1 Create a ZoomGrants™ account (below) or log in to your existing account (above) 2 Select a Program to apply for, then click the Apply button to get started 3 Answer the questions and/or fill in the fields in each tab 4 If necessary, upload any requested documents 5 Submit your application and wait for a decision 6 If you are selected to receive funding, you might be required to submit invoices or reports through your application
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The Community Placemaking program helps people tackle community challenges or opportunities through creative, arts-based, equity-focused projects. Grants support projects that foster connection to place, strengthen social fabric and involve and benefit communities of color and other historically marginalized communities. Thank you for taking the time to apply. Metro staff and the Community Placemaking advisory group look forward to reviewing your application.
Questions about ZoomGrants? Use the Help button at the top of the page or contact the Help Desk at Questions@ZoomGrants.com. Questions about your application? Contact Dana Lucero at 503-797-1755 or dana.lucero@oregonmetro.gov. For more information, visit the program website. The 2020 grant application handbook can be found here.
Application review process
Applications will be reviewed by a community-based advisory group with expertise in social justice, arts and culture programming, community development and urban planning. They will use your application as the primary basis for their recommendation, but review may include requests for clarification from you. Make sure your proposed project is clear, compelling and sufficiently defined so they can understand how well it meets the program's objectives. The advisory group will select applications to recommend to Metro’s Chief Operating Officer and Metro Council for funding. Applicants will be notified of grant awards in April 2020.
Who can apply Community Placemaking grants support community-driven initiatives, and partnerships are key to a competitive proposal. Given that, anyone meeting the following conditions can apply:
Community-based organizations with nonprofit status.
Community groups or individuals without nonprofit status must partner with a fiscal sponsor, such as a state certified, federally approved 501(c) nonprofit or a public agency. That fiscal sponsor must have must have a federal employer tax ID number and capacity to contract with Metro. Learn more about a fiscal sponsor’s role in the application handbook beginning on page 6.
Public agencies must have community partners involved in the implementation of the project and a plan to involve the broader public.
(New) If you are a past recipient of a Community Placemaking grant and your project was exclusively an event (spanning a single or multiple days), you may not reapply the year following your award.
Minimum grant requirements
Projects must be located within the Urban Growth Boundary.
Projects must be completed by Fall 2021.
Projects must be clearly achievable given proposed resources and personnel.
Projects proposed in public spaces must have a clear plan to gain support and appropriate permits from the local jurisdiction.
Teams implementing the project will be responsible for carrying insurance coverage and for the proper use, accounting and reporting of grant funds. Metro reports all grant distributions to the IRS.
Placemaking: People’s connections to each other and to places they care about are strengthened. - Addresses a community challenge or opportunity - Prompts people to interact with each other - Uses art as a tool to bring people together or influence their community - Helps people feel a stronger connection to the place(s) where the project happens - Strengthens the things that make a place unique or valued
Equity: People of color and members of historically marginalized communities have power and resources to influence their neighborhoods and communities. - Directly benefits people of color or members of other historically marginalized communities - Led by or actively supported by communities of color or other historically marginalized communities - Strengthens cultural and community assets - Provides opportunities for expression of culture Partnerships: People’s efforts are maximized because they work in partnership with each other and with Metro. - Involves partnerships that bring different or new groups together - Encourages collaboration among community partners - Engages the public in the planning for and participating in the project's implementation - Enhances regional efforts where Metro is actively engaged Leadership: People participate in projects and decisions that affect them. - Gives opportunities to emerging leaders - Builds individual and organizational capacity for civic engagement
By entering your initials here you certify this submission truthfully and accurately represents your application and is hereby submitted for review. Submission of this application does not, in any way, guarantee that your application will yield a favorable result.
Submission of this application also
indicates your agreement to the
terms
of using ZoomGrants™.
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This Pre-Application section must be submitted and Approved by the Administrator (not ZoomGrants) before you can fill out the rest of the application. Click the Submit Pre-Application button at the top or bottom of this tab to submit this section to be reviewed.
Application questions
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WRITE A STRONG APPLICATIONRemember to make your answers clear and compelling and be sure your project is sufficiently defined so the grant advisory group can understand how well it meets the Community Placemaking objectives. The grant application handbook can be found here here. Helpful hints for working in ZoomGrants- The character limits include spaces. For example, 1,000 characters with spaces is approximately a third-page of text. - Answers are saved automatically when you click another field. - If you cut and paste answers here, be sure to remove all formatting, (e.g., bullets, super- or subscript, etc.). Otherwise, you will receive an error message when attempting to submit your application, and you will have to locate and remove the formatting to successfully submit. - Only the primary applicant can submit the application; the submit button does not appear for those working as in ZoomGrants as collaborators.
Tell us about your project Responses can be shorter than the maximum characters for each question.
1. Fiscal sponsor (if different than the lead organization)
If no fiscal sponsor, please write "N/A."
2. What is the community challenge or opportunity this project addresses?
3. List partner organizations that will be a part of making the project happen. If none, write "N/A" in the box below. (You will not be able to successfully submit your application with the box left blank.)
4. What will you do? Describe your project.
5. Where will the project happen? Is there anything you want to share about this place/these places? If you have a specific site(s), include the address(es).
6. How will communities of color be involved? Are there leadership roles for people of color? What about other historically marginalized communities?
7. How will the project make people feel more connected to each other and the place(s) where it will happen?
8. How do you think you'll be able to tell if the project had an impact? For instance, what would change?
9. Each grant cycle, a number of shared themes emerge from community members' applications. Would you be interested in participating in a small group conversation with planners, decision-makers and other applicants? Your perspectives on these community issues help Metro better understand what’s important to the people we serve - you! Participants will receive a $ stipend, and your answer to this question in no way affects the evaluation of your application.
10. Is there anything else you want to share? If not, write "N/A" in the box below. (You will not be able to successfully submit your application with the box left blank.)
Budget
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Budget table
Use the budget table to list your anticipated costs by category. (**Indirect or overhead costs: Only for expenses directly related to project. These are limited to 10 percent of total grant award and can include operating expenses such as rent or electricity.)
Item Description
Metro funds requested
Other funds (if applicable)
People’s services (stipends, staff time, etc.)
Production costs (rentals, advertising, supplies, etc.)
Permits or fees (if applicable)
Indirect or overhead costs (**limited to 10% of total; see instructions above)
Other (describe in budget narrative)
Total $ 0.00
Total $ 0.00
Budget Narrative (Discuss the items and amounts you entered above.)
Explain the costs in your budget table. For example, describe your estimate for professional services (name of individual or company, rate, # of hours, etc.). Include any other information that will help Metro understand the full costs of your project. (*max 1,500)
Activities, timeline, funds needed
(answers are saved automatically when you move to another field)
At least two letters of support by people or groups who want to see your project happen (limit 20MB per upload)
Required
-none-
If applicable, a letter stating permission to use the property by the property owner or manager (limit 20MB per upload)
-none-
Your/your fiscal sponsor's Organization 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter or a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status statement and Employer Identification Number. This is not required for schools or government agencies. (limit 20MB per upload)
-none-
(Optional) Photos, maps or other materials that help us understand the project (limit 20MB per upload)
REPORTING Reporting on how well community grants met their purpose and delivered on the intended outcomes will strengthen accountability with voters and the larger community in the Metro area. Therefore, Grantees will submit program progress reports every six months and one final evaluation outcomes report upon program completion. Unless otherwise amended, the Grant Contract Scope of Work is the Grantee s Nature in Neighborhoods full grant application, which serves to define the evaluation measures and outcomes reporting. The six month program progress reports and final evaluation outcomes report will include a summary of grant activities, the actual total budget and in kind matching contributions, photos, follow up activities, and an evaluation of the program, including a descriptive qualitative story and quantitative evaluation measures. At Metro s discretion, final reimbursement may be withheld until the submission of the final outcomes report. Any Grantee that fails to submit a final report within the contract term as required by the Grant Agreement is ineligible to apply for additional Metro grant funds until the report is submitted. SIX MONTH PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT (2 TO 5 PAGES) Program progress reports provide the Grantee and Metro an opportunity to reflect on the program s activities, outcomes, and progress every six months. Using ZoomGrants, please report your program s progress by answering the questions to describe your program, outcomes and partnerships in a clear and concise manner. Please also upload high quality promotional photos of the program, materials and activities for use in Metro publications and on Metro s website. See attachment. FINAL EVALUATION OUTCOMES REPORT (5 TO 8 PAGES) At the completion of the grant contract, the final evaluation outcomes report provides the Grantee and Metro a chance to review the program s activities, outcomes, challenges and successes. This report takes the place of the six month program progress report at program completion. Using ZoomGrants, please answer the progress report questions and a few additional questions to describe your program narrative, outcomes, partnerships and follow up activities in a clear and concise manner. Please also upload digital photos and materials created. MEDIA AND PROMOTIONS Do you have upcoming events or a call to action for your Metro funded project? Were you recently featured in the news? Please include them in your progress report or send the grants coordinator an email with photos, videos or website links! When you announce events on social media, please include @OregonMetro so that Metro can easily re tweet on twitter or share on Facebook your announcements. To see recent examples on Facebook and Twitter, check out the hashtag #SupportMetroGrantees. Metro s Nature in Neighborhoods grants expanded with help from a levy approved by the region s voters in 2013. Metro would like to draw attention to the visible aspects of Metro supported grant programs to demonstrate to the public how these funds are being used in their communities and to generate ideas for future grant applications. Therefore, we would like to help to promote your project through Metro s social media, media stories, stories posted to Metro s website, Metro s online and print newsletter Our Big Backyard, the Intertwine Blog, and other communications activities. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF METRO AS FUNDING PARTNER As part of this grant, please acknowledge Metro as a supporter for your program when and where possible. This includes, but is not limited to, newsletters, social media, signs, event mailings, annual reports, print or film media, websites and news releases. For social media, including Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, please include @OregonMetro, www.facebook.com/oregonmetro, or www.oregonmetro.gov. For written material, please include the new 2016 Metro logo.
