Request for Proposals

Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2005


April 28, 2005

Dear Friend:
We are pleased to invite you to apply for a grant from the Open Door Fund, a fund of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. The mission of this permanently endowed fund, established in 1996, is to support the Boulder County community by raising money and distributing grants for programs that enhance the lives of its gay lesbian and transgender people. We will be accepting applications through Thursday, June 30th, 2005.

Grant funds have been made available this year by our highly successful ninth annual Monsoon Dinner and Auction, as well as local fund raising. To date, approximately $250,000 has been awarded to organizations serving the Boulder County GLBTQ community.

Categories of special interest for funding include:

• Gathering Places: GLBT people have identified safe venues as a primary need.
• Communications and Networks: This might include – but is not limited to – newsletters, resource guides, or Internet services.
• Social, Recreational, Arts and Cultural Programs
• Spiritual Needs
• Mental Health and Counseling
• Youth Needs
• Family and Relationships
• Workplace Issues
• Other Unmet Needs: If we failed to identify an area that is important to you or your organization, we encourage you to let us know. Please identify the need and offer evidence of why it is a need.
  

Your proposal should include the following:

1. The Colorado Common Grant Application cover page;
2. A written description (no more than three pages, please) of your proposed project, including who will be involved and how the program works or will work;
3. A program budget, indicating how you anticipate using the grant money, and other funding sources you receive monies from;
4. If you received funding last year, A ONE-PAGE PROGRESS REPORT (Grant Report Form) MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR YOUR NEW PROPOSAL TO BE CONSIDERED;
5. A list of your board or directors, or that of your §501(c)(3) sponsor*;
6. Proof of your (or your sponsor’s) §501(c)(3) status*. If you are partnering with a fiscal sponsor, a letter on their letterhead confirming the affiliation must be included;
7. A copy of your organization’s non-discrimination policy (preference will be given to those that include sexual orientation)*;
8. Additional documentation or letters of support are welcome.
   

* If you have applied for funding from The Community Foundation within the past 12 months and the information you submitted is still current, you do not need to resubmit these items.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Projects must meet the support the GLBTQ community.
• Applicants can be any non-profit organization with an IRS 501(c)(3) designation or any governmental or public entity. (Groups or organizations that do not have IRS 501(c)(3) designation may only apply in partnership with one of the nonprofit designations listed above.)
• The group or organization must provide services or conduct the proposed activities within Boulder County for the benefit of Boulder County residents.
• The Open Door Fund does not fund projects that further a particular religious or political doctrine.
  

DEADLINE: 5 p.m.- June 30, 2005

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING E-MAIL PROPOSALS (E-Mail is the preferred method of submission.): Send ONE copy of your written description and accompanying materials to Materials are preferred in Microsoft programs. You will receive a return e-mail confirming that your materials have been received.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING PAPER COPIES OF PROPOSALS (If you cannot send e-mail): You can mail or hand-deliver six copies of your written description and accompanying materials to:

The Community Foundation
1123 Spruce Street
Boulder, CO 80302

Sorry, we cannot accept faxes.

Please feel free to call Carly Hare at 303.442.0436 or e-mail if you have questions. More information is also available on our website: www.opendoorfund.org.

Sincerely,

P.S. The Advisory Committee of the Open Door Fund encourages all GLBTQ organizations in Boulder County to list themselves on the special web site called Culture of Giving which has been established by The Community Foundation to offer nonprofits a chance to tell potential donors about themselves. For information and to register your organization, visit http://www.cultureofgiving.org/nonprofits.cfm