Let’s see a show of hands for anybody interested in getting a grant. Whoa! Too many to count. Okay, you can put your hands down. Communities Foundation of Texas is rocking and rolling in the days ahead to provide info on how to apply for grants for the following three key initiatives. Here is the official release from CFT:
2014 Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Process for inclusion in CFT’s Giving Guide
- February 21: Application Workshop
- April 1: LOI Application Deadline
CFT is pleased to announce the application deadline for our 2014 Letter of Inquiry (LOI)/Giving Guide process is Tuesday, April 1st, at 5:00 p.m. Please note the earlier deadline this year. CFT has made important changes to the process based on feedback received: 1) organizations have the opportunity to tell us about up to three current funding needs, 2) no cap on the amount that can be requested, and 3) streamlined and shortened the application forms and provided additional information on the criteria we look for when reviewing grant requests. A DonorBridge profile is not required for LOI submission. A nonprofit’s North Texas Giving Day profile is the new profile that will be used. Click here to view the updated guidelines and application forms are available on the CFT website.
As in years past, CFT staff will be hosting workshops to walk nonprofits through the LOI process and answer any questions. This workshop will be especially helpful to those applying for the first time. The 2014 workshops will be held at CFT on Friday, February 21, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. These optional workshops are informational only: attendance will not have an impact on a nonprofit’s application. Organizations are not required to attend in order to participate in the LOI process. To register for one of the February 21st sessions, please click here and select either the morning or afternoon session. Due to limited seating capacity, registration is limited to one representative per organization. For questions about the LOI process or the February 21st workshop, please contact the CFT Philanthropy Department (214.750.4222).
Working Poor RFP Opportunity
- February 26: Working Poor RFP Workshop
In 2014, CFT will be opening up a new area of funding in support of its focus on the working poor. On Wednesday, February 26th at 9:30 a.m., CFT will hold an informational workshop for applicants interested in piloting a new framework for neighborhood service delivery designed to help low income families increase their earnings and income, reduce their financial transaction costs, and generate new wealth for themselves and their communities. These monies will be available to those nonprofits interested in providing a broad range of employment services, income supports, and financial and asset building services, whether as a single agency or in tight collaboration with others. This is a specific model that participating agencies will be asked to pilot. The model for Integrated Service Delivery was developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and prototyped in communities across the U.S.
If selected as a grant recipient, agencies will be assisted via a multi-year grant to grow their agency into a family-friendly venue that provides bundled services leading to increased economic well-being. Grant recipients will be provided with significant program guidance, training and technical assistance to support their agency’s adoption of the integrated service delivery model. If a nonprofit is interested in learning more, please join us on February 26. To register, please click here. Contact the CFT Philanthropy Department (214.750.4222) with any questions.
2014/2015 D3 Institute Class Application
- April 11: D3 Application Deadline
CFT will be holding a third Data Driven Decision-Making (D3) Institute for 2014/2015. The D3 Institute is designed to provide organizations that offer programs and services for low-income working families the power to accelerate their development of enduring solutions to the social and economic problems facing this population. The Institute is a unique opportunity for organizations to:
- develop a shared understanding of the current issues and areas of need for the working poor based on currently available data
- implement and/or expand use of data as part of program development and in strategic decision-making
- expand network of resources and support, including sharing best practices through participation in a learning community
The institute will provide learning opportunities for personnel at all levels of the organization, including leadership and program staff. All training and coaching fees will be paid for by CFT on behalf of the participating agencies. Participants also will receive a general operating grant award of $10,000 minimum per organization, based on attendance, in appreciation of the time and effort dedicated to participation. To apply for the D3 Institute, organizations are asked to submit a letter of interest to Communities Foundation of Texas, and must be received at the CFT’s office or by e-mail to [email protected] by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2014. For more information on the D3 Institute or for details on how to apply, please click here. Questions or inquiries can be sent to [email protected], or by calling 214.750.4222.
* Graphic provided by Communities Foundation of Texas