Women s Fund of Long Island Social Change Grants 2015 Request for Proposals

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1 Women s Fund of Long Island Social Change Grants 2015 Request for Proposals The mission of Women s Fund of Long Island (WFLI) is to ignite networks that transform the lives of women and girls on Long Island through grant-making, leadership development, education and philanthropy. We envision a Long Island where all women and girls reach their full potential. WFLI is excited to present its 20th Anniversary Social Change Grants. Social Change Grantmaking Impactful grantmaking is a critical component of the work of the Women s Fund of Long Island. It is one of three program areas that also include Young Women s Leadership and Education and Awareness. Over the past 20+ years, the WFLI has distributed close to 500 grants to over 300 organizations serving women and girls on Long Island. Our grant funds address emerging issues facing women and girls in the areas of economic opportunity, women s rights, gender equity, leadership and more recently, disaster recovery. Beyond providing much needed dollars, WFLI provides grantee partners with capacity-building training and connections to funders and potential partners. Over time, WFLI grants have helped to empower organizations run for and by women contributing to long-term social change on Long Island. Five Indicators of Social Change The Women s Fund of Long Island believes that social change occurs in a variety of ways. We believe that social change is most recognizable and easiest to track and measure when it is categorized as one of the five key indicators: 1. A Shift in Definition or Reframing of Issues: The issue is defined differently in the community or larger society. 2. A Shift in Individual or Community Behavior: People are behaving differently in the community or larger society. 3. A Shift in Engagement: People in the community or larger society are more engaged. Critical mass has been reached. 4. A Shift in Policy: An institutional, organizational, or legislative policy or practice has changed. 5. Maintaining Past Gains: Past gains have been maintained, generally in the face of opposition. 1

2 Examples of past Social Change Grants supported by WFLI We support ideas and fund projects that change attitudes and addresses systemic discrimination, break down barriers that prevent equity and promote positive public policy to ensure the economic, physical and emotional well-being of women and girls of all ages. A Shift in Definition: North Shore Holiday House helps to shift a definition in the issue of bullying from one of physical violence to a focus on relational aggression, the form that girls bullying typically takes. A Shift in Individual or Community Behavior: Hance Family Foundation helps to shift individual behavior by developing selfesteem and confidence among at-risk adolescent girls through Beautiful Me workshops that include workshops and pairing of middle school girls with high school girls in a mentoring model. Shifts in attitudes among individual families and the community at large occurred due to increased support for the girls. A Shift in Engagement: Planned Parenthood of Nassau County helped to increase the engagement of college students on various campuses by reframing issues on reproductive rights and empowering young women to speak up as those rights are endangered. A Shift in Policy: Through its Latinas at Work (LAW) project, LatinoJustice PRLDEF created a shift in policy by protecting the civil and human rights of Long Island Latina immigrant women against labor exploitation (non-payment of wages; dangerous working conditions; employment discrimination; and sexual harassment in the form of human trafficking) and by working to enforce employment discrimination law. Maintaining Past Gains: The Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence is maintaining past gains by continuing to provide access to individual and group counseling services, as well as legal services to victims of human sex trafficking in underserved, at-risk communities. Funding Areas: 1. Economic Opportunity & Financial Stability Programs that respond to the needs of women and girls affected by the current economic climate; Workforce development including job skills development and training; Career planning and development especially in non-traditional fields such as science, technology, engineering, math, and the trades; Financial literacy and financial education programs; Microenterprise and microfinance programs that support small business services and financing for women business owners; Programs that respond to distinct needs of immigrant women and children 2. Gender Equity & Women s Rights Anti-bullying, anti-discrimination and women s human rights; Women s workplace rights and pay equity; 2

3 Gender equity in education; Education, training and direct services that target violence against women and girls; Educational efforts that promote women and gender rights; Increasing women s political and civic engagement in ways that promote gender equality and women s rights; 3. Leadership Leadership development for women, young women and/or girls; Self-esteem building and mentorship; Political empowerment and civic engagement; Workshops that train others to provide leadership skills to women and girls; Capacity building and training efforts for women and girls working on women and girls programs; Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate collaboration with other organizational partners and to those who articulate increased impact provided by WFLI funds. WFLI also prioritizes organizations that work with women and girls from underserved communities and those who work to counter particularly challenging circumstances, including but not limited to economic, social, immigration and educational factors. Funding Eligibility We encourage collaborative efforts between organizations. Priority will be given to organizations or groups in which women are the primary decision makers demonstrated by leadership positions and/or governance of the organization. Priority will be given to smaller, grassroots organizations with limited access to other donors. Larger organizations may apply for start-up program grants, but may not apply for general operating support. No general operating support will be provided to agencies with budgets over $350,000. We encourage organizations that have not been previously funded by Women s Fund of Long Island to apply. Organizations may receive funds for 3 consecutive years, and then must take 2 years off before applying again. We consider proposals from 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, as well as informal groups of women or emerging grassroots organizations that have a 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(4) fiscal agent. Proposals will be considered from organizations that: provide programs and services to women and girls on Long Island; have women in primary leadership and decision-making roles on both board and staff; demonstrate effective financial health and fiscal prudence; encourage and welcome diversity; have not received consecutive grants from WFLI for the past three years in a row; have a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status or the use of a fiscal sponsor with such status; have a demonstrated capacity to fulfill goals of the proposed program or project; Proposals will be considered for programs or projects that: provide direct services, education and training for women and girls on Long Island; 3

4 fit within one of our specific funding areas (below); have measurable goals and/or outcomes that demonstrate positive impact on lives of women and/or girls served; The Fund does not provide support for: general operating support for organizations with budgets over $350,000; sponsorship of events; projects or programs located outside of Nassau or Suffolk counties; individuals; scholarships or tuition; religious programs and projects for religious purposes; capital campaigns or endowments; Grant Awards Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $10,000 to selected organizations that meet the criteria outlined in this Request for Proposals. The average grant size is $5000. Grant Review Process Our rigorous grant review process is conducted by a volunteer Grant Review Committee comprised of WFLI staff, current and past board members and qualified volunteers from the broader Long Island community. The Grant Review Committee makes funding recommendations which are voted on by the WFLI Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified in July 2015 of grant decisions. As a part of the review process, WFLI may request a site visit of grant applicants. Evaluation reports The duration of the grant will be for one year. As a condition of the grant, WFLI requests that grant awardees provide an interim and final evaluation using templates that will be provided. The timeline for reporting will be included in grant award letters. Application Deadline & Submission Requirements All proposals must be submitted online no later than March 13, Please note, WFLI now only accepts online submission of proposals. All applications must be submitted through our grants portal at Common Grant Application. Organizations that applied for funding in 2013 and 2014 (both approved and declined) already have a Common Grant Application (CGA) account. All other applicants must register for a free CGA account before submitting a grant application to WFLI. For inquiries and further questions, please grants@womensfundli.org or call Ext. 9. Returning applicants can apply here. New users can register and then apply here. A grant application Q & A webinar is available on the WFLI website 4

5 2015 Grant Application Instructions 1. Make sure to read WFLI s 2015 RFP for this year s grant guidelines and priorities. 2. Register for a free Common Grant Application account (one primary per organization). Please note, if your organization applied for a WFLI grant in 2013 or 2014, you already have an account on the Common Grant Application website. If you do not have that information, grants@womensfundli.org and it will be sent to you. 3. Access the Common Grant Application via the Women s Fund of Long Island s website. Returning users can log-in and apply here. New users can register and apply here. Note, draft applications can be saved on the CGA website until ready for submission. 4. Select one program/focus area that best fits your proposed funding area (e.g. Economic Opportunity, Gender Equity etc). Complete the online application. Note that all questions with asterisks (*) are required for submission. 5. Required documents: ü Organizational budget (upload in excel or pdf format) ü Project budget (download the project budget template, complete it and upload it in the program documents section) ü Board member list with affiliations (upload or input on CGA board/staff page) ü 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) form of applying organization or its fiscal agent ü Copy of the first page of the 2013 (or most recently filed) 990 form filing with IRS of applying organization or its fiscal agent. 6. Optional documents (please note that these are supplemental and not required): ü Letters of agreement or support from potential partners if your proposed project includes collaborative efforts ü Organization or program brochure ü Video or images (please don t create a video for this purpose, this is optional with no additional bearing on application) 7. For any questions, please grants@womensfundli.org. 8. All submissions are due by March 13, 2015 (11:59pm central standard time) Grant Application Timeline: Questions and Answers Webinar: available online Grant application due on Common Grant Application portal: March 13th Grant Notification: July Checks mailed: on or before October 31st * * WFLI reserves the right to modify this date and will notify all approved grantees of any changes in the check release date. 5