NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP GRANTS 2010
OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM
The Columbus Foundation, the United Way of Central Ohio, National City, now a part of PNC, Bob Evans and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations are pleased to announce the 2010 Neighborhood Partnership Grants Program (NPG). The program is designed to support neighborhood organizations and improvements in low- and moderate-income areas of Franklin County. Projects should be designed to be resident driven and are not required to be large or sophisticated for grant consideration.
- Applying groups are required to be a 501(c) 3 organization or must partner with a registered 501(c) 3 fiscal agent at time of submittal of letter of intent (LOI) application.
- The maximum amount of each grant is $10,000 annually. Projects are one year. There is a potential to reapply for continued funding, but this is not guaranteed. To receive additional funding, projects will be required to demonstrate positive measurable outcomes and meet stated objectives.
AREAS OF FOCUS FOR PROJECTS
Proposed projects for the 2010 grant cycle should focus on one of following five areas (several examples of the types of projects that may qualify are included, but do not feel constrained by these examples – as long as the project links to one of the four areas):
- Community and Economic Development – Gateway signage, beautification, newsletters, websites, festivals, public events, public art projects, and more.
- Education and Public Awareness – Youth service, leadership development, health and fitness, community public relations, social media projects, and more.
- Crime Prevention & Safety - Block watches, awareness programs, national night out activities, anti-litter, clean and safe programs, anti-graffiti, personal safety, community safety, mediation, and more.
- Safe & Decent Housing – Educating homeowners on home repairs, energy efficiency programs, financial education, predatory lending prevention, blighted/vacant housing issues, and more.
- Columbus Bicentennial 2012 Projects – Neighborhood history books, oral history projects, historical markers or murals, historically-themed public art projects, public performances/plays, and more.funding, projects will be required to demonstrate positive measurable outcomes and meet stated objectives.
GETTING STARTED: The Application Process
Stage One – Letter of Intent (LOI). DEADLINE IS JANUARY 29, 2010
- The Letter of Intent for Neighborhood Partnership Grants is an online process.
- Beginning Monday, January 4, 2010 go to The Columbus Foundation’s website (www.columbusfoundation.org), click on the green “GO!” link at the bottom of the page; in the left column, click on “specialized grants program.” On the next page, follow “Neighborhood Grants” to the Neighborhood Partnership Grant program.
- Deadline for submittal is January 29, 2010 by 11:59 p.m. Applicants will be notified by email on February 19, 2010 if their LOI is competitive to move to Stage Two, Full Proposal.
- Who your organization is and what neighborhood you represent.
- Short project description.
- Briefly explain how you plan on involving residents in this project, increasing community volunteerism, and improving the community.
- State approximately how much money you are requesting.
- Proof of tax-exempt public charity status under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service. You will be asked to provide your EIN or your fiscal agent’s EIN on the LOI form on the GO! System.
Stage Two – Full Proposal
If the Review Committee moves your LOI to Stage Two, a full proposal will be due on March 19, 2010. Directions to complete the full proposal will be provided upon acceptance of the LOI. The following is a preview of some questions to consider for the full proposal:
- Describe your project. Be careful to explain WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and HOW.
- Describe the project's geographic boundaries (major street boundaries or neighborhood name).
- Describe the conditions or characteristics of the are area or neighborhood the project will serve.
- Who will oversee this project? (Provide Name, Address, and Phone Numbers).
- What improvement will this project have on the neighborhood?
- Are there institutions within the neighborhood supporting your project? Please list.
- How will this project help the neighborhood solve its own problems?
- How will you measure the success of this project?
- Timeline – List the key activities, events, or milestones as they relate to this project.
- How much money are you requesting from the Neighborhood Partnership Grants Program?
Grant announcements will be made in mid-May, 2010.
Thank you for your interest in the Neighborhood Partnership Grants Program. If you have any questions, please contact Dottie L. Henderson at (614) 251-4000 or dhenderson@columbusfoundation.org or Hailey Stroup at (614) 241-3072 or hailey.stroup@uwcentralohio.org.
NEED HELP? Grant Information Sessions
Two optional but recommended information sessions will be held for prospective applicants to ask questions and to further clarify the process or the applicability of project ideas. At the session you will be walked through the online submission process.
Sessions will be held Tuesday, January 12th from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, January 14th from 12 noon – 1:30 p.m. at The Columbus Foundation, 1234 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205.
To register for a workshop go to www.columbusfoundation.org, and select “Community Events Calendar” at the bottom of the page. FYI – through December, early registration will need to use the advance search option for all 2010 dates. Otherwise, select January from the drop down menu, and click on the NPG Grant Opportunities Information Session. Click “register for event.” An online registration is required.
