
>> NEW <<
To learn more about this exciting new program, click here.
Community Grants Process
The Saint Luke's Foundation specifically seeks Community Grant requests for:
- Operating Support
- Program Support
- Capital Support
- Organizational and Community Capacity Building:
- Evaluation
- Staff/Board Capability
- Strategic Planning
- Technology
- Communication
To honor Saint Luke’s Medical Center’s legacy of service, the Foundation prioritizes the Mt. Pleasant, Buckeye-Shaker, and Woodland Hills neighborhoods. However, many community grants cover a broader area of Cuyahoga County's underserved communities.
Application Process
Get Acquainted Meetings
STEP 1: Letter of Inquiry
STEP 2: Site Visit
STEP 3: Proposal Submission and Review
Who Can Apply
Staff Discretionary Grants
Previous Grants
Grantmaking Calendar
Interested in applying?
To learn the nuts and bolts of the Community Grants Application Process, click here.
Foundation launches new grant program
Nonprofits all have stories to tell. Tell yours well—get it to “stick”
in people’s minds—and you have a better chance of reaching your intended
audiences with your products and services and garnering support from donors
and the community. Crafting that kind of “sticky” message is why, for the
past several years, the Saint Luke’s Foundation has focused significant
resources on helping organizations build their capacity to tell their stories
in compelling, effective ways that “stick” with their intended audiences.
Why Communicate?
We strongly believe communications are critical to the effectiveness
of any program led by our nonprofit partners. These nonprofits are working
hard every day, making progress, creating change, building alliances, engendering
community trust, and helping people help themselves. In fact, our mission
– to reinvest our resources and provide leadership and support for the improvement
and transformation of the health and well-being of individuals, families
and communities of Greater Cleveland -- can only be realized through the
work of strong nonprofits focused on helping people, achieving measurable
results and communicating to the widest possible
audiences.
However, in troubled economic times, nonprofits and foundations alike have a
tendency to communicate less than their for-profit
colleagues, largely due to a lack of resources, says the 2008 Philanthropy Annual
published by the Foundation Center.
Less communication – when the competition for resources is
stiffer than ever?!
Less communication when people won’t come and/or participate
in your programs if they don’t know about them?!
Less communication when messages are competing across more
and more channels/vehicles/mediums?!
Since early 2007, the Saint Luke’s Foundation has provided communications
assistance to our nonprofit grantees, sending them to seminars, offering
resources like the Cause Communications Toolkit and the Foundation’s
online collection of communications resources, and of course focusing the
entire ’09 biennial meeting on the art of creative, “sticky” storytelling. But
based on what nonprofits continue to tell us – there’s more we can
do.
So…recognizing that nonprofits sometimes need more than just technical
assistance and resources to tell their stories, we are pleased to announce
a special Make it Stick! Request for Proposals
(RFP) where nonprofits can apply to the Saint Luke’s Foundation
for financial support of communications programs, projects and materials.
This unique funding program will occur in the second quarter
of 2010 in place of the Foundation’s regular second quarter community grant
application process.
The Make it Stick! RFP will
prioritize organizations providing basic needs (food, clothing, shelter,
healthcare) across vulnerable populations. As with all other Saint Luke’s
Foundation grant requests, applicants must also meet at least one of the
Foundation’s focus areas of health and healthcare, human services and neighborhood
empowerment.
Organizations whose work aligns with the Foundation’s priorities
and areas of focus may apply for support of unique approaches to new or
existing communications programs, activities or materials. Grant requests
could include (but are not limited to):
- Communications plan strategy and development consultation
- Research (focus group, survey, etc.) aimed at guiding the creation
of messages and communications strategies
- Creation and analysis of a communications assessment, which could lead
to development of a strategic communications plan
- Media relations planning, buying, monitoring and training
- Websites, including design, development/programming and copywriting
- Annual reports, including printed and electronic
- Design, production, dissemination of communications, fundraising and/or
policy collateral materials, including, but not limited to, brochures,
newsletters, and other printed materials
- Electronic communications, including, but not limited to, enhanced
email communications, e-commerce, videos, blogs and other social media
- Event, meeting or conference materials for staff and/or board
- Agency training or staffing fees that strengthen a nonprofit’s capacity
to create stronger stories that “stick”
Projects funded under the Make it Stick! RFP will
be highlighted at the Foundation’s 2011 biennial meeting.
To download the Make it Stick! RFP, click here.
Who do I call?
An important component of the Make it Stick! RFP process is the identification of a vendor (or vendors) who can work with you/your organization to help you frame your project and perhaps be a part of “doing” the work needed to achieve your goals. With that in mind, a number of you have asked us for a list of communications agencies and/or consultants that do this kind of work. That list can be found by clicking here.
Also, every year, Crain’s Cleveland Business publishes a list of the “Largest Public Relations Firms.” That list can be viewed by clicking here.
These lists do not imply endorsement or preference by the Saint Luke's Foundation or any member of its staff. It was compiled by using public information and is offered only as one potential source of information for those seeking communications assistance.
Are you a consultant or agency that’s not listed? Send me an email: kstjohn@saintlukesfoundation.org and I would be glad to add you to the list.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be an organization described in Section 501(c) (3)
of the Internal Revenue Code or a governmental unit or agency. Generally,
currently funded nonprofits are ineligible to receive concurrent grant
funding from the Foundation. However, for the
purposes of this special program, all nonprofits and governmental organizations
who meet the Foundation’s general eligibility criteria are welcome to
respond to the Make it Stick! RFP. In
other words, you CAN apply for this program even if you already have an
active grant with the Saint Luke’s Foundation!
Awards
The size and scope of individual awards will vary, but funded projects
must be completed in ONE YEAR. Projects will be
funded for a maximum of one year from July 1, 2010 -
June 30, 2011. While organizations are welcome to apply for funding through
the Foundation’s traditional grantmaking cycles, an award through the Make
it Stick! RFP is no guarantee of future
funding.
Deadline
The deadline for all letters of inquiry will be 5:00 PM, April 1, 2010.
Applicants must submit Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) through the Foundation’s
website at www.saintlukesfoundation.org. Indicate in the title of the LOI
that the request is in response to the Make it Stick! RFP.
Other important dates in the process:
SECOND
QUARTER (Make it Stick! RFP submissions ONLY) |
1-Apr |
Letter
of Inquiry (LOI) Deadline |
9-Apr |
Staff LOI
Review |
April
26-30 |
Site Visits |
5-May |
Logic Model
Training |
21-May |
Proposal
Deadline |
10-Jun |
Grant Committee |
1-July |
Funds Available |
Contact
Foundation staff is available to address any questions organizations have in
responding to the Make it Stick! RFP and
assist through all stages of the grantmaking process. Direct all questions about
the Make it Stick! RFP to Kimberly
St. John-Stevenson, who will serve as Program Officer for this portfolio of
grants. Kim can be reached at kstjohn@saintlukesfoundation.org or
216-431-8010.
Application Process
The Make it Stick! RFP process
will follow the Foundation’s standard grantmaking process. However,
the Foundation will offer a number of technical assistance opportunities
to help nonprofits determine the best potential project(s) to submit for
funding.
To begin the application process, click read below or click here
Online Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
A grant request is initiated with a letter of inquiry completed through
the Foundation’s website. The online letter of inquiry includes a
brief overview of:
- the applicant organization
- the proposed project, including high-level overview of timeline, resources
and audiences
- the impact the grant will have on the organization
- short-term outcomes and long-term objectives
Selection Criteria
Projects will be assessed using the following criteria:
- The organization
- has a mission and programs/services that support that mission
- has sufficient community support and involvement
- can demonstrate how it will make a difference in the community by having
the capacity to tell its story
- has the leadership, staff, and infrastructure to carry out the project
- The communications project
- has clear goals, measurable outcomes, and a plan for evaluation
- is fully conceptualized and designed in such a way as to increase the
likelihood that it will be successful
- is innovative, interesting and cost effective
- The costs proposed are reasonable and appropriate
Letters of inquiry are reviewed by the Foundation staff to determine which
requests will be moved to the second step in the application process: a
site visit. Those requests that will not receive a site visit will be notified.
Site Visits
In general, site visits last 1½ hours and are held at the applicant's
site. The applicant prepares an agenda that includes an overview of the
organization, proposed project, outcomes/evaluation and budget. Organizations
should include their executive director, key staff members, and board member(s)
who can speak to the organization's overall commitment to the request. For
more information regarding the site visit, review our online recommendations here.
Technical Assistance on Planning Your Request
We strongly encourage you to participate in an informational meeting
on February 17, 2010 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm at the Cleveland Sight Center, located at 1909 East 101 Street in Cleveland. During the session, foundation staff will be available
to respond to questions and help applicants explore ways to tell their
stories. During the meeting, we will also provide participants with
details on how to access Cause Communications’ Nonprofit Communications
Effectiveness Assessment Tool, which will help you gain a better understanding
of your current communications activities as you plan for the future. Participants
will also receive a copy of Cause Communications’ “Nonprofit Communications
Tool Kit.”
We also invite nonprofits to participate in an upcoming series of communications
seminars called “BIG PR Planning on a Nonprofit Budget,” presented by the
Saint Luke’s Foundation, The Center for Community Solutions and sponsored
by Card Palmer Certified Public Accountants and the Public Relations Society
of America (PRSA). The five-part series is specifically designed for nonprofit
organizations. For more on the series, click here or
go to http://tinyurl.com/yemd3gy Full
scholarships are available – to RSVP, call Lynn or Debi at 440-899-1112
and tell them you want to register for the communications series. Be
sure to mention the Saint Luke’s Foundation when you call.
Grant Proposals
The Foundation’s grant proposal includes a cover letter, three-page
logic model, the Communications Effectiveness Assessment, project budget
form and narrative, an audit and any requested attachments. All proposal
elements can be found on the Foundation’s website. Proposals
are only accepted upon invitation following review of the Letter of Inquiry. Projects
are often clarified during the site visit and subsequent communications.
It is recommended that organizations take full advantage of those steps
before preparing a grant proposal.
2010 Grantmaking Schedule
For planning purposes, please be advised that ONLY Make it
Stick! communications requests-as outlined in the Make it Stick!
RFP - will be entertained on our April 1 deadline. Any requests received
on that deadline that are NOT responses to the Make it Stick! Request
for Proposals will be reviewed in the third quarter.
The 2010 deadlines for our traditional grantmaking cycles are
as follows:
| 1ST QUARTER |
|
| Jan. 25 - 29 |
Site Visits |
| Feb. 3 |
Logic Model Training |
| Feb. 19 |
Proposal Deadline |
| March 11 |
Grant Commitee |
| April
1 |
Funds Available
|
| 2ND
QUARTER (Make it Stick! requests ONLY) |
| April
1 |
Letter
of Inquiry (LOI) Deadline |
| April
26 - 30 |
Site Visits |
| May 5 |
Logic Model
Training |
| May 21 |
Proposal
Deadline |
| June 10 |
Grant Commitee |
| July 1 |
Funds available |
3RD QUARTER |
|
| July 1 |
Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Deadline |
| Aug. 2 - 6 |
Site Visits |
| Aug. 9 |
Logic Model Training |
| Aug. 20 |
Proposal Deadline |
| Sept. 16 |
Grant Commitee |
| Oct. 1 |
Funds available |
4TH
QUARTER |
|
| Oct.1 |
Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Deadline |
| Oct. 18 - 22 |
Site Visits |
| Oct. 27 |
Logic Model Training |
| Nov. 12 |
Proposal Deadline |
| Dec. 6 |
Grant Commitee |
| Dec. 31 |
Funds Available |
|