Habib's Garden

2008 Grant Funds

The Stewardship Council will commit between $2.0 million and $2.5 million in grant funding for 2008. We will continue to offer four grant funds.

1. "Catalyst" - Program funding for under $15,000 First Round Applications Due Feb. 15th
   
2. "Impact" - Program funding from $15,000-$50,000  First Round Applications Due Feb. 15th
3. "Collaboration" - Program funding from $50,000-$150,000 LOI Applications Due March 14th
   
4. "Infrastructure" - Infrastructure funding up to $200,000  Applications Due March 14th

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Overview of Application Process

As in 2007, all applications are to be submitted through an online system. Specific information about the application procedure for each grant fund can be found in the grant fund Request for Proposal (RFP).

Any organization that meets the minimum requirements as outlined in the following Eligibility Quiz may apply, including those that have applied in prior grant rounds. Organizations cannot, however apply in the same grant round more than once in the same year. For example, if you have applied to the Catalyst round 1, you cannot reapply in the second round of Catalyst giving.

The Stewardship Council relies on external advisors to provide technical expertise and guidance for the review and ranking of competing applications. Each application is assessed based on the following criteria:

• Programmatic Best Practices - To what extent does the applicant employ best practices? Particular emphasis is placed on: strong, evidence-based design that is learner-oriented; experiential, hands-on learning that relates to the local place/community; well selected and trained staff who demonstrate ability to manage the learning situation; and processes for improvement and transferability.
• Population Served - To what extent does the applicant, within its service area/population, address youth who disproportionately face systemic/institutional barriers to educational/youth development opportunities and/or barriers that inhibit access to the outdoors? Particular emphasis is placed on engagement of youth of color and youth who are not well served by traditional programs and systems.
• Cultural Relevance - To what extent does the applicant’s organization, staff and programming demonstrate understanding and commitment to addressing cultural differences across its service area/population?
• Integrated View of Youths' Lives - To what extent does the applicant consider youths' lives within the context of their communities, schools, and families? How do the program experiences transfer to their school, home and community?
• Program Intensity and Length - Is the proposed programming of appropriate duration and frequency?
• Impact Beyond Participants - To what extent do the proposed program effects reach beyond the program participants? To what extent does the applicant attempt to increase awareness throughout the community of the importance of outdoor experiences for youth?
• Collaboration and Partnerships - To what extent does the applicant show a strong commitment to collaborate with appropriate partners and see the need to cross sectors to fulfill goals? To what extent does the applicant understand its role in, and has the capacity to contribute to collaboration?
• Organizational Effectiveness - To what extent does the applicant demonstrate sound operation and management in: staffing and leadership; fund development and financial management; planning and information management; ability to measure progress; asset, risk, and reputation management?
• Improved Infrastructure - (For Infrastructure grants only) To what extent is accessibility for children, youth and families to viable community parks and open space increased or greatly improved by creating more welcoming environments through physical improvements?
• Decisions - The board of the Stewardship Council then makes decisions based on this review but also other considerations such as geographic distribution, balance of risk, impact on future grant budgets, etc.

Staff will keep full records on the review of each application, which will be shared with unsuccessful grant seekers upon request, subject to availability of staff time.

Information regarding each round of funding, budget, schedule, RFP, and an application link can be found below.

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Catalyst Fund: Nurturing Grassroots Efforts to Improve Access to Outdoor Experiences

The Stewardship Council will target $150,000 to support grassroots organizations. The Catalyst funds will be available for qualified applicants requesting less than $15,000. A qualified grassroots organization is defined as one that is all or largely volunteer driven; has few full-time staff persons or equivalent; has an annual budget, including projects, of less than $150,000; and has not received significant foundation support. Grassroots organizations must identify a significant need related to access to outdoor experiences, describe why that need is a priority for the community, develop a clear plan for translating that need into action, and demonstrate an ability to account for the expenditure of funds. Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded during two funding cycles in 2008. Applicants in this round will not be required to have been in operation for at least one year.

Download RFP

Application:
Round 1: Click Here to Apply!
Round 2: Available July 7

Deadline for Submittal:
Round 1: February 15
Round 2: August 8

Awards Announced:
Round 1: April
Round 2: October

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Impact Fund: Sparking Innovation and Lowering Barriers

The Impact Fund is designed to support more established organizations with the resources they need to get underserved youth connected to the outdoors. These grants have the potential to provide resources to overcome some of the obstacles and barriers identified in the Stewardship Council’s background research. Organizations are encouraged to request funds that will address the barriers that are keeping youth from getting outdoors. In particular, these funds have the potential for lowering the threshold for accessing the outdoors; enhancing the cultural relevancy of the programming offered by the grant-seeking organization; or creating an innovative approach to reaching this population. These funds may be used for, but are not limited to, dedicated programming or operations, program staff, development, and capacity building.

Download RFP

Application:
Round 1: Click Here to Apply!
Round 2: Available July 7

Deadline for Submittal:
Round 1: February 15
Round 2: August 8

Awards Announced:
Round 1: April
Round 2: October

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Collaboration Fund: Developing Field-wide Initiatives and Partnerships

The Collaboration Fund is designed to support field-wide initiatives through partnerships among youth-serving organizations. These grants should result in new or expanded programs that could not be accomplished by a single organization; are innovative and creative in their approach; result in significant local or regional impact; bring together multiple sectors within the broader youth development field for a more cohesive and well-rounded approach to outdoor education; and advance the field of parks and outdoor education. These grants are not intended to be large program grants but rather they are designed to help create an opportunity for many organizations to work together on issues of common concern.

Both new and existing partnerships may apply for funding. Partner organizations with a history of collaborating must demonstrate how this project will expand their partnership to offer a new level or type of service for young people.

Download RFP

Application:
Letter of Inquiry: Click Here to Apply!
Full Proposals: Available April 14

Deadline for Submittal:
Letter of Inquiry: March 14
Full Proposal: May 16

Awards Announced: October

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Infrastructure Fund: Building Parks and Playgrounds

The Infrastructure Fund is designed to support efforts to improve community parks and open space to make them more accessible, viable and safe for children and youth. Proposals will increase and/or greatly improve park infrastructure and will directly result in creating more welcoming environments. These grants are intended to support proposals that have identified park projects that address physical obstacles to getting children and/or youth outdoors and that will result in long-term infrastructure improvements that reduce barriers that keep children and youth from using the park or open space. The Stewardship Council will consider proposals in all phases of building, from planning to final construction.

Download RFP

Application:
Letter of Inquiry: Click Here to Apply!
Full Proposal: Available April 14

Deadline for Submittal:
Letter of Inquiry: March 14
Full Proposal: May 16

Awards Announced: November