Competitive Grants at the Community Foundation 2013

1. Competitive Grants at the Community Foundation 2013

2. Agenda • Discretionary Grants: • Discretionary Grant Funds chart • Discretionary Grant Size & Duration chart • Applying for a grant • Program grants • Organizational Development capacity grants • Other grant funds • Competitive Donor Advised Grants • Decision process and reports

3. Discretionary Grant Funds --download complete document in “Funding Opportunities-- Organizations may receive up to $50,000 in GCRCF grant payments in one calendar year from any combination of Program, Organizational Development, Endowment Challenge, Linn County and President’s Fund grants. For the purpose of this total, an Endowment Challenge Grant is considered a one-year $25,000 grant.

4. Discretionary Grant Size & Duration--download complete document in “Funding Opportunities-- Note: The GCRCF does not generally fund more than 20% of an organization’s budget up to $50,000. Some exceptions are made for small organizations, namely start-up situations and circumstances where funding supports scalable activity (e.g. volunteer-driven programmatic activity). Within this overall maximum, Organizational Development Grant requests are generally limited to 7.5% of an organization’s budget, up to $15,000. The GCRCF reserves the right to make larger capacity grants in rare circumstances.

5. Applying for a grant • Applications must be submitted online. The online portal can be accessed by logging in to www.gcrcf.org. If your organization does not already have a grant administrator please contact the GCRCF at grants@gcrcf.org. • Minor changes have been made in online app (response to feedback received) • Please use the application worksheet to prepare your application. Verify character counts and correct spelling and grammar before inserting answers in the online application. (Note: All character counts INCLUDE spaces.) Users may copy responses to the online portal from the worksheet.

6. Organization Snapshot All fields in this section should be completed before submitting for approval. Fields with * have character limits. Submit for approval at least two days before beginning the online application. Auto-populates into online application!  • Mission statement* • Brief organizational history* • Describe target population* • Briefly describe key programs* • Number of paid employees: • What is the total dollar amount of the current fiscal year organizational budget? • Describe volunteer support within organization* • Brief bio of organization primary contact* • List board of director names and professional roles

7. Section 1: Organization Overview • Proposal title: • Organization name: (This field will only show the original legal name at this time.) • EIN: (Can be found on the IRS letter of determination) • Charitable status: 501c3, governmental agency, requires fiscal sponsor • What year did your organization receive your IRS letter of determination (501)(c)(3) letter? • Address information: (auto-populates from snapshot) • Website address: • Organization phone number: (auto-populates from snapshot) • Organization fax:

8. Section 2: Organization Details Most information for this section will auto-populate from the Organization Snapshot. Additional questions include: • Name of organization primary contact: • Title: • Primary contact phone and extension: • Primary contact email:

9. Section 3: Proposal Summary • Proposal summary: (purpose of funds requested in this application) (900 character limit) • Dollar amount requested: see Discretionary Grant Size & Duration chart • Sections 4 & 5 discussed later

10. Section 6: Objectives Provide your program/project objective(s), the action that will be taken to reach this objective, how this action will be evaluated, and how you will know if the results are successful. Be specific and include baselines, percentages or other measurements. A minimum of one objective is required, and you may add others as needed to fully articulate the purposes of your project/ program. For each objective: • Objective: • Action: • Evaluation method: • Description of desired results:

11. Section 7: Contact Information & Signature • Who should we contact with questions regarding this specific application? • Application contact’s organizational role: • Application contact’s phone and extension: • Application contact’s email: • Submitter’s name/Electronic Submission Authorization • Submitter’s organizational role:

12. To Complete the Application • After the online application narrative sections have been submitted, the application moves from Applications in Process to Application History. • The application is not complete until additional budget and planning documents are uploaded.

13. Document Template Location • Document templates are found at www.gcrcf.org, Grant Seekers/Funding Opportunities/fund type as appropriate. Example: Download the Program Grant Fund Budget Forms  • Organization budget- option to use self generated format. • Completed financial analysis form Download the Nonprofit Financial Analysis Form • Organization current strategic plan (organizational development ONLY)

14. Uploading Documents • To upload the documents, go to Application History, find the appropriate application and choose “Details.” • In the next screen, choose “Details” again to upload the appropriate document. • Each detail screen is labeled with the needed documents.

15. Budgets • Use Project Budget template provided on the website. • Use whole dollar amounts. • Income • Expenses • Include overhead • Template for Organizational Budget is optional. You may submit a copy of your board approved budget in its original format. • Ineligible: Expenses that have occurred or will occur during the grant review process (before April 25)

16. Financial Analysis • Quick Ratio: This measures the level of liquidity and measures only current assets that can be quickly turned to cash. • Months of Cash: Represents the number of months an organization could operate with current cash. • Program to Total Expenses Ratio: This looks at the percentage of expenses used to support programming versus how much is spent for general management and fundraising. • Diversity of Funding Sources

17. Program GrantsElizabeth Cwik • Program grants support programs that are well designed, innovative, effective, and target an important community issue, need or opportunity in Linn County, Iowa. • February 15, July 15 and October 15 deadlines • Applications for new and existing programs accepted in all three grant cycles • See Discretionary Grant Size & Duration for possible amounts and duration

18. Program Application Section 4: Proposal Details • Detail the proposal. Include activities and timeline.(3000 character limit) • For new program components: Explain how new aspects were developed, and why these will create a successful program. Please explain the assumptions and rational used. (2500 character limit) • For existing program components: Describe how the program has changed or developed over time and what led to the changes. (1500 character limit)

19. Section 5: Essay QuestionsApplication Narrative • Summarize underlying community circumstances/opportunities. • Is it possible to provide the number of unduplicated individuals this effort will impact? Please explain: • Describe the use of staff and volunteers for this project. • What would be the impact of a grant award that is less than your requested amount? More? • Compare this project to similar work in the community. What distinguishes the proposed effort? • Describe any collaborative partnerships supporting this project, if applicable:

20. Capacity GrantsRochelle Naylor • Organizational Development grants support activities that will strengthen the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission. • February 15, July 15 and October 15 deadlines • Available to nonprofits in Linn County that have been fully operational for two years or longer and hold 501c3 status • Endowment Challenge matching grants support nonprofit organizations in their efforts to create sustainable funding models. Nonprofit endowment funds are an investment in the mission and the future of the organization. • July 15 Deadline • Available to nonprofits in Linn County that have been in operation for 7 years or more

21. Capacity Grants:Organizational Development Grants • Activities funded include: • Organizational assessment • Strategic planning; business, communications, or operational planning • Financial and executive coaching • Mergers or other restructuring efforts • Collaboration between organizations • Fund development planning • Succession planning and implementation • Diversity initiatives • Board development and governance • Skill building for leadership staff and board • Program evaluation • Strategic program redesign • Strategic technology system design and acquisition

22. Organizational Development Application Section 4: Proposal Details • Detail reasons why the GCRCF should invest in building this organization. What are its strengths? What is its value to the community? (2,500 character limit) • Current conditions in the area(s) the organization seeks to strengthen. What led to the decision to pursue this project? (2,500 character limit) • Detail the proposal. Include a description of the activities to implement the project, and anticipated timeline. (3,000 character limit)

23. Organizational Development Application Section 5: Application Narrative • How many bids did you receive for the proposed project/equipment/assistance? • How did you choose this bid over the others? (2,500 character limit) • How will the outcomes achieved make the organization stronger and contribute to the long-term stability of the organization? (2,500 character limit)

24. Capacity Grant: Endowment Challenge Grants • Goal: Sustainability • Match: GCRCF & Endow Iowa • Five years allowed to complete the challenge • Award counts against submission total for one year

25. Immediate Needs:President’s FundRochelle Naylor • Funding available for: • Emergency Expenditures • Emerging Opportunities • Community or Sector Development Activities • Submit one-page letter to Rochelle Naylor

26. Linn County FundElizabeth Cwik • Redistribution of state gambling proceeds • Supports efforts in non-metro Linn County • In partnership with Linn County Board of Supervisors • October 15 deadline

27. Competitive Donor Advised FundsElizabeth Cwik • Competitive grant programs for a number of local corporations and family foundations. • Chart located: Funding Opportunities/Competitive Donor- Advised Grants • Same three deadlines- 2013 chart is on the website • Fund selection is now in Section 1- changes with each cycle • Same proposal questions as Program Grant application • Decision timeline may be modified by the donor

28. Discretionary Grant decision process • Grant administrator receives an email confirmation of the grant submission • Program staff review • Committees evaluate and make recommendations- scoring tools on website • The Community Foundation board approves April 24, September 25, December 18 • Letters mailed with documents for successful grants • Letters mailed for declined grants with contact information for feedback

29. Final Report and Evaluation • If a grant is awarded, a completed final report is due upon completion of the grant term. The written evaluation at the end of the project should address the level of success associated with each result/benchmark outlined in the grant application. • For multi-year grant awards, program staff will seek a site visit and/or an interim report.

30. The Nonprofit Network is made up of four components:Nonprofit Peer NetworkNonprofit Information NetworkNonprofit Learning NetworkNonprofit Mentor Network For more information, please contact Katie Giorgio, Coordinator, at katie.giorgio@gcrcf.org 319.366.2862.

31. Additional resources The Larned A. WatermanIowa Nonprofit Resource Center • Iowa Principles and Practices for Charitable Nonprofit Excellence

32. Staff Contact Information Elizabeth Cwik, program officer Program Grants, Linn County, Competitive Donor Advised Grants elizabeth.cwik@gcrcf.org Bernadette Gladish, program assistant bernadette.gladish@gcrcf.org Rochelle Naylor, program officer Capacity Grants, President’s Fund, Education Grants, Scholarships, Nonprofit Mentor Network rochelle.naylor@gcrcf.org Karla Twedt-Ball, vice president of programs karla.twedt-ball@gcrcf.org