Blackstone Veterans Hiring Initiative. Request for Proposal for Veterans Grants Program

Transcription

1 Blackstone Veterans Hiring Initiative Request for Proposal for Veterans Grants Program November 2013

2 Table of Contents I. Purpose... 2 II. Background... 4 III. Grant Areas... 6 IV. Proposal Guidelines... 8 V. Information for Applications

3 I. Purpose 2

4 Purpose Dear Colleague: Over the past year, Blackstone has been proud to introduce a number of projects as part of our Veterans Hiring Initiative. In April of this past year, Blackstone committed to hiring 50,000 veterans across its portfolio companies in support of the White House s Joining Forces initiative. In September, we hosted our inaugural Veterans Hiring Summit, and in October launched the Blackstone Military Internship Program. While unemployment is too often an impediment to success for veterans returning to civilian life, statistics show that once employed veterans have higher than average median earnings and personal incomes, are more likely to work in management positions and professional occupations, less likely to be uninsured and less likely to live below the poverty line. With these facts in mind, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation is committed to directing its resources to help veterans transition back to civilian life and make use of the skills that they acquired during their service. To achieve this goal, we are pleased to announce the Veterans Grant Program, through which we are directing grants to organizations that show unique and impactful approaches to support veterans in either securing jobs or starting their own businesses. Through these grants we hope to have a significant impact on organizations across the country and honor our responsibility to those who have served our nation. This Request for Proposal (RFP) is intended to help identify organizations that focus on providing business assistance and entrepreneurial skills for veterans. We aim to help organizations pilot, expand, and replicate activities and programs designed to ensure that our economy and the wider business world can benefit from veterans drive, discipline, and aptitudes. Please take a moment to read the following pages for a more complete description of the Veterans Grant Program of our Veterans Initiative and send us your proposal. Thank you for helping us in this endeavor. Sincerely, Amy Stursberg Executive Director, Blackstone Charitable Foundation 3

5 II. Background 4

6 Background A. ABOUT THE BLACKSTONE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION The Blackstone Charitable Foundation was founded at the time of The Blackstone Group s Initial Public Offering in 2007 with substantial commitments from the Firm s employees. Influenced by the enterprising heritage of the firm and its founders, The Blackstone Charitable Foundation is directing its resources and applying the intellectual capital of the firm to foster entrepreneurship. Through its investment expertise across several asset classes and geographies, Blackstone has a unique perspective on the global economy and a heightened understanding of how entrepreneurial activity is often the crucial catalyst in the growth of successful businesses, industries and communities. "Whether their mission is ensuring national security as soldiers or delivering the highest quality of work as professionals, the men and women who make the decision to serve our country are by necessity of the highest caliber and character. Finding top talent is always an immensely difficult problem, and we count ourselves as incredibly fortunate to be in a position to build professional relationships with so many of our nation s finest." Steve Schwarzman Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder In 2010, the Foundation made a 5-year, $50 million commitment to projects that foster entrepreneurship as a vehicle for job creation, innovation, and economic growth. The Entrepreneurship Initiative develops and supports innovative projects with the greatest potential to create high-growth business and industries that are most known to spark economic growth. The success of this initiative across program models has proven the importance of strong partnerships with organizations committed to the philanthropic initiatives that Blackstone supports. To date, the Foundation has fostered innovative initiatives across eight regions and awarded grants to 12 organizations in nine states. We are proud to announce this most recent series of targeted grants to provide the resources necessary for innovative organizations to pilot, expand, or replicate programs that support veterans and help them market and develop their skills to excel as they transition to civilian life. 5

7 III. Grant Areas 6

8 Grant Areas The Blackstone Veterans Grants Program targets two program areas: A. PROMOTING JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT We are looking to have an even greater impact by providing grants to select organizations that help foster veterans jobs skills and thereby advance their career prospects. Ideal proposals for this program area will meet the following criteria: 1. Serves veterans and active servicemen and women transitioning to civilian life 2. Emphasizes the development of skills to better position veterans to be more competitive when seeking employment B. ADVANCING VETERAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT We also hope to provide grants to organizations that provide veterans entrepreneurial skills to help develop their businesses or ventures. These resources could include access to business contacts and networks, and mentorship. Ideal proposals for this program area will meet the following criteria: 1. Provides veterans focused on entrepreneurship with the targeted resources they need to succeed and grow: mentorship, advice, and practical business training C. WHAT WE DON T FUND Unfortunately, although we consider a variety of approaches to our work with veterans, there are a number that we do not fund: 7

9 1. The Foundation will only award grants to 501(c)(3) institutions, not to individuals or for-profit organizations 2. The Foundation does not entertain requests to become a sponsor 3. The Foundation does not fund organizations that focus on providing physical or psychiatric therapy. 4. The Foundation does not provide grants for scholarships 5. The Foundation does not provide direct capital to entrepreneurs or their ventures 6. The Foundation does not fund indirect costs 8

10 IV. Proposal Guidelines 9

11 Proposal Guidelines While there is no specific format or template for the proposals, each proposal should include the following elements along with the coversheet available at the end of this document. Primary Proposal Sections: An overview of the organization A program description and explanation of how the program relates to one of the two program areas An explanation of how your proposal will allow your organization to replicate, pilot, or expand a program to assist veterans to find jobs and/or start businesses The amount requested from the Foundation, and a clear description of what the grant will be used for Proposed metrics and deliverables Risks and contingencies Expected outcomes at the conclusion of the one year grant A detailed sustainability plan to ensure that the program can continue to support veterans beyond the duration of the grant period Detailed program budget Timeline for implementation Contact information The Blackstone Veterans Grants Program awards grants to unique organizations that can further the goals of the Veterans Hiring Initiative and make the most of the grant funding. The Foundation seeks applications from organizations that help veterans connect with employment opportunities, develop job skills, or start new businesses. Requested funding should benefit veterans directly, and can fund a new project s programming or provide support for existing veterans initiatives. The Foundation prefers that we have a strong on-the-ground partner to manage and oversee any potential project. The organization can demonstrate that they would be able to effectively manage and support the program over the one year pilot period by showing, for example, that they have a) successful existing programming, b) ample financial resources, and c) an established Board of Directors. 10

12 V. Information for Applicants 11

13 Information for All Applicants GENERAL INFORMATION & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1. Non-Profit Status: The Foundation will only consider working with organizations that are registered 501(c)(3) organizations or are affiliated with non-profit academic institutions. 2. Financials: Organizations should provide us with an audited financial statement for the last fiscal year. If an audited financial statement is not available, the organization should be able to demonstrate financial stability. 3. Grant Duration: One year 4. Grant Amount: $10,000 to $50, Response Instructions: Please an electronic copy of your proposal to We will only be accepting electronic copies. Proposals must be sent in a single PDF file and may not be password-protected. Applicants must limit their proposals to a maximum of 10 pages. The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, February 14, 2014 at 5pm EDT/ 2pm PDT. 6. Questions: Please submit all questions to foundation@blackstone.com. All relevant questions and their answers will be posted on the website by the close of business on Friday, January 24, Please do not contact the Foundation or Blackstone directly with questions. 12

14 7. Timetable: The evaluation and selection process will adhere to the following schedule: Event Date RFP Launched Monday, November 11, 2013 Deadline to Submit Questions to Answers to Questions Posted on Foundation Website Monday, January 6, 2014 Tuesday, January 21, 2014 Deadline to Submit Proposal Friday, February 14, 2014 Grants Awarded March-April

15 BLACKSTONE VETERANS GRANTS PROGRAM APPLICATION COVER SHEET LEGAL NAME OF ENTITY: TAX ID: HEADQUARTERS: LOCATION OF PROGRAM: PRIM. CONTACT NAME: PRIM. CONTACT PRIM. CONTACT PHONE #: MAILING ADDRESS: WEBSITE ADDRESS: # OF EMPLOYEES: YEAR OF ORG. ESTABLISHMENT: EXACT FUNDING SOUGHT ($): ANNUAL ORG. BUDGET ($): PREVIOUS BX GRANTEE? (Y/N) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND MISSION (2-3 SENTENCES): BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL (2-3 SENTENCES): TO BE COMPLETED BY BLACKSTONE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION PROPOSAL CODE: DATE RECEIVED: ENTERED BY: PLEASE DO NOT PASSWORD-PROTECTED PROPOSALS. PLEASE SEND PROPOSALS IN A SINGLE PDF FILE. 14