Community Foundation releases fourth annual grant guidelines
In releasing its grant guidelines for 2015, Ramona Community Foundation said preference will go to projects that clearly address Ramona-specific issues and needs, promote creativity, enhance civic engagement, and set new standards for the far-reaching benefits that can be achieved.
This is the fourth year Ramona Community Foundation will provide nonprofit (501c3) organizations, schools and governmental agencies the opportunity to submit a proposed program to benefit the community. The foundation seeks projects and programs that impact individuals, families and organizations in Ramona.
These projects should be practical, achievable within a 12-month time frame, and have prospects for long-term sustainability. Funding may be used to expand existing programs, to replicate programs tested in other communities or to launch new efforts. Deadline for submission is June 1.
The foundation will not hold a forum to discuss the guidelines this year. Instead, it invites any nonprofit with questions to contact Trudy Armstrong at 619-764-8602 or Trudy@sdfoundation.org, Ramona Community Foundation chair Wes Brustad at wesbrustad@yahoo.com, or foundation board member Paul Zawilenski at 760-703-2353.
The foundation meets the needs of Ramona by encouraging and increasing responsible and effective philanthropy by and for the benefit of all who live and give in the community. Through the power of pooled philanthropy and collective giving, foundation members have made an impact for nonprofits serving the community, making it a better place to live, work and play for the entire community, said Armstrong, director of regional affiliates.
Ramona community leaders established the foundation, an affiliate of the San Diego Foundation, to raise dollars in Ramona to support Ramona. All funds are tax-deductible and benefit Ramona residents and nonprofits serving Ramona programs. Ramona residents who are foundation members make all grantmaking decisions.
To apply, visit the Ramona Community Foundation website: www.sdfoundation.org/CommunityFoundations/RamonaCommunityFoundation/Grants.aspx.
For more information about the grant guidelines or becoming a foundation member, contact Armstrong.
GRANT GUIDELINES
2015/2016 GRANT CYCLE
Cycle 4
Community Impact
This year, the foundation invites nonprofit organizations to submit project proposals specifically for Ramona that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant and civically engaged community.
The goal of the grant cycle is to support programs that make Ramona a great place in which to live, work and play, said Armstrong.
Desirable projects will increase dialogue and participation, inspire community pride and revitalization, and increase the quality of life of the broader community.
Funding may be used to expand existing programs, replicate programs tested in other communities or to launch totally new
efforts.
The Ramona Community Foundation will fund programs managed by nonprofit
Organizations, schools or government agencies, and embrace one or more of the following
elements:
• Demonstrate and/or foster collaboration with other successful entities in the
community to achieve a common goal or objective;
• Match funds, resources-in-kind, facilities or other means that multiply the effect of
the grant; a current project which has strategic impact; i.e., provides long lasting,
ongoing benefit to the community or the distinct population it is intended to serve;
• Based on a proven track record of success as demonstrated through process,
leaders, and/or experienced partners;
• Targeted at clearly defined, measurable results attainable within a reasonable time
frame;
• Demonstrate sustainability; i.e., are replicable, repeatable and/or scalable;
• Focused on problem areas, opportunities or populations that otherwise are not
funded and serviced by existing non-profits, educational organization mandates, or
state or federal programs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the application timeline?
The deadline for application submission is Monday, June 1, at 5 p.m. Incomplete or
late applications will not be accepted.
How do we apply for a Ramona Community Foundation Grant?
The applicant compiles a proposal following these grant guidelines. Proposals must be
submitted by no later than 5:00 p.m., on or before Monday, June 1.
Proposals must be emailed as an attachment to Kerri Favela, Grants Manager at
Kerri@sdfoundation.org with the following information included in the attachment and/or
in the body of the email:
- Name of Organization
- Address of Organization including City, State and Zip code
- Tax ID (EIN) Number
- Organization Budget Size
- Is this Organization a 501(c) 3 Public Charity? If no, please list Name, Address and
Contact information of Fiscal Sponsor Organization
- Name of Project Contact
- Phone Number of Project Contact
- Email Address of Project Contact
- Name of Executive Director/President/CEO
- Phone Number of Executive Director/President/CEO
- Email Address of Executive Director/President/CEO
- Project Name
- Amount you are requesting
Who is eligible to apply for Ramona Community Foundation funding?
To be eligible for a grant from the Ramona Community Foundation, organizations must
provide services in the community of Ramona. Organizations must have tax-exempt status.
An organization may serve as a fiscal sponsor for a charitable organization that does not have tax-exempt status if a cooperative relationship between the two can be clearly demonstrated. The fiscal sponsor must be willing to administer the grant if awarded.
How much can we request?
The Ramona Community Foundation will accept proposals in a range of $1,500 up to $7,000.00
What is the grant period?
Generally, grants are made for one year. This grant cycle is Oct. 1, 2015 through Oct. 31, 2016
What reporting is required?
The Ramona Community Foundation requires periodic reporting and site visits; the details
for which will be specified in the grant award letter.
What will the Ramona Community Foundation not fund?
Generally, the Ramona Community Foundation does not make grants for:
• Annual campaigns and fundraising events
• Capital campaigns for buildings of facilities
• Stipends for attendance at conferences
• Endowments or “chairs”
• For-profit organizations and individuals unaffiliated with a qualified fiscal sponsor
• Projects that promote religious or political doctrine
• Research (medical or otherwise)
• Scholarships
• Existing obligations/debt
Who can I contact if I have any questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Trudy Armstrong at 619.764 8602 or
trudy@sdfoundation.org.
What is the Ramona Community Foundation Timeline?
Monday, April 6, 2015 – Guidelines released
Monday, June 1, 2015 – Grant applications due by no later than 5pm.
June/ July 2015 – Site visits conducted with all finalists.
August 2015 – Selection of award recipients.
September 2015 - Grant checks are presented to Grantees at Event (TBA)
October 1, 2015 – Program funding start date
THE RAMONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CHECKLIST AND GRANT GUIDELINES
Please submit the following items in one Word document or PDF file with the name of your
organization, Ramona Community Foundation 2015 Grant Cycle and the requested
amount in the upper right-hand corner of each page:
Part A: Project Goals, Objectives, and Expected Results, (maximum of one page)
Part B: Project Narrative, (maximum of three pages)
Part C: Project Budget, (maximum of one page)
A list of the organizations (or fiscal sponsor’s) current Board of Directors,
including each member’s name, profession, and office held on the Board, if
any.
Part A: Project Goals, Objectives, and Expected Results
The statement of goals, objectives, and outcomes should be NO MORE THAN ONE PAGE.
Organization
A brief statement of your organization’s mission, history, and population served.
Goals
The goals should be an inspirational statement. They do not need to be measurable or time
limited. Your goals should specify the social condition that your organization will address
and change.
Objectives
Objectives are the specific, measurable, and time-limited statements of purpose intended
to guide your organization’s activities toward achieving the goal. Answer the questions:
“What steps will you take to achieve the goal and in what timeframe?”
Expected Results of Your Organization’s Project
Expected results are the individual, organizational or community-level changes that can
reasonably occur during the grant period. The expected outcomes may relate to a new
level of functioning of the organization, or new or expanded resources that are made
possible by the project. The grant objectives and expected outcomes should describe what
is expected to happen as a result of this grant. How will this help the community become
involved with you.
Part B Project Proposal Narrative
*This document can be up to three pages long when single spaced, 12 pt. font with one
inch margins
- Purpose of the Grant: Give brief description of the program or project for which you are
seeking funding and explain how it will contribute to improving opportunities for the
population served. What are the specific program goals, i.e., what results are you
committed to achieving and in what time frame?
- Program Description: Describe the main strengths of the program. Provide evidence of
the success of this or similar approaches on the general population in Ramona and
surrounding communities. Explain the impact of the program on the target population.
How might the program be sustainable, replicable, and/or scalable?
- Program Leadership: Who (what key individuals) will be responsible for the program’s
leadership and for achieving the program goals? Who will be responsible for implementing
the program and what specific skills and experience do they offer? Please include brief bios
of your key staff members. How will other staff, board, local community members and/or
families of your targeted population contribute to the program’s success? What are your
collaborative relationships with other nonprofit, government agencies, individuals and/or
businesses? How do they contribute to the program’s success?
- Organization: What is the priority of the proposed program within the organization
and/or within the fiscal sponsor’s organization? The fiscal sponsor organization has to have
the management capability for financial administration of the grant.
Part C: Project Budget
Please use the budget template sample shown below:
Program Budget Form - SAMPLE
Organization: Program Title:
Total Organization Budget: $50,000
Total Amount Requested: $ 5,000
Expense Categories Requested Amount from
The Ramona Community
Foundation
Total Project Budget
Salaries/benefits $2,000 $3,000
Project Expenses $2,000 $17,000
Communications/outreach $250 $3,000
Office Supplies $250 $1000
In Kind Contributions 0 0
Capital Expenses $500 $1,000
Total $5,000 $25,000
What, specifically, are you asking the Ramona Community Foundation to support?
What are the other sources of funding for the proposed program or project? What is
the status of these other sources of funding? Quantify and include in-kind
contributions. If requesting capital funds, please detail what you will purchase and how
the project will benefit from these purchases.
The range of award will be between $1,500 to $7,000.
Describe expected in-kind contributions.
NOTE: It is suggested (but not required) that the total amount of the grant does not
exceed 20% of the organization’s budget in a fiscal year period.
Audited financial and/or 990 form will be requested later if your organization is
selected for a site visit.
Submit Proposal:
Compile information as instructed in the above guidelines and email to: Kerri Favela,
Grants Manager at Kerri@sdfoundation.org. Please include the following information in
the attachment and/or the body of the email:
- Name of Organization
- Address of Organization including City, State and Zip code
- Tax ID (EIN) Number
- Organization Budget Size
- Is this Organization a 501(c) 3 Public Charity? If no, please list Name, Address and
Contact information of Fiscal Sponsor Organization
- Name of Project Contact
- Phone Number of Project Contact
- Email Address of Project Contact
- Name of Executive Director/President/CEO
- Phone Number of Executive Director/President/CEO
- Email Address of Executive Director/President/CEO
- Project Name
- Amount you are requesting
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