Request for Proposals Community Foundation of Boone County Fatherhood Initiative Community Foundation of Boone County

April 28, 2005

Summary: The Community Foundation of Boone County is announcing a new grant initiative focusing on fatherhood and its impact upon Boone County families, especially the youth of Boone County.

An involved father contributes directly to better school performance, reduced substance abuse, less crime and delinquency, fewer emotional and other behavioral problems, fewer teen pregnancies, less risk of abuse or neglect and lower teen suicide rates. The research is clear. Fathers matter significantly in the lives of their children. There is simply no substitute for the love, involvement and commitment of a responsible father.

The purpose of this initiative is to improve the well being of Boone County's children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible and committed fathers.

Eligibility: Any not-for-profit organization in Boone County having within its mission objectives related to this initiative is eligible to submit a grant application.

The Community Foundation will consider applications from churches, religion-sponsored organizations or non-affiliated religious organizations if: (1) the purpose of the project for which the grant is requested is primarily civic in nature; (2) any included religious activity or instruction is incidental to the proposed project, or is paid for by other sources; and (3) the proposed project will serve participants without regard to religion or creed.

Proposal Receipt Deadline: There is only one 2005 deadline; 4:00 p.m., June 17, 2005 (the Friday before Father's Day).

Background: The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation has carefully evaluated the needs of our County and is dedicating a significant portion of its annually available grant funds to one specific area of need. Fatherhood, and matters related to improving the role of fathers within their families, is the Community Foundation's focus for this year and for the immediate future.

Program Focus: This new program is a community-wide initiative. To be "community-wide," a proposed project must give convincing evidence that it addresses the issue of fatherhood throughout at least one entire Boone County community. However, the Foundation will place high priority upon proposals having objectives that pertain to all communities in Boone County, not just one.

Community Partnerships: Partnership projects between or among eligible applicant organizations will also be given high priority. In such cases, a single coordinating organization must serve as the applicant, and if funded, the applicant organization will become the responsible grantee and the administrative head of the funded project. The other participating organizations will be cooperating partners. Such proposals must include documented evidence of agreement to the conditions of the proposals by each partnering organization. Single-organization proposals will receive the same careful review and consideration for funding.

The Community Foundation is not prescribing the types of applications it expects to receive nor the projects it will fund. It believes that the experts on the topic of fatherhood reside within numerous organizations throughout Boone County, and that they are in the best positions to prescribe innovative ideas resulting in creative proposals. Thus, the guidelines for this program have been left deliberately general so as not to interfere with creative thought. If proposals request funds for the expansion of existing programs, they too will be expected to be the result of careful and creative thought, as well as providing quantitative validation of past success.

Program Duration: The duration of this community-wide initiative will be determined by the Foundation Board, but initially will be available in calendar years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Award Size: Approximately $100,000 will be available annually. Grant size will vary.

Matching Requirements: No matching funds are required for the 2005 competition. However, matching funds contributed by either the submitting organization, a partnering organization, or by a non-partnering third party or individual (e.g., the federal government, a church, a civic organization, an individual, etc.) are encouraged, and will be viewed as evidence of cooperation. Matching funds may be contributed in the form of actual dollars (that can be documented), or they may be "in-kind" contributions (instead of dollars) if actual dollar values can be established and validated.

Although not required, the availability of matching funds to a proposed project may become a factor in award decisions made by the Foundation.

Number of Awards: It is possible that only one annual grant will be awarded, however, the precise number will be determined by the Foundation Board.

Award Duration: Each award will be for at least twelve months, but may be longer. The actual grant period will be determined by the nature of the project proposed and funded.

Foundation Assistance: A meeting for representatives of organizations having decided to submit proposals will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 6, 2005, at the Ramada Inn, Lebanon. Help will be provided by Community Foundation representatives on issues related to the preparation and submission of proposals. Sufficient time will be available to respond to questions from prospective applicants.

This is a voluntary meeting for which there is no charge. However pre-registration is required. Please call the Community Foundation office to register no later than June 1, 2005 (317-873-0210 or 765-482-0024).

A list of local, state and national resources (e.g., a catalogue of existing fatherhood initiatives, relevant data, government publications, federal funding opportunities, faith-based initiatives, etc.) may be accessed on the Foundation's website (bccn.boone.in.us/cf/).

Proposal Preparation: Special Fatherhood Initiative guidelines for submitting proposals to the Community Foundation must be followed. These can be found on the Foundation's website (bccn.boone.in.us/cf/).

Proposal Submission: Proposals may be hand-delivered to the Community Foundation of Boone County, 60 East Cedar Street, Zionsville, Indiana, or mailed to the Community Foundation of Boone County, P.O. Box 92, Zionsville, Indiana 46077.

Proposals received after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2005, and those submitted by Fax or via the Internet will not be eligible for competition.

Additional Information and Assistance:

The Community Foundation of Boone County
PO Box 92
Zionsville Indiana 46077
Voice: 317-873-0210 or 765-482-0024
FAX: 317-873-0219

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