Request for Proposals

Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Friday, June 29, 2007


May 18 , 2007

Dear Friends:

We warmly invite you to apply for a grant from the Open Door Fund, a fund of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. We will be accepting applications through Friday, June 29, 2007.

Background of the Open Door Fund

Open Door is a permanently endowed fund, established in 1996. We raise money and distribute grants for Boulder Country programs which enhance the lives of gay, lesbian, bi and transgender people.

We raise this grant money through our annual Open Door Dinner and Auction and other local fundraising. To date, we have given nearly $280,000 to organizations serving Boulder County's LGBTQ communities. We fund

• GLBTQ Gathering Places and Safe Venues
• Communications and Networks: This includes newsletters, resource guides, Internet services and more.
• Social, Recreational, Arts, Cultural, and Workplace Needs and Programs
• Spiritual Needs
• Mental Health and Counseling
• Youth, Elder, Family and Relationships Needs
• Other Unmet Needs: If we've left out an important area, let us know.
  Please identify the need and tell us more about it.

Eligibility Criteria for Grantee Organizations

• While we sometimes fund general operating expenses, we give preference to proposals for specific projects or activities.
• Projects must support the LGBTQ community.
• Applicants must be non-profit organizations with an IRS 501(c)(3) designation or governmental or public entities. Groups or organizations without an 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.
  

How to Apply

Proposals must include the following:

• ODF Organization Summary
• A written description (up to three pages) of your proposed project, including who will be involved and how the program will work. It is helpful to use The Colorado Common Grant Application outline.
• A program budget, indicating how you anticipate using the grant money, and other funding sources you receive monies from.
• Expanding Leadership Initiative Information Request Form: Diversity Chart Assessment
  Each organization applying for funding through any grant cycles of The Community Foundation will be required to submit a Diversity Chart as part of its funding application. This information will be used to track changes in demographics within Boulder County organizations. Only aggregate information will be available to the public; individual organization reporting will be kept internal at The Community Foundation.
  The Diversity Chart is available as a Microsoft Excel (.xls) file. You should download it, fill it in on your computer, and submit it (online as an attachment to your e-mailed concept letter or in printed form) as an Accompanying Material with your concept letter. Click here to download the Diversity Chart.
• If you received Open Door funding last year, you must submit a
  one-page progress report (Grant Report Form). Without it, your proposal will not be considered.
• Additional documentation or letters of support are welcome.

Additionally, we need the following 3 items (note: if you have applied for funding from The Community Foundation within the past 12 months and the information below is still current, you do not need to resubmit):

• A list of your board or directors, or that of your §501(c)(3) sponsor
• Proof of your (or your sponsor’'s) §501(c)(3) status. If you are partnering with a fiscal sponsor, you must include a letter on their letterhead confirming the affiliation.
• A copy of your organization's non-discrimination policy (preference will be given to those that include sexual orientation).

DEADLINE: 5 p.m.- June 29, 2007

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 one copy 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.

In Community,

P.S. The Advisory Committee of the Open Door Fund encourages all LGBTQ 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