2012 Grants That Make a Difference (GTMD)
Request for Proposals (RFP) Overview and Guidelines
DO ALL GRANT SUBMISSIONS ONLINE AT tep.com or uesaz.com
· You can save the grant application & return to it as often as you like UNTIL you do the FINAL submission
· You can “work” on sections in a word or excel document then copy/paste into the web app. Also many options to UPLOAD documents
· DUE DATE is July 16, 2012. GTMD option will close after that date
· NO hard copies or facsimiles will be accepted.
UniSource Energy Corporation (UNS) values the partnerships between the government, the private sector and charitable organizations to provide safe and healthy communities. The focus of UNS community investment is where we provide energy services and have facilities located.
While the generous contributions of our employee volunteers and their families – the Community Action Team (CAT) - is critically important in community well-being, the company’s financial investments in community organizations are essential as well.
Because the requests for charitable funds far exceeds the available budget, the company carved out a segment of the overall philanthropy program and established Grants That Make a Difference (GTMD. The goals of the GTMD are:
· Have a defined pool of grant funds available to meet critical social service needs;
· Have an annual, open process for any nonprofit, meeting the GTMD guidelines, to present their cause to UNS for funding;
· Encourage agency collaborations - sharing of expertise and resources for stronger programs - through a weighted grant scoring process;
· Give agencies a financial incentive to leverage volunteer involvement and/or other grant funds that need matching funds;
· Increase UNS CAT awareness of the agencies and programs at work in our service territories.
GUIDELINES
Focus of Interest
· Nonprofits in good standing in UNS service territories[1] and the White Mountain community that are serving at risk persons are eligible to apply.[2] Please see list of past grant awards for insight on programs successfully funded.
· Programs that meet a community need, leverage grants or volunteers, involve a serious collaboration with another nonprofit organization, are fiscally sound and can measure success are top contenders for funding.
Overview
Grants that Make a Difference is designed to:
· Encourage nonprofits to formally collaborate with other nonprofit, educational, or government organizations in providing a program to at risk persons in any or all of the following ways:
o Provides expanded or improved services;
o Increase nonprofit business efficiencies that increase stability and resources for proven programs;
o To raise awareness, increase participation and/or advocacy of the program service.
· Provide funding for new or expanding programs that are critical to community well-being. (For new programs, there should be supporting data that shows need and sustainability prediction);
· Provide funds towards matching grants, increase volunteer involvement (i.e. match for National Service Program) and/or other program leverage opportunities;
· In addition to the grant opportunities, UNS annually sponsors free grant writing workshops across the state to assist organizations in their quest for resources and to encourage expansion of their grantseeking to regional and national funders.
UNS appreciates the partnership of nonprofits in building stronger communities and providing programs that give hope and assistance to those living in poverty, facing crisis or victimized by crime.
Eligibility
· Nonprofit must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS and in good standing with all appropriate regulatory agencies.
· Nonprofit must be located in TEP or UES service territory[3].
· Program request must directly impact at-risk people[4] residing in service territory.
· Nonprofit requesting funds must be incorporated for at least three years, with solid audited financial history and future funding stability. (In collaborations, there may be an organization that has not been a 501(c)(3) for 3 years, so the agency submitting the grant must have the 3 year incorporation status).
· Nonprofit’s mission should be directly related to program in grant request.
· Capital fund drives, fundraisers, sponsorships and endowment requests will not be considered.
· Governments and schools are not eligible HOWEVER their PTO or foundations are.
· Faith-based organizations with a religious requirement for program eligibility are not eligible. Social service programs provided by a church or faith-based organization are eligible.
Funding Available for 2012 Grant Round - $145,000
· Coconino & Navajo Counties: $10,000 total available. Grant request range: Minimum $1,000. Maximum $5,000.
· Mohave County: $20,000 total available. Grant request range: Minimum $1,000, Maximum $5,000.
· Pima County and White Mountain Community[5]: $100,000 total available. Grant request range: Minimum $2,500. Maximum $10,000.
· Santa Cruz County: $5,000 total available. Grant request range: Minimum $1,000. Maximum $2,500.
· Yavapai County: $10,000 total available. Grant request range: Minimum $1,000. Maximum $5,000.
Process and Requirements of Grant Request
· Go to uesaz.com or tep.com, go to community & follow directions.
Review Process
· All GTMD applications are screened at corporate headquarters for eligibility before being sent out to regional committees for review;
· Each regional committee will score the grant applications and select;
· UNS reserves the right to fund all, none, or part of any grant application, based on merit. UNS decisions are final.
· Funding will be one-time, multiple year requests will not be considered;
· Successful grant applicants will be notified by phone or mail and invited to a grant presentation event. Check uesaz.com and tep.com starting September, 2011.
· Unsuccessful grant applicants will be notified by mail.
· TEP GTMD Committee will host a post grant feedback session in Tucson in November 2011. Date and location will be included in decline letter. This is an opportunity for agencies to gauge strengths and opportunities for future grant requests.
· Grant applications that include false information may disqualify the agency from future funding from UNS.
Timeline 2012
April 12th Grant application and guidelines available online at www.tep.com or www.uesaz.com.
July 16th DEADLINE: GTMD option will be closed.
July - September Committees review grants and present donation checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is GTMD different from other funding from UNS?
UNS philanthropy is an integrated strategy to support employee volunteerism, community wide initiatives driven by senior management and GTMD. GTMD allows the company to review all potential partnerships for community investment, rather than funding on a first-come or previous relationship basis.
Other typical ways that UNS funds community organizations are:
· Supporting UNS Community Action Team (CAT) employee volunteerism on CAT projects or in leadership positions (i.e. board of directors or coaching a youth sports team). These grant requests MUST be supported by the UNS employee and are often initiated by the employee.
· Community-wide initiative/event, i.e., economic development, community wellbeing campaigns with senior management leadership involvement.
· Corporate memberships are driven by business needs and employee involvement.
· Requests for marketing and advertising are referred to appropriate UNS department for review. See websites for programs offered.
What will successful GTMD proposals include?
What, for whom, how, why, results. Describe your program with a strong case statement that explains the existing program or new program, why the program makes a measurable difference helping at-risk people, and specifies any leveraged resources (i.e., volunteer involvement or matching funds) that are enabled by the grant funds. There is a worksheet, courtesy of Grants USA and the Alliance for Nonprofits, on the website for assistance in getting your grant started.
What are the chances we will get funded?
In 2011 UNS received nearly 200 grant applications totaling 1.2 million dollars – and there was $145,000 to allocate. So it is a very competitive process, with less than a third of applicants making it to second round review. A dozen or so grant proposals were eliminated immediately because of incomplete application, location or topic being outside of guidelines.
How do we know if our grant is strong?
The GTMD score sheet is available at the website, so please review your grant packet to assure that your submission answers all of the questions the committee will be using to score. The final decision is heavily weighted by score.
How do I know if my organization is eligible to apply for GTMD?
Reviewing the guidelines and verifying the program service and/or persons to be served are in a UNS service territory. Check the utility bill at the program location – is UNS your service provider? All past recipients and the programs funded are posted on the websites; this is a great glimpse of the breadth and diversity of programs that UNS GTMD has funded.
Can I meet with someone from UNS to talk about our GTMD idea?
Due to the large volume of grant applications, and to ensure a level playing field, UNS employees do not offer advice or assistance to organizations applying for GTMD. Open meetings are hosted by UNS Community Relations across the state at the beginning of the grant cycle to allow questions and specific assistance. Grant guidelines and applications will be available only online (no mailings or phone requests).
THANK YOU
Grants That Make a Difference Guidelines 2012 1
tep.com or uesaz.com
[1] If unsure about address in service territory, please check map http://www.uns.com/about/serviceterritory.php.
[2] At risk persons examples: homeless, domestic violence, poverty, child abuse prevention/treatment.
[3]
[4]
[5] Location of Tucson Electric Power (TEP) Springerville Generating Station (SGS)