Watsonville Rotary Foundation - Community Grants

 The Watsonville Rotary Club Foundation is pleased to announce the release of its 2020-21 Grant Guidelines for applicants interested in requesting support for programs/projects that align with Watsonville Rotary’s specific Areas of Interest. In addition, due to the unique challenges of the Corona Virus Pandemic, applicants (this year only) may choose to request funds to support ‘general core operating expenses’ related to the day-to- day operation of the organization. Please review these guidelines carefully before submitting a grant proposal.

We welcome questions from applicants prior to submitting an application. Please feel free to contact Kathleen King, Grants Review Committee (GRC) Chair at kkingponzio@gmail.com or (831) 234-0062.

AREAS OF INTEREST FOR FUNDING IN FISCAL YEAR 2020-21

Watsonville Rotary Foundation awards grants to organizations whose applications are focused on the Areas of Interest below. Each of these Areas of Interest includes specific goals. Interested applicants must identify one or more areas of interest and specific goal(s) for their request.

Youth Violence Prevention: We would like to minimize the factors that contribute to youth violence by supporting programs/projects that:

  • Empower youth to seek positive solutions to social problems.
  • Provide safe places for children and their families.
  • Increase access to mental health services for youth and their families.
  • Provide pathways for students to stay in school and complete their education.

Education Outreach Support: We would like to encourage youth to increase their knowledge and their capacity to experience good quality of life by supporting programs/projects that:

  • Encourage attainment of higher education goals (academic, technical & vocational).
  • Teach workforce development skills.
  • Provide educational pipeline programs for early development of career/professional interests.
  • Teach life skills and provide tools to address specific challenges and opportunities.
  • Encourage the practice of making safe and healthy lifestyle choices.

General Core Operating Support: General Core Operating expenses are typically fixed expenses such as rent, utilities, internet, and phone bill, among others. Given the fundraising challenges facing nonprofits during the Pandemic, Watsonville Rotary Foundation will accept proposals this year for general core operating support so that nonprofit staff can better focus on delivering programs that will have the greatest impact. In addition to fixed expenses, nonprofits can include staff expenses in their requests as well.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Organizations that meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:

  • The applicant organization must be a nonprofit 501(c) (3), tax-exempt organization or a school-based program in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, or have a 501(c) (3), tax-exempt organization as a fiscal sponsor.
  • The applicant organization must provide or plan to provide programs/services benefitting the residents of Watsonville (95076) including Pajaro, La Selva, Corralitos & Royal Oaks) as well as Freedom (95019) and Aromas (95004) in one of Watsonville Rotary’s Priority Focus Areas as described in these guidelines (below). The applicant organization does not need to be located in the Pajaro Valley, but the applicant organization must demonstrate that it provides or plans to provide services that directly benefit residents of the Pajaro Valley.
  • The applicant organization must have a nondiscrimination policy in place.
  • The applicant organization must have the demonstrated capacity to carry out the program or core-operating work funded by the grant and to maintain fiscal accountability.

EXCLUSIONS/TYPES OF REQUESTS THAT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING

In general, Watsonville Rotary does not give grants to:

  • For profit organizations
  • Projects that do not substantially benefit residents of the Pajaro Valley
  • Projects and proposals unrelated to Rotary’s defined Areas of Interest for Funding
  • Individuals
  • Religious organizations for religious purposes
  • Endowments, building campaigns, annual fund appeals, fundraising events or celebrations
  • Commercial ventures
  • Political Campaigns

 FUNDS AVAILABLE AND DURATION

Watsonville Rotary Foundation grants will be awarded in June 2021 to fund projects that will take place in FY 2021-22. Watsonville Rotary Foundation will award 15 grants at $1,000 each. Due to limited resources, applicants can apply for only one grant per year. Those who are awarded funding in a given year will not be eligible to apply the following year. However, they may apply again in the second year.

The number of grants and the amounts awarded are tied directly to Watsonville Rotary’s fundraising efforts on an annual basis and can vary from year to year. The Club’s GRC will review grant proposals in the spring of each year through an objective process designed to identify proposals that most closely align with our grant guidelines.

GRC recommendations are then forwarded to the Rotary Board of Directors for review. Approved grants are distributed in June. If your organization is approved for funding, we request that you recognize the Watsonville Rotary Club Foundation on your website, social media and/or advertising.

Watsonville Rotary will not be able to fund all requests submitted in response to this Request for Proposals — only those projects that most strongly meet the identified program goals above will receive support within Rotary’s budgetary limitations.

The grant term will be one year (July 2021–June 2022); however, one-time, and short-term projects will be considered.

 TYPES OF SUPPORT

The Watsonville Rotary Foundation prefers to provide program/project support and does not generally provide capacity-building or capital grants. This year only, we will consider funding requests for general operating support.

GRANT CYCLE AND APPLICATION SCHEDULE

Grant Guidelines Released: September 15, 2020
Grant Application Due: January 31, 2021
Awards Announced: June 2021

HOW TO APPLY

First, please make sure you are using the most up-to-date version of Acrobat Reader. Eligible organizations should download and save the interactive PDF forms below using the buttons provided. The first three forms make up your grant proposal and are required for submission. The fourth (a PDF of these guidelines) is provided for your convenience.

Download Grant Proposal Application

Download Program Evaluation Worksheet

Download Project Budget Worksheet

Download Grant Guidelines

Once downloaded, complete the required information and save your documents to your computer. Email all three completed grant proposal forms no later than 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 31, 2021 to:

Kathleen King, GRC Chair
kkingponzio@gmail.com
(831) 234-0062

CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT:

The GRC Chair will confirm receipt of your grant application materials by email within five business days of your submission. NOTE: If you do not receive confirmation, it is your responsibility to contact the chair immediately at the email or phone number above.

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