail. Applications received after this date cannot be accepted.
6. The applications will be reviewed by the Fund Distribution Committee.
8. The review may include conferences and/or on-site visits with applicants as the Fund Distribution Committee deems necessary.
9. The review process will conclude with the Fund Distribution Committee making a recommendation to the United Way Board of Directors. The United Way Board of Directors will then make a final determination and announcement no later than their regularly scheduled July board meeting.
10. Notification of actions on requests will be given to applicants no later than August, 15th.
11. Successful applicants may be invited to the Columbus Area United Way Board meeting
for distribution of checks.
12. The above described time frame can be waived or altered at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Columbus Area United Way.
13. Community Impact Grant funds will be distributed in one lump sum unless otherwise recommended by the Fund Distribution Committee.
14. A written report ( mailed in 6 months) describing the progress of the applicant’s program will
be required six months after the distribution of funds. The Fund Distribution Committee will
review and monitor the Grant recipient as deemed necessary.
COLUMBUS AREA UNITED WAY, INC.
COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT
APPLICATION FOR FUNDING
Cover Sheet
Organization ________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Tax Exempt Number _____________________________(If your organization does not have its own tax
exempt number, the supplement sheet, page 10,
must be completed.)
Staff Contact Person ___________________________________________________________
Title ________________________________________________________________________
Telephone __________________________
E-Mail Address _______________________________________________________________
Date _______________________________
Signature ____________________________________________________________________
PROPOSAL SUMMARY
Are you applying for a New Project / Pilot Program _________ or an Impact Grant__________
Amount Requested $ ___________________
Target Population _____________________________________________________________
(Describe specifically, i.e., Hispanic youth 15-19)
Name of Project ________________________________________________________________
Brief Description of Project ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Community Impact Grant Application is designed to simplify the process for both the applicant and Fund Distribution Committee. Please limit your responses to the questions to a total of four typed pages. Seven pages includes the cover sheet, budget, and Board member listing.
The questions which must be answered are listed below. Please number and RETYPE EACH QUESTION and answer in order. Complete the application and return five copies to the Columbus Area United Way office by April 30, 2009. No applications will be received after this date.
FORMAT:
Cover sheet (form provided – page 6).
1. Introduce your organization to us.
2. What is the need for the proposed project, and how did you identify it?
3. What are the objectives for the proposed project – what will be the outcome and impact of your project?
4. How will you accomplish your stated objectives – what activities/methods will you use? Give an approximate time line for completing these objectives.
5. How does the project relate to one or more of the Impact Grant criteria: “Emerging Need”, “Community or Neighborhood Needs”, “Unmet Need of Special Population Group”?
6. Describe the innovative, creative and/or non-traditional nature of your proposed project.
7. Do other agencies in the community offer a similar or parallel service? If yes, who? How is your Project different? Will you coordinate your effort with theirs?
8. How will you evaluate the results of your project? How will you know if you have met your stated objective?
9. If you are an Impact Grant recipient, how will you continue the project (if necessary) after the one-year Grant?
10. List any other funding sources to which you have made a request for funding this project.
11. How would partial funding of your request affect your project?
12. How do you intend to let the community know that your source of funds is the Columbus Area United Way?
Budget (page 8) and Board Information (page 9) – forms included.
COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT PROPOSED BUDGET
Impact Grant(how will amount requested be used) |
Total Program Budget |
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SUPPORT & REVENUE |
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Contributions |
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Special Events |
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Grants from Government/Foundations |
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Membership Dues – Individual |
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Program Services Fees |
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Investment Income |
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Other |
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TOTAL SUPPORTAND REVENUE |
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EXPENSES |
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Salaries |
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Employee Benefits |
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Payroll Taxes |
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TOTAL SALARY EXPENSES |
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Professional Fees |
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Supplies |
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Telephone |
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Postage & Shipping |
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Occupancy |
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Printing & Publications |
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Travel |
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Conferences & Meetings |
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Special Assistance to Individuals |
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Organization Dues |
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Awards & Grants |
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Equipment Rentals & Maintenance |
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Miscellaneous |
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TOTAL NON-SALARY EXPENSES |
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TOTALEXPENSES |
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EXCESS (DEFICIT) OF TOTAL SUPPORT/REVENUE OVER EXPENSES |
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Please include a copy of your Board of Directors or complete this form.
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS OF _________________________________