Basic Needs Grant Guidelines and Application Process
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership is a Field of Interest Fund to assist established non-profit organizations with a proven record of success in maintaining solid, critical programs that address the root causes of poverty and prevent persons in episodic crisis from becoming persons of chronic need.
What’s new in Spring 2010?
In Spring 2010 we will be offering planning grants instead of the collaborative project grants or the annual grants that we have offered in the past. We will consider initial applications for 6 to 12 month planning grants from collaborative teams of local non-profit organizations. If this grant doesn't fit with what your organization is currently doing, we offer several alternative grant programs that may fit your needs .
Your organization may be eligible for a Basic Needs planning grant if you meet the following criteria:
Note that consideration will also be given to initial application requests that are regional in nature, that is, proposals originating in the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation’s region that serve Brown, Kewaunee and/or Oconto counties, as well as some or all of the regions of the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley and/or the Oshkosh Community Foundation. A different initial application needs to be completed for these regional collaborative planning grants encompassing multiple Community Foundation service areas. The regional collaborative planning grant application is available at this link: Basic Needs Regional Grant Application Form
What is a planning grant?
Planning grants provide funding to teams of local non-profits as they explore and plan for the launch of a collaborative project.
Why did you change the Basic Needs grants for this fiscal year?
We changed the focus of this year’s Basic Needs grants due to our ongoing commitment to our current grantees. In addition, we recognize that addressing community needs efficiently and with innovation takes not only creativity and passion, but also resources. We believe planning grants to local non-profits will encourage strong planning and research. Our focus on planning grants this year is a pilot program.
What is the application process? What needs to be in my application letter?
To apply for a planning grant for a collaborative program that will serve residents of Brown, Kewaunee, and/or Oconto counties, we request a written proposal of no more than three typed pages. The proposal should include: - A description of the gap or community/regional need
- Identification of the lead organization and collaborators
- A sense of the vision and description of any previous planning
- Why a planning grant is needed to move the project forward
- An estimated timeline of activities
- A budget for how planning grant funds would be utilized
- An initial plan for raising funds for the project, if appropriate
What about programs that serve more than one community foundation service area?
To apply for a planning grant for a collaborative program that will serve residents in more than one community foundation service area, please fill out this form: Basic Needs Regional Grant Application Form
What is the deadline for application?
February 15, 2010
How much can our collaborative project request?
The Community Foundation estimates that most initial applications for planning grants will likely be for requests between $5,000-10,000, but any reasonable level of request will be considered.
What aspects of the project will the Community Foundation fund?
Grants will not fund planning that is part of an organization’s ongoing activities. Appropriate planning items include, but are not limited to: hiring staff; planning time; site visits to review models and best practices; and consultants, facilitators or other outside professional assistance.
What are the evaluation criteria?
Initial applications for planning requests will be evaluated on both the strength of the request for the planning grant and the potential of the proposed project. Strong planning projects will:
- Define a community/regional need or identified gap in service or programming within one or more of the priority areas of the Basic Needs Giving Partnership supported by relevant data.
- Clearly articulate a vision that demonstrates depth in thinking and initial research into feasibility.
- Identify and describe suitable, successful models (already in place in another community) or a (newly created) framework for a clearly defined action to meet the need.
- Provide a broad budget for the implementation and continuation of the project activities.
- Have a feasible, but aggressive timeline that provides a clear outline for planning, implementation, and follow-through.
- Have board and organizational management support and participation.
- Be collaborative in nature and bring together partners, public and/or private as active planning partners to address the impact area(s) and to leverage impact through resources and/or expertise.
- Lead to a project that is concrete, practical, and have the potential for well-defined meaningful measurable impact.
- Be feasible and attractive to donors, foundations, or other community entities and funders for implementation and continuation
What process is in place for the evaluation of the applications?
Initial applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a team of community volunteers. Selected applicants will be asked to interview with grants team members and may be asked to provide additional information. The full grants team will make final recommendations for planning grants. Planning grant recipients are not guaranteed to receive additional funding for project or program implementation. In addition, this RFP for planning grants for Spring 2010 is a pilot of the concept of planning grants through the Basic Needs Giving Partnership. The acceptance of this type of application in the future, or at what funding level is at the discretion of the Community Foundation.
Visit with Us
We’d rather you spend more of your time working for the betterment of the community than filling out our forms. Before you begin writing a proposal or letter of intent, please make an appointment to visit with us to receive some feedback. Questions? Please contact Martha Ahrendt at 920.432.0800 or martha@ggbcf.org.
Grants for Programs Serving Multiple Community Foundation Service Areas
To apply for a grant for a collaborative program that will serve residents in more than one community foundation service area, please fill out this form: Basic Needs Regional Grant Application Form
Grant Proposals for Collaborative Projects
Grant proposals for collaborative projects will not be accepted in Spring 2010.
Proposals for Annual Grants to Single Organizations
Grant proposals for annual grants to single organizations will not be accepted in Spring 2010.