Signature Project Application Deadline Extended to January 31, 2009

Members of the Junior League of Pittsburgh collectively contribute 10,000 volunteer hours annually in the Pittsburgh community. The League educates and trains its members to provide effective volunteer service, to research challenging community needs, and to initiate pilot projects or expand services to meet those needs. It provides administrative, financial, and volunteer support for projects and facilitates the permanent sponsorship of programs by other community organizations, including the funding of a three-year Signature Project. Prominent projects that the JLP helped create include the Pittsburgh Children's Museum, Vintage Adult Day Care Center, the Pittsburgh Center for Grieving Children, and Everybody Wins!

A Signature Project supports the needs of our community while providing volunteer training and leadership opportunities to the JLP. The outcome of the project will contribute to the economic development and sustainability of the Pittsburgh region in keeping with the JLP's position statements. Project implementation and success relies 100% on JLP membership participation and accountability. Signature projects are typically sponsored for a term of three [3] years. The range of financial support for most projects is $3,000-$20,000 annually.

A Signature Project must have:
· Community service opportunities for the JLP with minimal repetitive, routine tasks
· Potential for positive community impact
· Project planning and program development by JLP volunteers
· Realistic plan for continuation after JLP involvement ends
· Demonstration of good management, fiscal responsibility and public accountability by the non-profit organization

Project Focus

The focus of the 2009-2012 JLP Signature Project is to address the unmet needs of children ages zero to twelve in Allegheny County, concentrating on the area of Children's Health.

Further, it is very important that applicants understand that there are six critical aspects to the success of the program. The six critical aspects are as follows:

1. Congruence with Project Focus: Applicants must demonstrate their capacity and intent to fully engage and connect Allegheny County residents to community resources for the general welfare of children ages zero to twelve, concentrating on the area of Children's Health.

Applicants must demonstrate and specifically detail how children will be helped to become or stay healthy [example: nutrition and fitness].

Successful applicants will demonstrate their capacity to support the JLP in its position to ensure that children have the opportunities and services essential for their physical, intellectual, emotional, mental and social growth; to advocate that such opportunities and services are provided; and to support efforts made to protect and promote the health and welfare of all children and families.

2. Visibility: Priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate milestones that can be publicized to JLP members and the general public. The nonprofit community partner must be willing and able to assist in the publicity surrounding the project [i.e., via newsletter or website]. A successful applicant will be distinguishable from other nonprofit entities, if any, that are engaged in the same programming or serve similar community needs or populations.

3. League Member Involvement: Successful applicants will be expected to collaborate with the JLP on meaningful volunteer opportunities, fully cooperating with the JLP time frame and scheduling needs. Special emphasis will be placed on continuous training of JLP volunteers and open interaction with the nonprofit's staff. Volunteer times will be varied and conducive to JLP members' schedules, with the expectation that a committee of five to ten JLP volunteers will be used to primarily oversee the project.

4. Measurement of Success: The success of the project can be clearly and empirically identified. Measurement will be related to outcome goals, not process goals [i.e., statistical improvement of children affected by the program]. Funding will be reviewed on an annual basis as outcome goals are met.

5. Sustainability: The project must be able to successfully transition to another umbrella organization or its own non-profit organization after a predetermined period (up to 36 months.) An inability to carry out the work on a long-term basis will thwart the effort and intent of the program.

6. Budget: The project will fit within the JLP budget. The budget required for the project, including any paid staff members, is one that after the JLP transition can be self-generated, funded through grants, or affordable to a transitioning organization. If the project is part of a larger initiative, the JLP funding must have a significant impact on the project as a whole.

Services to Be Offered

Applicants may provide required services directly or in partnership with other service providers.

The Application

We accept the Common Grant Application created by the Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania. This format can be used as an outline and guide for organizing your grant proposal and is available for download here .

Applicants should provide a proposal narrative of not more than three pages. Pages shall be 8.5" x 11". Type shall be no less than 12 point font size. Please space lines at no less than 1.5. Appendices that help to provide evidence of important capabilities are acceptable. If submitted via mail, a total of three (3) copies of the proposal, an original with authorized signature and
two (2) copies, are to be submitted. The proposal must clearly indicate the name and contact information of the primary contact person for the applicant. Proposals can also be emailed to cadc@jlpgh.org. The proposal should use the following general format to demonstrate capacity to participate in the project:

1. Organizational Information: Please provide a brief history of your organization and your current mission statement. If two or more organizations are collaborating, please indicate the lead agency and provide information about both/all organizations. Please include a copy of the organization's 501c (3) determination letter from the IRS.

2. Current Mission Statement and Current Services: Please provide a list of your current services indicating the numbers of persons served in each module. If possible, indicate numbers of children served by service module.

3. Please address how you plan to offer a Signature Project program. In providing answers to this section, applicants must demonstrate past and/or current:
a) Expertise in providing creative/innovative services;
b) Ability to modify plans and work in emerging situations with great flexibility;
c) Experience with collaborations (detail what has worked well, and why; what has not worked well, and why; if difficulties were present, how were they overcome; and what lessons were learned);
d) Expected amount of funding needed up to a 36-month period, with a yearly breakdown;
e) Detail staffing complement required for delivery of Signature Project services, (i.e., existing staff or new staff.) Detail opportunities for JLP volunteers. Show number of hours per week (this is for proposal purposes, recognizing that flexibility may be needed based on the needs and interests of volunteers);
f) Outcome and goals sought to be achieved; and
g) Why the proposed project is important to the community, what needs are being met, and provide any supporting data.

Further, applicants are requested to provide a three-month program activity calendar based on the profile presented below.
Site of program is in an Allegheny County location or will be in an Allegheny County location
· Volunteer opportunities (for JLP volunteers evenings and weekend opportunities are preferred- 80% of the JLP works during the day)
· Age of population served is zero to twelve
· Program will affect a significant percentage [5-10%] of population served
· Distance from public transportation

4. Budget: Please prepare a budget that illustrates the major line items of expense anticipated and other sources of income. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that discuss effectively how services may be sustained after JLP involvement ends.

5. Agreement to Work Cooperatively: Please provide a brief statement that indicates your willingness to work with the JLP and its committees, including efforts to publicize the Signature Project.

Selection Criteria

Grantees will be selected based upon the quality of the description of how services will be delivered. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that provide evidence of successful work with children and partners in service delivery. Further, priority consideration will be given to the proposal that best demonstrates the capacity to critically involve and to heighten the role of the JLP in the planning of program services. Priority consideration will also be given to proposals that present practical approaches for the continuation of services after the period of JLP involvement ends. In-house proposals may also be generated and will be equally considered.

Contract Award

The total amount available in funds and volunteer services provided by the JLP over a period up to 36 months is expected to be significant. The initiation and continuation of the project is fully contingent on an annual review of the measurable outcomes of this project.

Timeline

Proposals will be accepted by the Junior League of Pittsburgh - CADC Committee, 333 E. Carson Street, Suite 531, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, Attn: Katie Heinritz, Director, CADC, up to 5:00 PM on January 31, 2009. Proposals can also be sent via email to cadc@jlpgh.org.

Qualified proposals will be reviewed by the Community Assessment and Development Committee (CADC). A site visit to your organization may be requested in early 2009. The CADC, in conjunction with the JLP Board of Directors, will choose approximately three to five projects to present to the general membership. Final selection of the project will be decided by vote by the general membership of the JLP. The selected applicant will be informed on or about April 15, 2009 and will be expected to be able to implement the project by Fall 2009.

Timing for Project Selection Process

January 31, 2009: Deadline for JLP to receive project proposals
February 2009: Selection of finalists
March 2009: Presentation of finalists to JLP General Membership
April 2009: Notification to organizations on final Project selection
Fall 2009: Funding and volunteer support to begin

Please direct questions to: 
Ms. Katie Heinritz
Director, Community Assessment and Development
Junior League of Pittsburgh
333 E. Carson Street, Suite 531
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(Email) cadc@jlpgh.org
(Cell) 412-719-4435
(Fax) 412-488-9271