Who is funding this grant program?
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved $2 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds for the Stanislaus County nonprofit organizations providing services to youth or providing arts/culture nonprofits. $1 million was earmarked for youth-serving organizations; and $1 million was designated for arts/culture nonprofits.
What is the time frame for this program?
The application portal opens on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 and closes 5:00 pm Pacific Time on Friday, September 25, 2020. Evaluation and selection of award winners will occur by mid-October, and awards are tentatively slated to be disbursed in November.
Who is qualified to apply?
501c3 non-profit organizations (classified as a public charity and not a private foundation) in good standing with the IRS.
Must not be a pre-school, K-12 school, place of worship, individual, college/community college/university, auxiliary support organization (i.e. friends of XYZ, booster or other school-affiliated clubs), Federal or State of California agency/division/department.
Geographically located and providing services within the borders of Stanislaus County.
Be in good standing with local, state, and federal agencies.
Demonstrate financial impact due to COVID-19.
How will grant applications be selected?
Stanislaus Community Foundation is managing the application process on behalf of the County CEO’s Office. An independent, volunteer Evaluation Committee will score applications and select award recipients. The Evaluation Committee includes a cross-section of community representatives who will adhere to conflict of interest guidelines to ensure a fair selection process. The Evaluation Committee will review proposals and complete a grant review rubric based on the established criteria by the County Board of Supervisors. The Evaluation Committee will meet virtually in the second week of October to select grant recipients and award amounts.
How much funding can my organization receive?
Award amounts will be based on an organization’s fiscal year 2019 operating budget and demonstrated need. To reach as many nonprofits as possible, priority consideration will be given to requests under $50,000; requests between $50,000 and $100,000 will be highly competitive; and awards over $100,000 will be rare.
Can my organization apply for both pools of funding if we offer both arts & youth-related services?
Yes, your organization can apply for both pools of funding with one application in the online portal. Organizations may not request more than $300,000 from each fund. The grant application process is extremely competitive and final award amounts will be based on your organization’s fiscal year 2019 operating budget and demonstrated need in 2020 due to the Coronavirus crisis.
I represent an arts & culture organization that also has a youth-serving program under our auspices. Which pool of funding should I apply for and how do I frame frame my funding request?
There are two pools of funding: $1 million for youth-serving organizations, and $1 million for arts/culture organizations. If you qualify to apply for both categories due to different programs you operate, you will be asked to fill out our application once, but within the application, you will be asked to provide information on both your operational budget as well as your programmatic budget.
I represent a faith-based nonprofit that provides youth services. Can I apply for funding?
If your organization is a 501c3 that does not proselytize and that provides services available to the general community, then you can apply. Organizations must certify within the application that they do not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical circumstances, age, status as a veteran, or national origin.
My organization is new and/or is developing a new program that aligns with the fund criteria around arts, culture, and youth. Can I still apply for grant funds to help build our new program?
No, the intention of this funding is to help stabilize existing organizations and programs that have been adversely affected by COVID-19. The selection committee will review prior and current year operating expenses to verify financial need.
What information will I need to include as an attachment to the grant application?
A completed Budget Worksheet for your organization. To download a copy of the budget worksheet: 1. Click on the above link to the Google document. 2. Go to File. 3. Select Download. 4. Choose Microsoft Word (docx).
A copy of your organization's IRS Determination Letter.
A copy of current 2020 financial statements (Statement of Financial Activities up to period ending July 31, 2020; financial statements must reflect all actual revenue and expenses vs. forecasted budget year to date).
A copy of previous 2019 financial statements (Statement of Financial Activities up to period ending July 31, 2019; financial statements must reflect all actual revenue and expenses vs. forecasted budget year to date; do not submit fiscal year 2018 financials).
Does submitting an application guarantee funding?
No, applying does not guarantee that your organization will receive funding. Available funds are highly competitive, and applicants must demonstrate need due to the COVID-19 crisis. Final award size may be less than the requested amount.
When will funds be distributed?
The Evaluation Committee will meet in the second week of October to select grant recipients and will forward recommended grant recipients and award amounts to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office for ratification by Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors shortly thereafter. Award winners will be announced in mid- to late-October and grant checks are tentatively slated to be distributed in November 2020.
Can I talk to someone at Stanislaus Community Foundation about my application?
We do not have the capacity to speak by phone regarding funding or accept requests for individual meetings currently. Please submit an application that best describes your current needs and SCF staff will reach out for more information as needed. If you have questions related to the application, please email: grants@stanislauscf.org
