2011-12 Metropolitan Springfield Grants
The 2011-12 Metropolitan Springfield Grantmaking Program will offer four grant cycles:
- Community Response Matching Grants to support existing programs with proven results that address red-flag issues identified for Springfield-Greene County.
- Early Childhood Grants to support programs to foster positive development in children ages 2-5.
- Community Innovation Grants, a new cycle to award support for existing or innovative projects that will address community needs identified for Springfield-Greene County.
- Senior Services Grants to enhance programs to improve the health, nutrition and quality of life of persons in Greene County aged 60 and older. Information on this new grant round will be available after Jan. 1, 2012.
Qualifying agencies for all of these grant cycles should have 501(c)3 or similar faith-based or government IRS non-profit status, and be located in Springfield-Greene County, Missouri.
If you need additional information after reviewing the following information on each grant cycle, please contact Randy Russell, Senior Program Officer, 864-6199.
Community Response Challenge Grants
This challenge grant round is intended to encourage qualifying agencies to submit proposals in the categories below, which are based on the Red Flags identified in the 2009 Community Focus Report for Springfield-Greene County or the 2011 Community Focus Report to be published in early fall.
A total of $125,000 in 1:1 matching dollars is available with individual awards capped at $12,500.
Proposals should focus on efforts to sustain or enhance existing programs that have a record of success on these red-flag issues. Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
• The effectiveness of the existing program;
• The impact of the program on the red-flag issue; and
• The agency’s ability to raise matching funds.
Each successful applicant will be expected to establish a fund or use an existing fund held at the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to process grant and matching funds.
Grants were warded in late October 2011 and successful applicants will have until Feb. 3, 2012 to raise 1:1 matching dollars for the challenge grants. Formal grant awards will take place on Feb. 15, 2012.
Metropolitan Springfield Early Childhood Grants
A total of $50,000 is available in the Metropolitan Springfield Early Childhood Grant program, with a $10,000-$12,000 range suggested for proposal consideration. Definition of “early childhood” for this grant opportunity is limited to programming provided for children ages 2 to 5 years. Proposals should reference “best practices” for quality childcare and/or appropriate school-readiness programming. Matching funds are not required.
Proposals should focus on efforts to sustain or enhance existing early childhood programming that has a record of success meeting needs identified as red-flag concerns in the Community Focus Report or, in the case of innovative programming, has a demonstrative potential for affecting those concerns through the requesting agency’s past programming practice.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
• The effectiveness of the existing early childhood programming or demonstrate potential for success for innovative programming through previously successful program outcomes;
• The impact of the program on the red-flag issue or potential for impact for innovative programming.
Grants were awarded on Nov. 22, 2011.
Metropolitan Springfield Community Innovation Grants
A total of $50,000 is available in the Metropolitan Springfield Community Innovation Grant program, with a $10,000 to $12,000 range for proposal consideration. Possible categories under the “Community Innovation” grant opportunity includes environmental, sustainability or community development issues, as well as any other emerging community needs identified by the requesting agency. Proposals should reference “best practices” for any of the program categories submitted or substantive supporting references for innovative program outcomes in comparable settings.
Proposals should focus on efforts designed to enhance existing programming with a record of success meeting needs, or, in the case of new program strategies, has a demonstrative potential for affecting those concerns through the requesting agency’s past programming practice or outside agency outcomes. Matching funds are not required.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
• The effectiveness of the existing programming or potential for success for new programming through previously successful program outcomes;
• The impact of the program on existing community needs or potential for impact for innovative programming on emerging community needs.
Deadline for proposal consideration is 5 p.m., March 9, 2012. Grants will be awarded on April 3.
Metropolitan Springfield Arts and Culture Grants
Please click here for more information and to apply.
Springfield-Greene County Senior Issues
The CFO plans to partner with outside community agencies to offer programming assistance for senior citizens in Greene County with details to be announced after Jan. 1, 2012. Grants will be available for services and programs that will improve the health, nutrition and quality of life for people aged 60 and older through this programming opportunity.