New Economies Fund
The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities Program
Grant Program Description and Application
Creating New Economies Fund Program Goals:
§ Build the capacity of Resourceful Communities partners to plan and implement community-based projects that advance the triple bottom line – environmental stewardship, sustainable economic development and social justice.
§ Strengthen and expand work already underway in Resourceful Communities partner organizations.
§ Support Resourceful Communities partners’ pilot projects that use innovative approaches.
§ Assist Resourceful Communities partners in leveraging other funds for project initiatives.
§ Demonstrate to decision-makers and public/ private funders that triple bottom line investments, combined with training and organizational assistance, can build sustainable rural communities.
Creating New Economies Fund Grant Criteria:
Proposals receiving the highest consideration will focus on the triple bottom line – stewardship of natural resources, sustainable community economic development and social justice – and will:
§ Be planned and implemented by a Resourceful Communities partner organization that has participated in our network workshops and other events.
§ Address the triple bottom line – economic development, social justice and environmental stewardship.
§ Build on local assets (a community’s natural, historical, cultural and human resources) to create and implement solutions to social justice, economic and environmental challenges.
§ Inform constituents and the broader community about the project.
§ Involve high representation and participation in planning and implementation efforts by traditionally underserved communities, such as low wealth individuals and people/ communities of color.
§ Focus on underserved communities that are affected by environmental challenges (such as flooding, poor drainage, wetlands, toxins, etc).
§ Support projects of, or in collaboration with, existing Resourceful Communities partners.
§ Include evaluation of the project, including accomplishments, impacts and lessons learned.
The following cannot be funded:
* Deficit financing * Initiatives not associated with a partner organization or community
* For-profit businesses * Projects that do not integrate “triple bottom line” components
* Individuals
Grants cannot exceed $15,000. There is no minimum amount that must be requested for a Creating New Economies Fund application to be considered.
Applications: Please limit your application to six pages plus the cover sheet and budget. Use at least 11 point font. Use the form provided. ** Examples offered in this document and this page can be deleted in your final application. ** Submit via email to by 11:59 p.m., February 15, 2016.
If you have questions or need assistance completing your application, please contact Resourceful Communities staff and associates to discuss your project / program ideas. Call Kathleen Marks at (919) 951 0111, and she will connect you with a team member.
The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities Program
Creating New Economies Fund Program 2016 Grant Application
Contact Information
Organization: ______
Contact Person and Title: ______
Address: ______
Phone: ______Fax: ______
Website: ______Email: ______
Project Administrator: ______Email: ______
Who prepared application: ______Email: ______
Organizational Information
Type of organization: __ 501(c)(3) __ Government Agency __ Other (Please explain.)
Federal ID Number of applicant organization (or sponsor organization): ______
[Please include a copy of your organization’s/ fiscal agent’s IRS tax exempt determination.]
If an organization other than applicant will serve as fiscal agent, please provide contact information along with IRS letter of determination. Fiscal agent address/ contact information:
Organization: Contact Person:
Address:
Phone: Email:
Year organization was founded: ______
Total organizational budget for current fiscal year: ______
Total staff: ______Total volunteers: ______
Project Information
Amount Requested: ______
Project Name/ Brief Description:
______
______
Project location, including county: ______
Project start date ______completion date ______
How do you or others from your organization participate in our network? This might include attendance at convenings, workshops, peer learning visits, etc. or participation in technical assistance. Participation in Resourceful Communities’ partner network is considered during review of Creating New Economies Fund applications.
______
______
Overview and brief project description:
1. Provide a *brief* overview of your organization, including the focus/ goal of your work, programs and services you provide, a description of who benefits from your work, and the geographic area you serve.
2. Please provide a brief overview of your proposed project, including the issue/ problem your project will address.
3. Briefly state your organization’s mission. How does this project help your organization achieve its mission?
4. If this is a continuation of a previously funded project, how will this grant deepen the project impact?
5. Please identify at least two short-term goals that can be accomplished in one year or less and one long-term goal you plan to achieve. Explain what changes you hope to see when your project is successfully completed. Note: A project goal is a broad statement of what you want to see happen because of your project. Examples include: increase environmental knowledge for local youth (short-term), increase revenue for local farmers (short-term), improve health for low-income families (long-term).
Short-term goal:
Short-term goal:
Long-term goal:
6. Please list expected results of your project. (What will change because of your project? Who will benefit? How many will benefit? By when?) Please explain how you will measure each result. (How will you collect the information?) See example below. Reminder: Your project must increase access to locally grown food and support local producers and/ or increase access to healthy food and/ or and increase opportunities to be active. Please be sure to include related results.
Example:
Expected Results: 5 students will gain new skills by August 2014.
Key Measures: Interns will do presentations about their individual work during the trailbuilding and environmental education sessions, presented at the conclusion of the program in an open community meeting. Presentations will demonstrate increased proficiency in skills learned.
7. Please provide a basic work plan that describes what you will do to carry out your project. Include major activities, supporting steps and the month/ year when the work will be performed. If you have already completed initial project activities, please briefly include. See examples below.
Examples:
Activity: Select 5 interns for summer trail project.
Supporting Steps with timeframe:
· Develop plan for internship program, including timeline and activities. December 2015
· Present project information and internship application to local organizations (high schools, Boys and Girls Club, Scouts). April 2016
· Receive and review internship applications. Late April 2016
· Interview and select candidates. May 2016
Activity: Recruit vendors for farmers market.
Supporting Steps with timeframe:
· Develop policies and procedures for participation in market. April 2016
· Identify farmers to participate in market. April 2016
· Perform outreach to local producers. April 2016
· Confirm market vendors. May 2016
8. How will this project specifically address economic, social justice and environmental issues in your community to promote the triple bottom line? Please include a description of each component.
Note: Resourceful Communities’ “triple bottom line” incorporates sustainable economic development, social justice and environmental stewardship. Results of “triple bottom line” efforts might include but are not limited to:
· Economic: Economic development can be either direct (e.g., create jobs, generate additional income, create a business) or indirect (e.g., develop new job skills, reduce poverty, create new economic opportunities through agriculture, tourism or similar project).
· Social Justice: meaningfully engage people of color or low wealth; educational improvement; overcome barriers to participation; address racism and injustices.
· Environmental: protect land/water resources; reduce pesticide usage; improve water quality; plant trees; provide environmental education; energy efficiency improvements.
Economic:
Social Justice:
Environmental:
9. How have the people who benefit from your project been involved in decision-making and implementation of this project, and how will they continue to engage? Who is involved, how often and in what ways? Note: Please describe how you have engaged and will continue to engage people affected by your project. Have they attended meetings about the project? Is there a way for stakeholders (people affected by your project) to share suggestions or feedback? If community members support your goals, is there a way for them to get involved or stay informed? How do you respond to feedback about your project?
10. Describe any collaboration or partnerships your organization has already or will undertake to complete the proposed project. Please note if these are new or existing partnerships.
11. If you require funding greater than this CNEF request to complete your project, please explain your plan to secure additional funds and list any funding already secured for this project. Please include sources (for example, foundations, private donors, in-kind support, fundraising events) and amounts for additional funding.
12. Please attach your project budget and budget narrative to this application and include:
· How much money is being requested from the Creating New Economies Fund and how it will be spent?
· If requested funds will pay for staff, please state the position, what that person will do, and the rate of pay/ duration of time on project. For example, Trainer will develop and deliver curriculum at $15/hour for 15 hours/ week for 6 weeks for a total of $1,350.
· What additional funds will be used and what are the sources of these funds? (Please note if other funds are secured, awaiting decision or potential / to be submitted.)
· In-kind contributions, volunteer hours, services, donated equipment, etc.
Sample budget and budget narrative format attached.
2016 Creating New Economies Fund