Community Fund 2011 Grant Guidelines

The Park City Foundation (PCF) is a nonprofit, community foundation committed to preserving and enriching the quality of life of the residents, visitors and workforce of the Park City region by fostering private giving and strengthening service providers.  To this end, PCF awards grants to local nonprofit organizations involved in the arts, education, athletics, health and human services, youth services, environmental preservation, minority programs, and other community-based efforts.  PCF will provide program/project, general support, research, demonstration, capacity building and matching grants. 

The Park City Foundation connects private philanthropy with the greater Park City community by optimizing the impact of each charitable gift.  As a community foundation, we offer professional strategies and services for our donors, and support to strengthen local nonprofits for the betterment of the community.

Our business practices and decisions are lead by our values:
Vision – looking beyond today to meet the needs of the community by guiding and advising our donors, nonprofits and other partners

Integrity – earning the respect of our donors, our partners and the community at large by performing at the highest level, beyond reproach, in an efficient, sustainable and transparent manner.

Collaboration – facilitating partnerships by aligning and leveraging community resources to address community needs

Sophisticated philanthropy - optimizing the value of each gift through quality donor services, consolidation of resources, and combining our in depth knowledge and understanding of greater Park City with effective community enhancement strategies

Grants Timeline

·          Friday, July 29th: Submit 300-400 word grant proposal via email to katie@theparkcityfoundation.org

·          Friday, August 12th: Select applicants will be invited to submit a Community Fund application

·          Friday, September 30th: Community Fund Application deadline.  Submit via email, mail or in person.

·          November 2011: Decision announcements.

·          December 2011:  Grant payments.

Grants Committee

The Grants Committee is composed of at least four members selected from the Board of Directors.  This committee evaluates the grant proposals and applications and provides recommendations to the Board for final review and approval. Our 2011 Grants Committee includes Chair, Emily Scott Pottruck, Honorable Judith Billings, Jim Hill, Susan Graham Mayo, Susan Pearlstine and Stephen Tyler.  To learn more about our Board and the committee members, visit our website: http://www.theparkcityfoundation.org/About/BoardStaff/tabid/211/Default.aspx

Board of Directors

PCF’s Board of Directors consists of up to 30 members who meet four times a year.  At the early winter meeting, the grant requests are reviewed and final action is taken on the recommendation made by the Grants Committee.

Staff

PCF staff processes and prepares the grant applications for review by the Grants Committee and Board of Directors.  They serve and assist the Grants Committee, but do not vote on grant awards.  After grants are awarded, PCF staff and/or board members will participate in the monitoring and evaluation process of all grant projects and programs through site visits and brief reports. 

Current Types of Support

The Grants Committee will emphasize support to organizations serving the Park City region (Summit County) in the following areas:

General existing and new programs/projects; operating support; equipment; conferences and seminars; consulting services; matching funds; technical assistance; start-up funds; and joint requests from multiple applicants. 

Current Restrictions

Grants will not be awarded for debt reductions or retiring past operating deficits; sponsorships & dinners (or special one-time events), fellowships or other grants to individuals; loans; litigation; political or marketing campaigns; endowment funds; graduate and post-graduate research; or for grants that further political or religious doctrine.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

The Park City Foundation will consider grant applications from organizations meeting all of the following eligibility requirements:

·          Conduct activities and programs consistent with PCF’s mission

·          Serve people living or working in Summit County (Wasatch County will be considered, although grant making will primarily emphasize organizations based in Summit County). 

·          Qualify as a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

·          Applicants without 501(c) 3 status, but which have applied to the IRS for such status, may apply.  Receipt letter from the IRS of application is required at time of application to The Park City Foundation.  However, if awarded a grant, funds will not be released to the organization until the 501 (c) 3 status has been conferred.

·          Applicants without 501 (c) 3 status, but which are operating under an organization qualified as a 501 (c) 3 organization may apply separately if they have their own advisory board and have the written consent of the qualified organization.  In that case, the application must contain a letter of agreement between the two organizations, which sets forth the responsibilities of each organization. In no case shall the organization holding 501 (c) 3 status charge the other organization a fee of more than 8% of the total grant awarded, for acting as the fiscal sponsor.

·          Applicants that are not 501 (c)3 organizations, but are implementing charitable activities for the benefit of the citizens of Summit County should contact The Park City Foundation before applying.  Under some circumstances, they may be considered for funding but will be required to adhere to separate reporting measures.

·          Organizations awarded a grant in the prior year’s grant cycle that have not participated in a site visit by the required deadline, are ineligible for the current year grant cycle.  Organizations are ineligible for all future Community Fund grants until the delinquent progress report is submitted and an agreement is made with PCF staff.

·          Organizations awarded a grant must publicize the grant in any press release, publications, or brochures.  See Appendix A for further information and guidance.

Grant Amounts

Grants will fall generally in the range of $1,000-$10,000, depending on the amount available for distribution.  The Grants Committee does have authority to authorize smaller grants.

Review Criteria

The Grants Committee will use the following criteria to review applications.  These criteria are not exclusive, and the board reserves the right to use its own best judgment when making final grant awards. 

Needs Assessment:

·          Need for Assistance                                                                                       

o   Indicator: 

§  Applicant demonstrates a need for the funding sought

·          Organization’s mission addresses a current and proven public need for people living, visiting and/or working in the Park City region. 

o   Indicator:

§  Project/program addresses current need in the Park City Community

·          Strategically Planned Approach                                                                     

o   Indicators: 

§  Goals, objectives, activities/services and timeline that reflect the applicant’s ability to conceptualize the project and offer a realistic plan for its completion

·          Significant Results & Benefits                                                                       

o   Indicators: 

§  Plan to measure and evaluate project/program outcomes (quantitative and/or qualitative) is well articulated

·          Organizational Capability & Staff Qualifications                                          

o   Indicators:

§  Well-run, financially sound organization, strong board participation, stable management, diverse source of revenues, history of clean audits, evidence of good stewardship of funds

§  Strong community support for organization and projects (e.g. diversity of funding sources, community resources, volunteers, number of diverse participants in the program/project, including local residents on their boards)

§  Organizations that show an effective and efficient delivery of program services

§  Qualified, experienced staff 

·          Project Budget                                                                                               

o Indicators: 

§  Budget reasonableness, demonstrates that funds will be spent primarily on programs and services, leverages other funds/funding sources

Technical Assistance Grants

PCF is pleased to offer applicants the opportunity for both a traditional grant and/or a technical assistance grant award.  We encourage nonprofits to apply for a technical assistance grant as these grants provide an easy, effective way for nonprofit organizations to improve their operational efficiency through a proven, turnkey program for assessing and addressing individual organizations’ needs.  The Grants Committee reserves the right to offer the applicant organization a technical assistance grant rather than a cash grant award.  See Appendix B for more information.

Checklist for Application

Proposal

Application

Updated Nonprofit Directory submission, if necessary

List of governing board

2010 budget versus actual

2011 budget versus actual to date

Note: If there are any numbers that are easily identified as discrepancies, please explain.

If available, please include 2010 and 2011 (ytd) cash flow reports

Previous year’s IRS 990

Copy of IRS determination letter

Copy of the State of Utah Charitable Solicitation Permit

Appendix A

Publicity Guidelines

As a recipient of a grant from The Park City Foundation, it is important to PCF, our donors and the community that the grantee publicize and recognize the philanthropic support that a grantee receives.  PCF requires the following of grant recipients:

1)      Grantee agrees that a notice will be included in all announcements, promotional and other appropriate material stating – “This activity/event/organization is supported by a grant from The Park City Foundation.”

2)      Grantee agrees to include The Park City Foundation logo in all brochures, notices, signs and plaques that recognize funders at events or on facilities.  Advance written approval by The Park City Foundation for use of the logo is required.  Please contact staff for a copy of the logo and approval.

Appendix B

Technical Assistance (TA)

The Grants Committee of The Park City Foundation may offer a Technical Assistance Grant to a local nonprofit instead of funding a cash grant, or a nonprofit may request a technical assistance grant in addition to or instead of a cash grant.  The objective is to provide the nonprofit with a professional third party assessment of their current needs.  The assessment may identify the need for an updated business plan, strategic plan, marketing plan, Board of Directors development, etc.  The nonprofit consultant will assist the organization’s staff and Board through the development of the improvement plan.  The assessment will be conducted by a non-profit consultant and will be shared with The Park City Foundation.  The Park City Foundation will pay for assessment and will fund part of or the entire consultant fee.  If selected for TA, the nonprofit will not be eligible for future funding from The Park City Foundation until it has completed the TA process.  If applying for a TA grant, please follow the regular grant guidelines when applicable.  In addition, please include a discussion of specific organizational needs that will be met if the grant is awarded.