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First 5 Fresno County
Community Grants Program
2008-2009 Funding Opportunities
The Community Grants Program is based on the notion that those living and working in a community have a unique and critical understanding of their community assets and needs and that they have creative ideas for effectively addressing those needs. Funding is aimed at maximizing a community's own resources, and involving members of the community with untapped potential. All Community Grant Program funding requests must address at least one of the goals and outcomes of the 2008-2013 First 5 Fresno County Strategic Plan.
First 5 Fresno County Strategic Plan Information
First 5 Fresno County Strategic Plan Information
In June 2007, First 5 Fresno County began a comprehensive strategic planning process to guide community investments from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013. Strategic planning sessions were facilitated with the Commission and community members over a six-month period. The information gathered from this valuable community input process served as a guide for the strategic planning process and resulted in the adoption of the 2008-2013 First 5 Fresno County Strategic Plan. The strategic plan is organized into four Focus Areas: Child Health, Early Care and Education, Family Strengthening, and Systems Improvement.
The goals of the 2008-2013 Strategic Plan are consistent with the focus and intent of the Children and Families Act, build on what has been learned and accomplished locally, and provide a framework for the Commission and the community for how Proposition 10 funds will be invested over the next five years. The Focus Areas include corresponding goals and outcomes - what the Commission would like to see happen for children, the strategies for how the Commission proposes to move towards these outcomes, and indicators - how the progress in achieving these outcomes will be measured. The goals, outcomes, strategies and indicators have been selected based on research, best practices, local learning and community input.
Focus Area: Child Health
Focus Area: Child Health
Goal: Improve child health
Outcomes:
- Children and their families eat nutritious food
- Children and their families live in environments that promote physical activity
- Children and their families have access to and utilize health care services
- Parents and providers have knowledge of principles and practices of child health, development, and safety
- Children's health and development needs are identified and treated early
Focus Area: Early Care & Education
Focus Area: Early Care & Education
Goal: Optimize child development
Outcomes:
- Parents understand their child's development and engage in early learning activities beginning at birth
- Families use high quality early care and education opportunities available
- Early care and education programs are staffed with well trained professionals
- High quality, affordable, early care and education is available throughout the county
- Children are ready for kindergarten
- Schools are ready for children
Focus Area: Family Strengthening
Focus Area: Family Strengthening
Goal: Provide optimal environments for children
Outcomes:
- Parents use healthy parenting practices
- Parents provide safe, stable, and nurturing environments for their children
- Parents are knowledgeable about their child's development and the importance of a healthy parent-child relationship
Focus Area: Systems Improvement
Focus Area: Systems Improvement
Goal: Maximize organizational systems and policies
Outcomes:
- Community organizations and agencies work collaboratively to best support and partner with families to promote optimal child health and development
- Community agencies in Fresno County support the needs of young children and their families
- Services supporting the needs of young children and their families are accessible and delivered in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner
- Community members and policy makers advocate for an environment that is safe and nurtures young children and their families
- Local policies promote and meet the needs of young children and their families
Over the next five years, the Commission will work to achieve these goals and outcomes through three primary initiatives that correspond with the strategic plan focus areas:
- The Health Initiative
- Early Care and Education Initiative
- The Family Strengthening Initiative
The strategic plan focus area of Systems Improvement is not an independently funded initiative. Funding for systems improvement is integrated within the Health, Early Care, and Family Strengthening Initiatives and is a critical component necessary to make long-term community impact.
Funding opportunities for the initiatives may include such things as: Request for Applications, Notice of Intent to Partner, and/or Planning Grants. When applying for funds, please make sure that the correct funding opportunity is utilized for the proposed program.
Click here here to download the complete 2008-2013 Strategic Plan
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Community Grants Programs
There are 6 programs under the Community Grants Program: Mini-Grants, Sponsorships, Child Care Mini-Grants, Planning Grants, Special Project Grants, and the Direct Service Request for Proposal (RFP). Please click on the program name below to access the corresponding application(s).
Mini-Grants
Mini-Grants
- Must be community-driven
- Up to $5,000 per project
- One time funding (not intended for on-going support)
- For profit agencies are not eligible for funding
- No deadlines; applications will be accepted on a continuous basis and will be awarded based on the availability of funds. However, applications that are not received before April 1, 2009 will not be eligible for consideration until the next fiscal year begins on July 1, 2009.
- Click here to download the Guidelines & Application Packet
Sponsorships
Sponsorships
- Must be community-driven
- Events must directly involve children 0-5 and their families (not for professional development activities i.e., conferences, trainings, etc.)
- Up to $5,000 per event
- Funds may not be used for fundraising events (i.e., walk-a-thons, tournaments, etc.)
- For profit agencies are not eligible for funding
- Applications must be received at least 8 weeks prior to the event
- Click here to download the Guidelines & Application Packet
Child Care Mini-Grants
(administered by Central Valley Children's Services Network)
Child Care Mini-Grants
(administered by Central Valley Children's Services Network)
- Assist child care providers in enhancing their service to children
- A maximum of $1,000 may be awarded to family child care providers
- A maximum of $2,000 may be awarded to child care centers
- Both licensed and legally exempt providers may apply
- Contact Children's Services Network at 559-456-1100 or click here for more information.
- Click here to get more information
Planning Grants
Planning Grants
- Funds must be used to support efforts by existing organizations to improve delivery of services to young children and families.
- Maximum funding amount is $50,000.
- Planning must be completed within a 12 month period.
- The primary "product" of each planning grant must be a formal written document such as a plan of action, memorandum of understanding, or grant application for a collaborative proposal.
- Funding can be used to support the following types of planning efforts:
- Identifying and securing funding to provide services to more children or provide more services to existing families.
- Developing formal plans of cooperation among two or more organizations serving the same children in order to improve service quality and timeliness and to eliminate duplication of services.
- Developing formal plans of cooperation among two or more organizations providing similar services to promote use of best practices, expand the reach of services to underserved communities, and/or share administrative, training, and other resources.
- Organizing events which bring together multiple organizations and constituencies to develop proposals leading to significant and lasting changes in policies and/or service delivery systems.
- Funding is limited to non-profit and/or government entities.
- No deadlines; applications will be accepted on a continuous basis and will be awarded based on the availability of funds. However, applications that are not received before April 1, 2009 will not be eligible for consideration until the next fiscal year begins on July 1, 2009.
- Click here to download the Guidelines & Application Packet
- Click here to download a Budget Template
- Funding can be used for such things as: small capital/renovation projects, equipment purchases over $5,000, or small projects such as the development of a training video.
- Maximum funding amount is $100,000.
- Funding is for one-time only.
- Projects must be completed within a 12 month period.
- Any entity receiving funds for construction work must ensure that the requirements of the California Labor Code pertaining to payment of prevailing wages are met.
- Funding is limited to non-profit and/or government entities.
- No deadlines; applications will be accepted on a continuous basis and will be awarded based on the availability of funds. However, applications that are not received before April 1, 2009 will not be eligible for consideration until the next fiscal year begins on July 1, 2009.
- Click here to download the Guidelines & Application Packet
- Click here to download a Budget Template
Direct Service Request for Proposal (RFP)
Direct Service Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Letter of Intent due by 3:00 p.m. August 18, 2008
- Proposals due by 3:00 p.m. September 5, 2008
- Organizations must attend a mandatory Informational Conference
- Must address a substantiated community need
- Funds may not be used to purchase or renovate/remodel buildings
- For profit agencies are not eligible for funding
- Funding up to $200,000 per project for two years
- Click here to download the Request for Proposal document
- Click here to download a Budget Template
Direct Service RFP Informational Conference Attendees List
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Please note:
Faith-based organizations that are interested in applying for First 5 Fresno County funds must
comply with the Commission's Policy on Funding Faith-based Organizations. A copy of this policy can be found by clicking
here
or by contacting our office at (559) 241-6515
If you'd like to learn more about these grant opportunities, please contact Kendra Rogers
at First 5 Fresno County at (559) 241-6516 or by e-mail
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