Grants

EAST PORTLAND ACTION PLAN

(EPAP)

2012 – 2013 Civic Engagement Grants Program

($60,000 – Date Due: May 14, 2012)

See attached documents below

The EPAP Civic Engagement Sub-Committee is awarding grants to implement projects that support culturally specific and language appropriate Civic Engagement workshop curriculum. We invite residents, Neighborhood and Business Associations, non-profits, communities of faith, and community-based organizations living in, or serving East Portland to apply. 

The mission of the EPAP Civic Engagement Sub-Committee is to promote cultural diversity as an important community asset in East Portland. Our focus is to advocate for culturally specific and language appropriate civic engagement curriculum. The entry level civic engagement workshops are to support the public involvement of underserved communities. The City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement funds culturally specific organizations to provide leadership training through the ‘Diversity and Civic Leadership’ (DCL) partners. Our intention is to fund workshops that prepare and actively guide East Portland community members to take advantage of the DCL programs or other opportunities for leadership building and civic engagement.

$60,000 is available to address the following Action Plan item: Community Building.2.3 Develop and hold leadership and civic engagement classes/programs for East Portland citizens to build capacity for participating in lobbying, advocacy, board participation, partnership, etc., with a focus on culturally specific communities in language appropriate ways. Workshop sessions that include language appropriate presentations, childcare, food, and follow-up support for each attendee to take the next step, are estimated to cost between $1,500 - $2,000 per session.

EPAP represents the area within the East Portland Neighborhood Office district that includes 13 neighborhoods and 5 business districts in the City of Portland. Workshops are to be held within the East Portland area and to serve the people living in this area. The City of Portland recognizes the benefit of providing funding to engage, assist, and support the East Portland community to implement Action Plan items. This investment promotes equitable community building that improves the quality of life; fosters strong community connections; increases the area’s regional significance; and enhances equity.  Learn more at our website: www.eastportlandactionplan.org .

Submission Deadline:

Proposals must be received by:

5:00 PM, Monday, May 14, 2012 

Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.  

Applications can be submitted in any language by email, in person, or by mail to:

lore [dot] wintergreen [at] portlandoregon [dot] gov (lore [dot] wintergreen [at] portlandoregon [dot] gov) or

East Portland Neighborhood Office

1017 NE 117^th Ave

(117th between Halsey + Glisan at the foot of the water tower) 

Portland, OR 97220

Grant-making process:

$60,000 will be made available to residents, Neighborhood, Business Associations, non-profits, communities of faith, and community-based organizations living in, or serving the East Portland area. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process. Grant applications will be reviewed by a community-based grant making committee of East Portland Action Plan members. 

Funds cannot be used for:

1. Costs that may be incurred in preparing this application

2. Direct social services (such as food baskets, health clinic services, items for distribution for individual general use, staff providing direct services to individuals)

3. Ongoing general organizational support (such as rent, utilities)

4. Direct grants, scholarships or loans for the benefit of specific individuals

5. Loans or debt retirement (paying bills existing before the grant is awarded)

6. Annual appeals, general fund drives

7. Emergency funding

8. Workshops held outside the boundaries of the East Portland Coalition Office district area  

For More Information:

The Grant Manager contact is:  

lore wintergreen

East Portland Action Plan Advocate

East Portland Neighborhood Office

503.823.4035

lore [dot] wintergreen [at] portlandoregon [dot] gov (lore [dot] wintergreen [at] portlandoregon [dot] gov)

More grant program information:  www.eastportlandactionplan.org/grants    

Support for Grant Writers

Grants can be submitted in any language (submitting in a language other than English does limit the ability of the Grant Manager to provide review and assistance). There is a computer available for your use at the East Portland Neighborhood Office. Grant writing resources will also be posted at www.eastportlandactionplan.org/grant.

You are strongly encouraged to attend a grant information session listed below or to contact the Grant Manager. The session will help answer questions about the application, the committee review process, and how the funds can be used. Please call seven days in advance for special needs accommodations, childcare, and/or language interpretation requests at 503-823-4035 or TTY 503-823-6868. The building is mobility device accessible.

May 1, 2012                           East Portland Neighborhood Office             

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM                        1017 NE 117^th Ave.

                                                            Portland, Oregon 97220

(between Halsey & Glisan - foot of the watertower)

TRI-MET: #77, #25  

May 2, 2012                           East Portland Neighborhood Office             

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM                          1017 NE 117^th Ave.

                                                            Portland, Oregon 97220

(between Halsey & Glisan - foot of the watertower)

TRI-MET: #77, #25 (stops at 7:00 PM) 

Guidelines & Requirements 

Proposed projects MUST: 

1.       Address the implementation of the following Action Plan item: Community Building.2.3 Develop and hold leadership and civic engagement classes/programs for East Portland citizens to build capacity for participating in lobbying, advocacy, board participation, partnership, etc.

2.   Demonstrate an ability to involve culturally specific populations in language appropriate ways, with populations/communities that are not equitably represented in civic decision making.

3.   Address topic areas listed on page 4 of this grant announcement under “Topics for civic engagement workshop curriculum”, including the required topic #9. Next Step Community Involvement and Leadership Placement Opportunities.

4.   Demonstrate plans for involving participants after end of granted period.  

5.   Have 501 (c) 3 nonprofit status from the IRS, be a government entity, or have sponsorship from either entity to serve as fiscal sponsor. The 501 (c) 3 or government agency must have Liability Insurance within one week of being notified of the award. Community organizations that don’t have 501(c) 3 status and Liability insurance can seek to partner with an East Portland Neighborhood Association, which will allow them to use East Portland Neighbors (EPN) as their fiscal sponsor. The Grants Manager can be of assistance to you in this process.

6.      Take place in and benefit the residents of the East Portland Neighborhood Office district area. (See map on page 10).

7.      Have filed an interim or end-of-project Evaluation if awarded a previous EPAP grant.

Criteria Used in Grant Selection  

The following criteria will be given special consideration in the grant review process:

Topics for civic engagement workshop curriculum (You are expected to develop the content of  the workshop to meet the needs of the community you are engaging):

1.      The Law and Crime Prevention (including gang prevention and domestic violence)

2.      Housing (rental + home ownership rights and responsibilities)

3.      Jobs and Employment

4.      Schools and Education

5.      Transportation

6.      Health

7.      Children and Families

8.      Immigration and Citizenship

9.      Next Step Community Involvement and Leadership Placement Opportunities (REQUIRED). 

Timeline: 

Request for Proposals Available:                                       April 18, 2012                       

Grant Applications due:                                                        May 14, 2012                       

Applicants may be contacted during review process for additional information and/or to offer potential partnership opportunities.

Awards Announced no later than:                                       June 4, 2012             

When awarded a grant you must immediately submit proof from your fiscal sponsor of General Liability insurance. Proof of workers compensation is required if funding staff, and proof of automobile insurance is required if providing volunteer or participant transportation for the funded project. 

Funds must be encumbered (financially obligated) by:    June 30, 2012

Final report and documentation no later than:                   June 30, 2013                 

Reporting Requirements:

1.      A three-page end-of-project evaluation and budget expense form must be completed and returned to East Portland Neighborhood Office by June 30, 2013.  We encourage you to submit your evaluation and expense summary within 30 days of completion of your individual project.

2.      Each project must provide at least three digital photographs of a project activity with their completed evaluation (if needed, EPAP can loan you a camera).

3.      Documentation of the project’s success on the East Portland Action Plan Updates webpage under relevant Action items: www.eastportlandactionplan.org/updates 

Program sponsors:

This grant program is sponsored and administered by the City of Portland’s East Portland Action Plan.

Center for Intercultural Organizing Bhutanese Refugee Community Building Cultural Bridges