Program Grants - How to Apply

CTFC conducts four board meetings annually and will continue to accept grant applications on an ongoing basis.

At this time, CTFC is no longer accepting grant proposals for the remainder of 2006. A new request for proposals for 2007 will be released in the near future. Please continue to refer to the website for future updates.

To download RFP Guidelines and Instructions

Submission Process:

Unlike previous years, CTFC will no longer conduct two discrete annual funding cycles. Applications for proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis, with funding decisions made at each of CTFC's quarterly board meetings, usually held in January, April, July, and October. Please check CTFC's website for updated funding deadlines; in general, grant proposals are due 6-10 weeks prior to the next scheduled board meeting, and decisions are made at that board meeting or the one immediately following. In addition, CTFC Program Staff may, at their discretion, solicit specific proposal ideas from organizations throughout the year. Organizations contacted by program staff for such "directive" proposals will engage in an application process tailored to the specific needs of the project, and should NOT use the application forms and guidelines described here.

Your application must be prepared in a 12 point font, with a one-inch margin on all sides. Proposals may be submitted either in hard copy via mail, or electronically via email as a Microsoft Word attachment.

CTFC staff will make every effort to review submitted applications for completeness, and to notify applicants if items are missing. However, it is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that proposals are complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Each proposal must include the followng items: (Please note: CTFC may ask for additional materials and supplemental narrative information in the course of the application process. Please be prepared to respond to such requests.)

1. Narrative Section:

CTFC proposal cover sheet (Download RFP cover sheet forms- 283 kb)

Proposal Narrative, which consists of the following elements presented in the following order, with each section comprising no more than one-half page:

• Organizational purpose, history or background.
• Summary statement of the proposed program and the need which it addresses.
• Summary of the target population to be served, and the impact/change/benefit which the proposed program will provide.
• Description of the types of information and/or communications technologies to be employed in this project, and why you believe that these technologies are uniquely suited to address the needs of this program.
• Projected short and long term outcomes (Each of these two sub-sections may be up to one-half page in length). These include:

1. Immediate outcomes (if any) which you expect to complete by the end of the proposed grant period. We realize that not all projects will have quantitative short-term outcomes, so we are interested in hearing about both how you will measure success as well as what you will look for to evaluate your program.
2. Long term outcomes – for target population, as well as how this project furthers your overall organizational mission. For example, what is the permanent systemic change that you believe will ultimately occur? How will members of your target population be enabled or empowered to participate in social discourse, civic action, self-empowerment, and/or to contribute to discussion about issues and agendas which affect their lives and their communities?
3. Correlation with CTFC commitment to inclusiveness, accessibility, and cultural competence. CTFC is committed to ensuring that our grantees understand the importance of incorporating the values of cultural competence and disability access in their community work. Please briefly describe your organization's goals and challenges in striving towards these values. Please note that we do not expect that you will have achieved full cultural competence or accessibility in your organization; we are more interested in understanding how you perceive that technology resources can help your organization to meet these goals.
4. Explanation of timeliness and relevance: Why is this the appropriate time for your organization to be applying for CTFC funding? What internal organizational or external environmental factors enable your organization to best leverage CTFC grant dollars at this juncture?

2. Supporting Documentation:

• Key project personnel, with brief biographical information * Organizational annual budget * Organizational chart indicating where this project “fits” in your overall structure.
• Project budget, including other sources of funding (indicate whether committed or solicited), and amount requested from CTFC (please use budget form supplied to submit this information).
• Board of Directors roster with professional affiliations, length of service/terms served, and committee structure/membership.
• Technology infrastructure information sheet (please complete the attached template and submit with your application).
• Diversity composition of board and senior staff (please complete the attached template and submit with your application). Please indicate on the template in the space provided if your organization has adopted an official non-discrimination policy.
• Most recent audited financial statements or, if your organization does not have an audit, most recent financial statements approved by the board of directors. These statements must cover current year finances to-date, and at least one (preferably two) prior years.
• A One-page letter from the chairperson of your board of directors authorizing submission of this application, and explaining the board's role and process for conducting financial oversight (such as the existence of a finance committee; how often financial statements are reviewed; and by whom)
• A copy of your current 501(c)(3) status, or if none, an authorization letter from your fiscal agent and a copy of their current 501(c)(3) status.