How to Apply for Grants
June 2011
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Dyer-Ives Foundation invites proposals from non-profit organizations in the Grand Rapids area for comprehensive projects designed to concretely improve urban quality of life through initiatives that position neighborhoods and commercial districts to reverse decline and accelerate revitalization.
The mission of the Dyer-Ives Foundation is to build capacity in those grassroots, neighborhood organizations and related efforts which address issues of systemic poverty or diminish a sense of isolation among residents of the central city of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to encourage community-based organizations with varying levels of capacity and relationships to submit proposals for up to $50,000 focused toward the development and/or implementation of local plans meeting an Area Specific Plan (ASP) or higher standard, specifically as described in the Grand Rapids Master Plan or the Green Grand Rapids section of the Grand Rapids Master Plan, or preliminary activities to build organizational or collective capacity in order to complete and/or implement such plans.
Submit proposals to:
Dyer-Ives Foundation
161 Ottawa Ave NW
Suite 501-H
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Or in e-version to:
Projects
Projects that focus on reversing decline and accelerating revitalization while deliberately including racial equity and anti-displacement strategies are particularly encouraged to apply.
Projects must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for support:
- Project must be specific to a geographic area.
- Project must be collaborative, defined as including various interests reflecting the community being served, i.e.; residents, churches, institutions, commerce and government
- Project must incorporate data to support planning, decision-making, implementation and evaluation.
- Project must demonstrate adequate capacity among partners to complete the effort as proposed and funded.
- Project must be designed to result in substantial outcomes that are comprehensive in scope, able to be implemented and will have positive impact.
- Requesting organization must be in good standing with Dyer-Ives Foundation.
Support Tools
The Dyer-Ives Foundation intends to fund various support tools throughout the next five years in order to assist organizations and their collective efforts in carrying out funded projects. Some will be available on a limited basis to funded projects and participants, while others of a more public nature (i.e.; community data) will be widely available.
Tools will include the following:
- Professional consulting to build capacity and develop sustainability-related skills of governance, fundraising, resource development, organizing, planning, marketing and non-profit management.
- Structured partnership with GVSU Johnson Center Community Research Institute to enhance community data systems, access and utilization in alignment with the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership.
- Updated neighborhood commercial area marketing data to be available in a pro-active, user-friendly format (similar toLISC MetroEdge data; 2008) to promote local development opportunities.
- Community-based grant seeking operation to work in and with the local non-profit environment toward accessing federal, state and regional resources.
Proposal Format
Contact information of requesting entity
○ Organization name
○ Street address
○ Mailing address, if different
○ Contact name
○ Telephone, fax & e-mail
○ Fiduciary contact information (same) if applicable
Current Board list (and fiduciary board, if applicable)
Amount of Funds requested
Copy of current IRS 501c3 letter
Participating / Partner organizations
Use of Funds Category
Organization / collective capacity-building
Planning Process
Project Implementation
Project Description
○ Describe the requesting entity
○ Explain the project to be funded, including need, objectives and anticipated short-term and long-term outcome measures
○ Describe how the project will meet criteria stated in this RFP
○ Describe the project deliverables ○ Include anticipated timeline and evaluation framework
○ Describe ways in which this project intends to utilize project support tools
○ Describe how this project will manage relationships
Budget Information
○ Requesting organization budget
○ Total project budget & detailed narrative
○ Latest audited financial statements or review, if available
Certification
Statement by requesting or fiduciary organization that the material set forth in the proposal is accurate, and fully discloses all pertinent organizational information.
Submit
Proposals may be submitted to
Dyer-Ives Foundation
Waters Building
161 Ottawa Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
or: