Strengthening Communities

2. Strengthening Communities Awarded to support the development and implementation of collaborate and innovative neighborhood-based projects that address economic development, education, health, housing, transportation, or safety issues.

3. Innovative collaboration funded by three partners.First grants awarded in 2008.

4. Start-up funds to incubate neighborhood-based projects • Nonprofits, residents, tenure track faculty, and student teams • Tangible products and capacity building outcomes

5. 2014 Grant Round • Request for Proposals • Partner matchmaking • Timeline

6. Applications due January 31, 2014 • Deadline: Noon • Access application on the Strengthening Communities website www.memphis.edu/scgrants • Once you begin your application, you cannot save or return to an application already in progress • Word version of application will be available • Application will be available starting 2014

7. Small Grants ($2,500) • Nonprofit organizations only • Awarded to nonprofits for a one-time community development project, preferably to support initial work that will lead to a future Capacity Building Grant

8. Small Grants Budget • Nonprofits may be funded up to $2,500 for implementation expenses including: • Equipment - Supplies • Additional staffing needed to - Other fulfill the project

9. Capacity-Building Grants ($18,000) Nonprofit Organization + Faculty ‘teams’ Capacity Building projects bring together nonprofit community organizations, University of Memphis faculty, and students to increase community capacity and implement neighborhood-based projects as part of the University’s Engaged Scholarship agenda. The goal of a capacity-building grant is to strengthen and grow an organization that is established and has a strong mission and goals.

10. Capacity Building Grant Budget • Faculty may be funded up to $6,250 for expenses related to: • Travel - Summer salary (up to $4,500) • Stipends for student assistants - Equipment • Other expenses - Supplies • Nonprofits may be funded up to $11,750 for implementation expenses including: • Equipment - Supplies • Additional staffing needed to fulfill the project

11. Universal Proposal Questions Nonprofit Organization • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have fiscal agent • Copy of 501(c)(3) letter • Cannot have two Strengthening Communities grants active at the same time • List of officers, directors, and staff • Organization description including mission and services provided

12. Universal Proposal Questions • What need is being addressed by this proposal? • What is the defined community being served? • What is the proposed project? • How will the project increase capacity of the organization? • What are the expected outcomes of the project? • How will the outcomes be evaluated?

13. Describe the collaborative process used to plan for this request, including how community members were involved. How will all of these parties be involved in the implementation of the project? • Provide a timeline for the project period. • Any other documents related to proposal may be uploaded.

14. Letters of Support (up to three) • We ask that you provide (up to three) letters of support from community partners with whom you are collaborating to execute this project. These letters should confirm the partner's intent to collaborate and should convey confidence in your organization to execute the proposed project. 

15. Faculty Partner • Tenured or tenure-track University of Memphis faculty • Have not received a FRG in 5 years • Letter of support from department chair

16. Discuss the engaged scholarship component of the project.  How do you (faculty) intend to involve students in this project? • What are the two or three pieces of literature in which you ground the work that you plan to do for this project? Please be specific using citations. 

17. Questions?