RESTORE THE CORE Micro-Grant Guidelines and Requirements:
A well-conceived action plan will articulate the following elements:
- Background of applying neighborhood association including its history, past projects/achievements and a list of active officers, leaders and participants
- An innovative, new project idea or creative expansion of existing project with potential ongoing impact
- A detailed action plan (see example & complete the action plan template)
- Budget outline for proposed project (see example & complete the expenses template)
- A project that seeks to achieve meaningful results
- Community connections or partnerships
Award Duration:
1 year. Project activities may not necessarily span the entire year but funds shall be expended within the award year. Unexpended funds at the end of the award year shall be returned to UAct. Awarded groups may seek extensions for unforeseen circumstances.
Round 1 Awards Funding Cycle: January 8, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Round 1 Application Deadlines:
| Capacity building training | Sept. 15 - Nov. 10, 2023 | External partner - more info to come |
| Invitation to apply sent | Nov. 13, 2023 | This is an invitation-only grant program |
| Request technical assistance on application (If external entity is funded by UAct) | Nov. 13 - Dec. 17, 2023 | Technical assistance entity TBD/contact Sheila at 217-691-9124 until entity is announced |
| Applications due | Dec. 17, 2023 | Postmarked or received in inbox by midnight |
| Awardees selected and applicants notified | Dec. 22, 2023 | Groups not awarded can contact UAct for feedback on their application with potential to apply in Round 2 or beyond. They are also strongly encouraged to participate in UAct-funded technical assistance if available. |
| Action plan modifications discussed if needed | Dec. 29, 2024 | Awards may be contingent on UAct-requested project and budget modifications |
| Request technical assistance for modifications | If external entity is funded by UAct | Technical assistance entity TBD/contact Sheila at 217-691-9124 until entity is announced |
| Application modifications submitted | Jan. 5, 2024 | |
| Projects funded/funding cycle begins | January 8, 2024 | Funds must be deposited in the neighborhood association’s or project-specific bank account with two signatories to be used for all project expenses. Award checks not appropriately deposited by Sept. 31, 2023 will be cancelled. Fiscal agents will be considered. |
| Funding cycle ends | Dec. 31, 2024 | All Round 1 activities end |
| Final Report due | Jan. 31, 2024 | Exception: projects that are not active for the entire year cycle, must submit a final report 30 days after completion of the project For projects awarded an extension Projects that do not submit a final report will not be eligible to apply in subsequent funding cycles |
Sample Project Ideas:
Voter mobilization efforts
Vacant lot cleanup
Neighborhood recycling campaign
Association capacity building
Association website or social media
Helping seniors maintain properties
Community composting
Walking club
Neighborhood wellbeing project
Improve digital skills
Neighborhood beautification project
Outdoor art project
Neighborhood ambassador or liaison program/ local government observer group
Neighborhood safety program
Government/institutions speaker’s series
Project Examples:
A voter mobilization campaign could include community/neighborhood candidate forums, educational literature about the importance of voting and rides to the polls for the elderly.
Association capacity-building could include hosting neighborhood meetings with community leaders to educate members on relevant public policy topics, promote two-way communication and facilitate neighborhood-level advocacy.
Links to helpful resources:
https://planetizen.com/blogs/110506-7-grassroots-strategies-empowering-urban-communities
Budget Details:
Allowable Expenses:
- Small volunteer stipends or incentives for members administering the project will be considered.
- Payments to legitimate vendors for services, materials and/or supplies that advance your goals outlined in the grant award
- Supporting minority &/or woman-owned businesses and those located in East Springfield is strongly encouraged
- One-time or annual events are discouraged as the primary project but can be part of a larger initiative that promotes ongoing civic engagement. For example, hosting a neighborhood block party with food and children’s activities would not be eligible if it is a stand-alone, one time or even annual event. However, if the proposal included this activity as part of broader neighborhood engagement project or perhaps to celebrate a project’s success it may be considered an eligible activity.
- Project with activities to jump-start an inactive neighborhood association
- Project to plan, develop and activate a new neighborhood association
- Fiscal agent fees (no more than 8% of grant award)
Non-Allowable Expenses:
- Salaries for neighborhood association members
- Routine &/or past expenses of neighborhood association
- Support for regular neighborhood programming
- Activities considered primarily religious or partisan in scope
- Fundraisers
Grantee Accountability:
A “responsible party” for the Association (preferably the President but could be another officer) must submit the proposal on behalf of the neighborhood association and must sign an award acceptance letter outlining the terms and expectations of the agreement if funding is awarded. This person may or may not be the project’s coordinator but shall be the person responsible for implementation of the grant agreement and proper use of awarded funds.
Neighborhood Associations awarded a RESTORE THE CORE grant agree to expend the funds in a responsible manner consistent with the budget and action plan outlined in the acceptance document.
Funds must be deposited in a Neighborhood Association or project-specific bank account with two signatories to be used for all project expenses. UAct funds may not be deposited in an individuals’ bank account.
Any misuse of funds may be subject to legal or civil penalty.
Awarded associations may apply for funds for an existing funded or new project in subsequent years.
Awarded associations are required to work with the program’s technical assistance provider if applicable.
UAct’s President/Founder has sole authority to select or reject projects for any reason not subject to explanation.
Regular and open communication between the awardees and UAct leadership is strongly encouraged. Contact Sheila Stocks-Smith at 217-691-9124 or info@urbanactionnetwork.org.
UAct Recognition Language:
Entities awarded RESTORE THE CORE grants shall include the Urban Action Network logo and/or letterhead on its website, social media and/or promotional materials related to the funded project. The following statement will be included on all public-facing materials: This project is supported by a RESTORE THE CORE grant from the Smith/Stocks-Smith Family Foundation doing business as the Urban Action Network.
UAct’s Website/Social Media:
All awarded projects will allow UAct to feature project details on its website and social media and will provide UAct, upon request, pictures and/or other documentation of project activities and stories.
Liability:
UAct is not liable for any aspect of the funded project. Neighborhood association project insurance is encouraged.
Final Reporting:
A final report using a UAct-provided template is required by all funded associations due one month after the project’s activities are complete or by the end of the calendar year funding cycle if the project remains active throughout the entire cycle. Projects that do not submit a final report will forfeit their chance to apply for a RESTORE THE CORE grant in subsequent funding cycles.
APPLICATION
This is a fillable application form so you can type directly into it. You can also save your work and return to it another time. You may also download the form to assist in the drafting of your responses and then transfer your responses to the electronic form.