Grant Guidelines

Grant Guidelines

Letters of inquiry for grants to Expand Access to Quality Learning Experiences are due February 10, 2012. Grant proposals to Advance Integrated Community-based Systems are by invitation only. See the Grant Guidelines for further details. Read our FAQs.

Jump to:

Expand Access to Quality Learning Experiences
Advance Integrated Community-based Systems

Download a PDF of Community-Based Systems Grant Guidelines (3/19/12)

Expand Access to Quality Learning Experiences

GOAL

The goal of this grant pool is to expand access to and participation in high quality opportunities for learning beyond the classroom or to pilot innovative approaches to close the opportunity gap for youth during their out-of-school time. Initial grantmaking in 2012 will involve a competitive process that seeks to identify high-performing organizations that are closely aligned with the Youthprise mission, philosophy, and goals.

Youthprise is looking for organizations that place youth at the center of their work, are committed to continuous quality improvement, and are eager to work with Youthprise to advance the field of learning beyond the classroom.

GRANT INFORMATION

Grants from $25,000 to $40,000 to approximately 50 organizations will be made for general operating support and specific activities that strengthen an organization’s ability to provide quality programs, including professional development, and contribute to its organizational sustainability.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Applicants must primarily serve middle and high school age youth in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

GRANT CRITERIA

Programs offered by applicants must:

  • Utilize effective and/or innovative strategies to expand access or reduce barriers to participation in high quality opportunities for learning beyond the classroom
  • Place youth at the center of their work by utilizing an intentional program design that integrates effective practices around youth engagement, including
    • actively involving youth in program design and providing choice in learning and content
    • providing developmentally appropriate activities
    • including multiple internal/external opportunities for youth leadership and voice
    • fostering a sense of community for youth through connections to staff and peers
  • Demonstrate a commitment to continuous quality improvement and program assessment by having a plan for professional development and an outline of technical assistance needs to improve quality
  • Demonstrate eagerness to advance the field of learning beyond the classroom and a willingness to participate in convenings and technical assistance coordinated by Youthprise

PREFERRED CHARACTERISTICS

Preference will be given to organizations that:

  • Use YPQA (Youth Program Quality Assessment) to evaluate the quality of their youth programming, create changes, and identify staff training needs
  • Identify clear developmental outcomes, have the ability to collect and report data, and are willing to participate in a community-based data measurement system
  • Can demonstrate sustained participation of youth in structured programs that promote active learning in a variety of real-world contexts

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS

The application process has two-steps. This is a competitive application process.
The first step is to complete an online letter of inquiry describing the organization’s mission, programs, areas of professional development, and ability to address the grant requirements. Based on our review of requests, a limited number of organizations will be invited to complete an application in March as a second step.

  • The deadline for letters of inquiry was Friday, February 10, 2012.
  • Grants will be awarded in May 2012 for one year.
  • On February 27, 2012, a letter of invitation and application form were communicated by email and mailed to invited applicants. If you have not received notice or the necessary attachments to complete the application, please contact Rudy Guglielmo at 612 564-4858 ext. 3 or rudy@youthprise.org.
  • Download FAQs regarding the Expand Access Grant Application Form.

Advance Integrated Community-based Systems

GOAL

As part of our goal to advance integrated community-based systems that improve outcomes for youth, Youthprise aims to support communities across Minnesota to create comprehensive learning systems that improve access to quality opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. The term “learning beyond the classroom” includes all programs that provide support for young people’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical development outside the traditional school classroom, including programs for youth that take place in schools and in community-based settings, and occur both before and after school, and during weekends, holidays and summer breaks.

There are three types of Community-Based Systems grants: Planning, Implementation and Networks.

RATIONALE

To be successful, young people need multiple engaging opportunities to learn, lead and grow. Access to a broad array of high quality learning opportunities, through formal and non-formal educational approaches, is essential. Although many programs exist, there is a high level of inconsistency across programs, and existing structures and policies often create challenges for sustainable funding and collective action across organizations.

Comprehensive learning systems address these challenges by aligning multiple learning approaches and creating sustainable policies and structures that support these learning opportunities. Utilizing the Supporting Youth Success framework developed by Youth Community Connections, Youthprise is interested in supporting comprehensive learning systems that increase access to opportunities for learning beyond the classroom, improve the quality of those opportunities, optimize the use of human and financial resources, and increase coordination among stakeholders.

In 2011, Learning Academies were organized in the cities of Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and Mankato.  In addition, tribal communities in Minnesota came together to discuss culturally competent practices in research.  These events were successful in bringing together key community leaders to create a plan and make a commitment to act collectively on behalf of youth in their communities.  Initial outcomes include an increase in youth programming, access to local data as well as opportunities for professional development.

EXAMPLES OF SYSTEM BUILDING ACTIVITIES

Systems-building efforts include, but are not limited to:

  • Collecting data, such as attendance and participation information on access and enrollment and to support quality improvements
  • Conducting market research to assess family, youth and community needs;
  • Using geographic information system (GIS) technology to identify service gaps and improve access;
  • Developing, adapting and implementing program quality assessment tools, such as the YPQA (Youth Program Quality Assessment)
  • Conducting and supporting program and city-level evaluation efforts; and developing common, system-wide outcome measures and/or indicators
  • Implementing innovative pilot programs to engage youth and their families from under-served and under-engaged communitie

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS

Planning and Implementation grants will provide financial resources for communities in Minnesota with limited access to high quality learning opportunities to complete a planning process and implement its recommendations. Stakeholders may include schools, out-of-school time providers, local government, tribal communities, and business leaders that have a shared interest in more information about emerging research and innovative practices in learning beyond the classroom.

Planning: Small grants of up to $5,000 are available to assist Minnesota communities to plan and conduct Learning Academies. Learning Academies typically include a facilitated process involving multiple sectors to develop an action plan and prioritize recommendations for strengthening systems that serve youth. Allowable activities for funding during the planning phase include:  contracting consultants to facilitate and organize meetings; holding meetings; communicating information (webinar, teleconferencing, webpage development); conducting and disseminating research and/or activities (polling, surveys, data collection); and providing stipends and travel assistance for youth and their families.

Implementation: Once a community has completed its planning process, it is eligible to seek support to implement recommendations developed through the Learning Academy.  Cities that have already hosted a Learning Academy are eligible for funding to implement proposed projects. Youthprise will also consider requests from other organizations, schools, tribes and/or municipalities that have completed a similar planning process and are seeking support to implement recommendations that specifically strengthen community-based systems to better serve youth in their communities.

Funding of up to $25,000 is available to implement recommendations developed by a community. A local match of in-kind or dedicated resources is required. A request for support should be aligned with Youthprise’s goal to strengthen comprehensive learning systems to improve access to quality opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.  A portion of the request can also be used for innovative pilot programs for youth identified during your community’s planning process.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Youthprise will identify up to 10 communities during 2012 and 2013 to participate in Planning and Implementation grants.  The lead applicant can be a school, nonprofit organization and/or a public entity that is located in Minnesota.

GRANT CRITERIA

Youthprise will support Planning and Implementation grants in communities that:

  • Have a lead applicant with the ability to manage a multi-sector partnership with elected officials, school districts, community leaders, youth providers, and youth;
  • Provide opportunities for participation by youth and involve representatives from diverse segments of the community in planning and implementation; and
  • Demonstrate a willingness to participate in future convening and technical assistance coordinated by Youthprise.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Communities interested in requesting a Planning Grant for organizing a Learning Academy and/or for an Implementation Grant should contact Youthprise staff. Youthprise will meet with stakeholders organized by the lead organization to discuss needs and determine readiness to organize a Learning Academy. Then, Youthprise will invite a letter of inquiry from the lead applicant. The request should describe the community, explain current conditions faced by youth living in the community, and address the grant criteria.

Letters of support demonstrating a commitment by stakeholders are recommended.  Each request to participate will be reviewed by Youthprise staff in the order they are received. There is no deadline for Planning and Implementation grants, but due to limited resources, we may not be able to accommodate all requests to participate.  A written response by Youthprise will be provided to the lead organization within 30 days.

Letters of Inquiry for Planning and Implementation grants should be directed to:
Youthprise
615 First Avenue NE, Suite 125
Minneapolis, MN  55413

Questions

If you have questions about Planning and Implementation grants, please contact Marcus Pope, Youthprise Director of Outreach and Strategic Initiatives by calling 612-564-4898 ext. 6, email marcus@youthprise.org.

NETWORK GRANTS

By invitation only, Youthprise will solicit proposals from community-based networks in the Twin Cities metropolitan area that are committed to building a comprehensive learning system for youth during their out-of-school time.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Applicants must demonstrate committed leadership by stakeholders and alignment with schools to expand program participation, promote program quality, increase youth civic engagement, and advance or develop reliable information systems. Participating organizations will share Youthprise’s interest in developing non-academic indicators for learning beyond the classroom and for long-term participation in a shared data system.

GRANT CRITERIA

Youthprise will support networks in the Twin Cities metropolitan area that:
• Involve multi-sector participation from elected officials, schools districts, community leaders, and youth providers with a shared interest in closing the opportunity gap by increasing resources and advancing comprehensive learning systems;
• Develop a multi-year plan with set goals and priorities to increase access to and supply of quality opportunities for learning beyond the classroom;
• Provide a structure as a public or private entity to increase citywide attention, including school district participation in support of learning beyond the classroom; and
• Develop or advance a reliable information system using Cityspan that includes non-academic outcomes, measures progress in quality in the field, and tracks participation of youth from under-engaged and underserved neighborhoods and families

GRANT REVIEW

Youthprise will convene a steering committee of public/private stakeholders to select a cohort of five networks. Grants will range from $100,000 to $500,000 and will require a 1:1 match.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS

Organizations identified by Youthprise will be invited in May 2012 to complete an application. Youthprise staff will offer information sessions prior to May and will be available to answer your questions.
• The deadline for proposals is Monday, June 4, 2012.
• Grants will be awarded in July 2012 for two years.

Questions

If you have questions about Network grants, please contact Rudy Guglielmo, Youthprise Program Officer, by calling 612 564-4898 ext. 3, or email rudy@youthprise.org.

 


Our Investors