Request for Letters of Interest To Identify Prospective FoodCorps Host Site Partners in the Upper Midwest

Transcription

1 Request for Letters of Interest To Identify Prospective FoodCorps Host Site Partners in the Upper Midwest Deadline: Letter of Interest due to FoodCorps by 5:00pm PT on Friday, October 31st, See submission instructions in the Submission Guidelines section of this document for more information. Overview: FoodCorps seeks to expand our program to the Upper Midwest over the next several years. In order to plan for this expansion, FoodCorps invites preliminary Letters of Interest (LOIs) from high-capacity, high-impact nonprofit organizations, academic institutions and government agencies from the Upper Midwest states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota interested in serving as the FoodCorps host site for their state. If selected for this role (following a full-length application process and pending funding), the host site will be responsible for leading the FoodCorps program in their state and for building a network of community-level service sites that will oversee FoodCorps AmeriCorps teams. The purpose of this process is to identify organizations for potential partnership to begin in either the , , or school years. Organizations identified from this process will be asked to submit full proposals prior to any partnership decisions being made, and it is possible that FoodCorps will choose not to request any full proposals for the school year, or beyond. The states above have been identified by FoodCorps as priorities for expansion. However, FoodCorps will likely not seek to expand to all of these states in the timeframe listed above, and will be pursuing expansion in other regions concurrently. FoodCorps host sites are the state-level partners responsible for the administration of the FoodCorps program. With support from FoodCorps, host sites select and oversee their state s network of community-level partners (service sites), the organizations at which service teams are stationed, and from which service members serve 1-3 schools at depth, implementing nationally consistent, locally adapted strategies for institutionalizing healthy school food environments. Host sites may act as service sites, in addition to their responsibilities as a host site. Nonprofit organizations, government agencies, schools or school districts may (also) act as service sites. Additionally, all host sites directly co-supervise their state s FoodCorps fellow a full-time team leader responsible for supporting and guiding the cohort of service members in their state. Host sites are generally entities with a state or regional focus. Strong candidates for host sites have the following organizational qualities: A strong and demonstrated commitment to improving child health through the approaches of farm to school and school garden programming, particularly in limited-resource communities An interest in developing the next generation of leadership in food systems, public health, education, the environment, and public service including capacity to host statewide trainings for service members and service sites Strong relationships with and proven investment in a network of community based organizations with school relationships and shovel-ready farm to school and school garden projects that seek to act as service sites A reputation for teamwork and a desire to collaborate both within the state and at the national level

2 A history managing, complying with and reporting on federal grants and conducting basic data collection A willingness to work with FoodCorps to raise funding to support the expansion of FoodCorps programming in their state, both from AmeriCorps and from private donors A strong desire to join the FoodCorps national network and an enthusiasm for learning from peers and aligning local programming to meet national goals If you are an organization that focuses your work in one community, or if you and your partners lack the capacity to manage a minimum of eight service members in the state and you don't intend to grow, we encourage you to partner with a group that works at that scale and have that entity submit an LOI as the host site. Small nonprofits, individual schools or school districts or small community-based organizations are not suitable candidates for host sites, but are encouraged to pursue a service site role or school role instead (selection for which will be the responsibility of the host site). Likewise, if you primarily serve communities with high-income beneficiaries or schools where fewer than 50% of children receive free or reduced-price school meals, FoodCorps is not currently the right fit for your organization. To learn more about host sites, please visit: FoodCorps will review letters submitted through this LOI process, and, if it so chooses, select one or more organizations to submit full proposals for FoodCorps placements in the state in which the organization operates. Please be aware that participation in this LOI process does not in any way guarantee the initiation of FoodCorps programming in partnership with your organization or in your state. FoodCorps may or may not select applicants to submit full proposals in any or all of the states solicited in this LOI process, and the solicitation of a full proposal similarly does not guarantee placement of service members in that state or with that organization. Organizations that intend to submit are strongly encouraged to participate in the Host Site LOI Open Call, scheduled for Monday, October 6 th, 2014 at 1:00pm PT. A recording of the call will be available on request. Call in number: , passcode: Included in this request for LOIs you will find information explaining: FoodCorps and AmeriCorps Overview of Roles o About AmeriCorps o About FoodCorps o What Does FoodCorps Cost? Letter of Interest Guidelines o LOI Guidelines o Review Criteria o Submission Guidelines

3 FoodCorps and AmeriCorps Overview of Roles About AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps is a federal program housed within the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) that engages people of all ages and backgrounds in strengthening America s communities through service. Each year, over 75,000 AmeriCorps members provide intensive, direct service to address our nation s educational, health, environmental, public safety and human services needs. AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact in their community while gaining job experience, training and skills for a lifetime of public service. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit: FoodCorps is a grantee of AmeriCorps, receiving approximately 20% of our current funding from this federal partner and its state-based commissions. All FoodCorps service members are AmeriCorps members, and growth of the FoodCorps program is dependent on an increase in the number of our AmeriCorps service member position awards. FoodCorps fellows (the team leaders we place in each state) are not AmeriCorps members, but are staff of FoodCorps. About FoodCorps: FoodCorps is a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders who connect kids to real food and help them grow up healthy. FoodCorps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with offices in New York City and Portland, Oregon. FoodCorps is an independent organization that is proud to be part of the AmeriCorps service network. Working in concert with state and local partners, we recruit, train and place emerging leaders into limited-resource schools for a year of service implementing our three-ingredient recipe for healthy kids and healthy school environments. Our service members: Teach hands-on lessons about food and nutrition (Knowledge) Build and tend school gardens and teach cooking lessons so kids can taste the fresh food they ve grown (Engagement) Change what s on children s lunch trays, giving them healthy food from local farms (Access) FoodCorps envisions a future in which all our nation s children know what healthy food is, care where it comes from, and have access to it every day. When our work is done, future generations will grow up enveloped in a healthy school food environment and will go on to lead healthier, more productive, and longer lives. FoodCorps currently supports a nationwide cohort of 182 AmeriCorps members, serving across 17 states and over 140 communities. You can learn more about FoodCorps and our history at FOODCORPS HOST AND SERVICE SITES: FoodCorps recognizes that local expertise and relationships are essential to creating healthier school food environments. Instead of a cookie-cutter approach to improving school food, FoodCorps teams up with partner organizations that know their communities best to direct our service members in the field, using locally adapted but nationally consistent strategies. FoodCorps host sites guide and administer the FoodCorps program in their respective states. Host sites are high-capacity statewide or regional organizations, such as universities, cooperative extension networks, state agencies, and established nonprofits. Host sites host and work closely with their state s FoodCorps fellow, a graduate of our service program responsible for supporting and guiding the service members in their state. Host sites may also act as service sites, hosting service members at their offices and overseeing their direct service in the community. Host sites agree to uphold the following responsibilities, among others: Appoint one staff person as the host site supervisor, and dedicate an appropriate portion of their time in-kind

4 Develop and conduct a formal process for selecting service sites within the host site state for the upcoming term of service and develop a network of these service sites within the host site state where service members will perform their term of service Participate in the recruitment, selection, and enrollment of service members in the host site state Ensure service members receive ongoing direct service opportunities and support from service site supervisors in the form of weekly check-ins Ensure the FoodCorps fellow is given adequate opportunities to support the administration of the program and ample supervision to complete their responsibilities Provide and fund an orientation and additional training opportunities to service members and the FoodCorps fellow, and ensure service members are properly oriented to service sites, where applicable Provide office space, phone, and internet access and direct supervision to a FoodCorps fellow and any service members reporting directly to the host site Fund and conduct an annual site visit to each service site in the state Pay a $5,000 annual program service fee for the FoodCorps fellow placed at their site and state and the capacity to pay or facilitate payment of a $5,000 annual program service fee by each service site for each service member placement in their state Facilitate public recognition of the benefits FoodCorps and AmeriCorps brings to the host site state Service sites are the local organizations to which FoodCorps service members report each day. Service sites may be schools, school districts, cooperative extension offices, local nonprofits, or other community based organizations that have a designated not-for-profit status. Service sites are responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with one or more K-12 schools the places where FoodCorps service members focus their time and deliver most of their direct service. In our experience, it has proven most effective for each service member to serve one to three schools deeply, and for service sites to approach their engagement with schools as being a multi-year but not permanent partnership. This allows the service member to maximize impact on the unique needs of those children and schools, without spreading themselves too thin, and ensures that progress made will be sustained long-term. We have also identified benefits from placing service members in pairs or in larger cohorts for a team approach to service in their communities. In addition, host sites ensure that service sites abide by the following guidelines: Appoint one staff member as the service site supervisor, responsible for overseeing FoodCorps service members day-to-day activities and participating in the required summer training and other remote trainings as necessary Participate in the recruitment and selection of FoodCorps service members Provide a safe and accessible workspace, including access to a desk, phone, computer and internet, and any other equipment necessary Provide transportation or travel reimbursement for service activities (but not commuting) Conduct weekly check-ins with service members Provide service members with adequate direct, school-based service opportunities teaching kids about food and nutrition, building and tending school gardens, and helping source and promote local food for school cafeterias Facilitate and maintain relationships with all active schools affiliated with the service site Ensure proper and timely completion and submission of all evaluation and reporting requirements Consider participation in nationwide full or pilot evaluation measures to demonstrate program efficacy and contribute to the farm to school evidence base Approve service member timesheets on a weekly basis Provide or assist service members in obtaining any funds necessary to implement projects related to their service (e.g., constructing school gardens, printing curriculum materials, transportation for field trips, etc.) FoodCorps does not provide funding for program implementation At the national level, the strategy, direction, and administration of FoodCorps is directed by our board of directors and a staff of 26, located at offices in New York and Oregon, with several team members working

5 remotely. FoodCorps receives funding from AmeriCorps (approximately 20% of our current budget), from the program service fees paid by our partners (approximately 10% of our current budget), and from a coalition of national and local funders who make our work possible. Specifically, FoodCorps will: Manage payment of service member stipends and facilitate enrollment in the MyAmeriCorps portal, through which the Segal Education Awards are administered Provide, or make available, healthcare insurance to any service member not otherwise covered Provide an employee assistance program and workers compensation coverage Facilitate childcare reimbursement to qualified service members Provide service members with FoodCorps uniforms, business cards, and addresses Manage national recruitment, application, and enrollment of service members, in collaboration with host and service sites Organize and finance a mandatory host site training each spring Organize and finance two in-person meetings of all service members and fellows, including a preservice Orientation Conduct ongoing training for service members, fellows, service sites, and host sites Provide programmatic support to service members, fellows, service sites, and host sites throughout the term Provide reporting tools and evaluation programs to assess the impact of FoodCorps programs nationwide Convene a nationwide network of child health, farm to school, and school garden practitioners for the purpose of sharing best practices and advancing our common goals FoodCorps cultivates long-term relationships with our host sites. Renewal of host site relationships and the host site structure in general are at the sole discretion of FoodCorps, and the effectiveness of the partnership will be reviewed on an annual basis. FOODCORPS SERVICE MEMBERS: Service sites supervise one or more FoodCorps service members. FoodCorps service members are emerging leaders in the fields of food, farming, education and health. Recruited both locally and nationally, the majority of our current service members are recent college graduates with relevant academic training (nutrition, food systems, environmental studies), a record of leadership (in campus organizations or volunteer activities), and a commitment to the food movement and public service. Service sites plan and direct the specific activities and goals of their FoodCorps service members. In all cases, FoodCorps service activities must result in a specific, identifiable service or improvement that: a) otherwise would not be provided with existing staff, funds, or volunteers, and b) does not duplicate the routine functions of workers or displace paid employees. This is an AmeriCorps regulation and it is strictly enforced. FoodCorps service is built upon the following three pillars, which together foster the development of healthy school food environments: 1) Knowledge: teaching hands-on lessons about food and nutrition Service members teach kids about healthy food and where it comes from. Our service members work alongside teachers to increase the quantity of nutrition education children receive, while dramatically improving its quality through an emphasis on hands-on learning. 2) Engagement: building and tending school gardens and teaching cooking lessons so kids can taste the fresh food they ve grown School gardens are powerful gateways for getting kids to try new foods. They also bring parents and community members together and help them become advocates for healthier school lunch. FoodCorps builds and tends school gardens and teaches cooking lessons. Our service members give kids the opportunity to cook and taste the fresh food they ve grown.

6 3) Access: change what s on children s lunch trays, giving them healthy food from local farms Children who know the farmer who grew their broccoli are more likely to eat it. Studies show that children participating in farm to school programs consume one more serving of fruits and vegetables per day. FoodCorps fills lunch trays with real food from the farm. Our service members forge relationships between school food service directors and local farmers who can supply healthy and sustainable ingredients at scale. While not every FoodCorps service member spends equal time addressing each of the above activities, ALL service member activities must fall into one of these categories and we expect host and services sites to guide every service member in spending at least some time in all three areas. True healthy school food environments offer each child reliable opportunities to gain knowledge of, engagement with and access to healthy food in school so our ultimate goal (often taking shape over several years) is to foster school communities in which all three pillars are in place. Goals and progress in these areas will be set and tracked by service site supervisors, service members, and school stakeholder in each school where FoodCorps serves using a school assessment tool that plans for and measures long-term progress toward the implementation and sustainability of a healthy school food environment in that school. FoodCorps service members pursue every aspect of their service through a lens of community and family engagement and public service: building stakeholder support by engaging local groups such as parents, businesses, master gardeners, seniors, etc. Service members build community as much as they build gardens, ensuring lasting vitality to the programs they start and implement. FoodCorps service members commit to serving full-time, hours per week, totaling a minimum of 1700 hours over an 11-month service term from September 1 to July 31. Approximately 80% of the service member s time must be spent in direct service activities guided by their service site. Approximately 20% of the service member s time may be spent on training (statewide, regional, or national) and fundraising (to support the needs of their direct service activities only). Service members are compensated with a stipend paid by FoodCorps (currently $17,500), receive health insurance and childcare support when necessary, and at the end of their term earn a $5,650 federal education award for use with student loans or future education. In accordance with AmeriCorps requirements, service members are not allowed to engage in certain activities while performing their service hours or while representing FoodCorps or AmeriCorps. These activities include but are not limited to: Political activities such as participating in efforts to influence legislation; engaging in partisan political activities and voter registration drives Union activities such as organizing or participating in protests, petitions, boycotts or strikes; assisting, promoting or deterring union organizing Religious activities such as engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship service, or engaging in any form of religious proselytizing Providing a direct benefit to a for-profit business, a labor union, a partisan political organization, an organization engaged in religious activities or a nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code For more information about AmeriCorps prohibited activities please visit: FOODCORPS FELLOWS: FoodCorps fellows are employees of FoodCorps and are not AmeriCorps service members. One fellow is stationed at each FoodCorps host site. FoodCorps fellows are FoodCorps statewide team leaders, who focus their service on guiding and supporting their state s cohort of service members, assisting FoodCorps in program implementation within their state and region, and helping to build statewide capacity for FoodCorps programming under the direction of their host site and FoodCorps. Fellows are service member alumni, having previously dedicated one to two years to FoodCorps service.

7 Host sites must commit to co-supervising, alongside their FoodCorps Regional Program Manager, and providing a workspace for their FoodCorps fellow, and can expect that the fellow s time will include activities like: Supporting the development of community and school relationships to benefit service members at new and existing service sites Assisting with the development and implementation of training programs and professional development opportunities for FoodCorps service members Providing training and technical assistance to service members in the arenas of food and nutrition education, school gardens, the sourcing and promotion of local food, volunteer recruitment and public service Visiting service sites (for support, not compliance) Assisting with the compilation of community and state-wide data as it relates to determining need and evaluating impact, including following up on reporting logs Connecting FoodCorps service members with opportunities for partnerships, under the guidance of host and service sites Helping identify local stakeholders who could act as mentors for service members Providing general support to service members as they complete their terms of service Supporting and facilitating local fundraising efforts Some of the fellow s time will also be spent supporting FoodCorps mission generally and may include activities like: Acting as a public spokesperson on behalf of FoodCorps Participating in recruitment and selection of FoodCorps service members Presenting to the public on school gardening, farm to school, and FoodCorps topics Assisting the host site with school garden, farm to school, and FoodCorps related projects Supporting and facilitating national fundraising efforts FoodCorps provides and administers the following benefits and support to its Fellows: Annual salary and end of service monetary award Computer for use during term Health insurance, workers compensation coverage, and an employee assistance program Travel and meal reimbursement for eligible FoodCorps-related activities Extensive training and professional development Career mentorship What Does FoodCorps Cost? It s important to understand that hosting FoodCorps service members is an investment there are both cash and in-kind costs to host and service sites. Hosting FoodCorps service members can cost your organization a little or a lot, depending on the outcomes you expect them to achieve through programming and activities you set up for them. FoodCorps provides and administers: Current service member stipend of up to $17,500, paid bi-weekly, with all necessary taxes withheld and reporting to and payment of local, state and national taxes and tax forms Current fellow salary of up to $25,000, paid bi-weekly, with all necessary taxes withheld and reporting to and payment of local, state and national taxes and tax forms A computer for the FoodCorps fellow Health insurance, workers compensation insurance and an employee assistance program for service members and fellows Two in-person corps trainings (travel, food, and lodging paid for), plus host site and fellow trainings Ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development

8 Staff support at the state (FoodCorps fellow) and national levels Connection to a national network of farm to school, school garden, and child health practitioners Host Sites provide: In-kind dedication of a portion of at least one employee s time as the host site supervisor (full or part time, depending on program structure planned for your state) Cash program service fee ($5,000) and in-kind support (internet access, office supplies, postage, etc) of the FoodCorps fellow In-person state orientation for all service members, including travel and lodging Ongoing training and professional development opportunities for service members Facilitation of in-person summer training of new and returning service sites (funded by FoodCorps) Service Sites provide: In-kind dedication of a portion of at least one employee s time as the service site supervisor, including participation in the required summer training and other remote trainings as needed $5,000 cash program service fee for each service member position (may be paid by or shared with host site, or participating schools) Reliable access to a computer and internet (essential!), phone, and safe and accessible workspace for service member Transportation or travel costs for necessary service activities (not for commuting) for service member Materials necessary for successful service activities (e.g., food and equipment for taste tests or cooking classes, building materials for garden beds) these implementation expenses can be significant, but having support for them is essential if a service site or participating school wants to take advantage of what service members can provide

9 Letter of Interest Guidelines LOI Guidelines: FoodCorps requests Letters of Interest from potential host sites operating in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Please address the following topics and questions, using the headers listed below, in a narrative that does not exceed 5 single-spaced pages: Organizational Strengths and History: Describe your organization s capacity to act as a FoodCorps host site, given the guidance outlined in this request. Describe your organization s alignment with the goals, mission, and vision of FoodCorps. What are the key foci of your programs? What experience do you have working with other public service programs? Strategic Vision: FoodCorps values setting goals that help us track our successes and respond to our challenges. What do you seek to accomplish with a cohort of FoodCorps service members? How will acting as a FoodCorps host site help your organization achieve its goals, or what new goals might you set with the investment of FoodCorps? What impact do you expect to realize because of FoodCorps? Community Need: FoodCorps works in communities where vulnerable children have limited access to healthy food, or suffer disproportionately from obesity, diet-related disease, or food insecurity. Describe your history engaging high-need communities in your state. What communities in your state would you target for investment through a FoodCorps service member? Why is FoodCorps a particularly well-suited strategy to meet this need? Network Resources and Impact: FoodCorps believes strong networks help achieve lasting impact. Describe the type of partners you will seek to engage as service sites. If you know the names of specific organizations, please provide those and a description of their strengths. What other organizations will make-up the FoodCorps support network in your state? What collective impacts do you envision for this network? Describe how your organization can help those impacts be realized. Funding Landscape: FoodCorps will need to embark on an ambitious fundraising effort in order to expand our programming into new states. Who are the major donors supporting school garden, farm to school and school food work in your area? Have any of them expressed interest in supporting FoodCorps? What is your relationship with the funding community and how would you plan to leverage those relationships to help FoodCorps complete the fundraising necessary to come to your state? In addition to your Letter of Interest, you must submit an online Organizational Capacity form, which can be completed at and a copy of your organization s staffing structure or org chart (which does not count towards the LOI page limit). Review Criteria: These Letters of Interest will inform FoodCorps growth and expansion decisions in the Upper Midwest over the course of the next several program years. Strong candidates, as indicated through these LOIs, will be asked to submit full proposals before being considered for expansion. FoodCorps may choose to request full proposals later in the fall of 2014 for expansion in the school year, or we may choose to wait to request full

10 proposals for expansion in future years. In either case, the strength of your LOI will play a major role in FoodCorps consideration of your organization. FoodCorps will review LOIs based on the following criteria: Alignment with FoodCorps mission, vision, strategies and goals Commitment to maximizing, measuring and scaling up impact Organizational capacity and stability Evidence of commitment to network building Funding opportunities in your state Submission Guidelines: Organizations that intend to apply are strongly encouraged to participate in the Host Site LOI Open Call, scheduled for October 6 th at 1:00pm PT. A recording of the call will be available on request. Call in number: , passcode: Submit the LOI and org chart, attached as one PDF document, to an sent to cecily.upton@foodcorps.org. Please put Host Site LOI - [Organization Name] in the subject line. Do not forget to also submit your Organizational Capacity form online by the same time and date: Deadline: Letter of Interest, Org Chart, and Organizational Capacity Forms are due to FoodCorps by 5:00pm PT on Friday, October 31st, Organizations will be notified regarding the results of the LOI process and FoodCorps plans for expansion in mid-november.