DC Social Innovation Project

Community Lab - Apply

Ward 8 Community Lab Grant

Funding and pro bono consulting for an innovative,
new community initiative benefitting Washington, DC’s Ward 8
Deadline: October 21, 2012

DC Social Innovation Project in partnership with the Kimsey Foundation invites applications for a Community Lab grant – which includes up to $3,000 in funding along with pro bono consulting – to support an innovative, early-stage community initiative impacting DC’s Ward 8.

DC Social Innovation Project’s Community Lab supports creative and innovative new projects with measurable results. Winning projects go beyond more prevalent types of community initiatives such as neighborhood gardens, after-school programs, and health fairs. We want to see how those types of projects can be enhanced or altered in order to have a disruptive effect on the issues they seek to address.

The selected organization will receive up to $3,000 in funding for the project. Along with the funding, the organization will be assigned a dedicated volunteer team of consultants from top consulting firms to provide strategic guidance and management consulting for the implementation of the project or the organization’s overall operations – bringing the total value of the award to approximately $12,000.

In order to leverage the funding we provide, the recipient non-profit will be required to match at least 50% of the amount awarded, via crowd-funding through our partner StartSomeGood.com or via another mechanism that engages individual donors. This match requirement ensures that projects are supported by individuals in the community, and will help increase the organization’s existing donor base to provide future support for the project. DC Social Innovation Project will work with the winning organization in meeting the match requirement.

Guidelines & Procedures:

Eligibility
Applications must be submitted on behalf of a non-profit organization; individuals are not eligible to receive funding. Organizations with fiscal sponsorship, pending 501(c)(3) status, or plans to apply for 501(c)(3) status may apply.
The applicant may be an existing non-profit seeking to implement a new project or may be a completely new non-profit seeking to implement its first project.
There is no specific upper or lower limit when it comes to the size, age, or operating budget of the applying organization. However, applications must be for a new or early-stage project, for which $3,000 and the consulting services would be a significant investment. Organizations with minimal or no paid staff and organizations that have not received significant funding are especially encouraged to apply.

Project
There is no restriction on the subject area or topical focus of a project funded through Community Lab, but it must focus on a specific population, neighborhood, or school in Ward 8.
The project timeline should take into account that it will take up to four weeks for a decision to be made, and funds will not be provided until the match requirement has been met.

Selection Process
Applications are reviewed as they are received and we encourage applying early. This will provide us the opportunity to contact you with any questions or concerns about the application or proposed project, and will allow you the opportunity to resubmit your application prior to the deadline.
Additional information about the proposed project may be requested after the deadline. Finalists will be interviewed.
One winner will be selected.
DCSIP anticipates providing a decision on each application within four weeks after the deadline. An automated confirmation message will be sent to the e-mail address provided in the application when it is submitted.
Organizations may submit more than one application.
Applications will be evaluated based on factors including potential social impact, feasibility of the project, need for the project, capacity of the applying organization to effectively implement the project, plans for securing additional funding if needed, and potential for collaboration with other organizations. Applications will be reviewed by DCSIP’s directors and advisors. All decisions are final and are the sole discretion of DCSIP.

After Selection
The recipient organization will be required to sign our grant agreement. The agreement includes, among other things, the requirement to provide periodic reports to DCSIP on the status of the project and expenditures.
The winning organization must match at least 50% of our grant award (via StartSomeGood.com or another mechanism that engages individual donors) before funding will be provided. Funding from DCSIP will be in the form of three equal installments over three consecutive months, unless otherwise agreed.
A team of volunteer consultants will be made available to the recipient organization after the grant agreement is executed and the match amount is secured. The team will be available for up to four months to work on a mutually-agreed upon issue.

The deadline for submitting a complete application is October 21, 2012.

Please e-mail any questions to info[at]dcsocialinnovation.org.

Click here to access the application  (UPDATE: 10/21 6:01PM Some users are experiencing an error when attempting to access the application. If you are unable to access the application, email your responses to us at info[at]dcsocialinnovation.org)
(The actual application is an online form that you must complete and submit in one sitting; you are not allowed to save your work in the form and return to it later. We recommend preparing your answers first in a document saved to your computer before submitting the online application.)

This grant is made possible by DC Social Innovation Project
and the Kimsey Foundation.