Community Action Grant For Needs of Women and Girls

Community Action Grant For Issues related to the needs of Women and girls

Program Purpose

AAUW’s Community Action Grants provide funds that address issues related to the needs of women and girls or that provide information to educate and benefit the public on those issues.

AAUW encourages proposals for projects that

• Use innovative approaches to address local community needs or build links among community partners
• Build partnerships between schools and community organizations

Special consideration is given to

• Projects directed by or collaborating with AAUW branches and states
• Projects focused on K–14 (including two-year colleges) women and girls’ achievement in math, science, and/or technology
• Projects that include community partners (Community partners might include local schools or school districts, businesses, and other community-based organizations.)

Applications for AAUW Community Action Grants are open August 1–December 1

Award Amounts

One-Year Grant: $2,000–$7,000 over One Year

One-year grants provide funding for community-based projects. Topic areas are unrestricted but should include a clearly defined activity that advances equity for women and girls.

Two-Year Grant: $5,000–$10,000 over Two Years

Two-year grants provide start-up funds for new projects that address the particular needs of the community and develop girls’ sense of efficacy through leadership, advocacy, or training opportunities. Funds support planning activities, coalition building, implementation, and evaluation. The application is for one grant that covers a two-year period. AAUW expects that the project may evolve and change somewhat over the course of the grant period; however, second-year funding is contingent upon the successful completion of the first year of the grant. Two-year grants are not for existing projects.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be individuals, AAUW branches, AAUW state organizations, or local community-based nonprofit organizations (including universities).
• Project directors must be the applicant and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• The proposed activity must take place within the United States or its territories.
• Nonprofit organizations and universities must be based in the United States or its territories.
• Organizations (including universities) must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. AAUW branch and state applicants must have 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status.
• The proposed activity must have direct community or public impact.
• Proposals from AAUW branches or states must be approved and signed by the branch or state president.
• Proposals from local community-based nonprofit organizations must be approved and signed by the organization’s executive director.
• Community Action Grants are not available for the development of written work for academic credit or for research that will be used for a degree thesis or dissertation.
• Previous Community Action Grant awardees must wait three application cycles before applying for another grant.
• Members and officers of the AAUW Board of Directors are not eligible to apply for fellowships and grant awards. AAUW staff or volunteers with decision-making authority who wish to apply for an award must recuse themselves from the decision-making process.

Criteria for Selection and Application Review

The Research and Projects Community Action Grants Panel meets once a year to review applications for funding. Awards are based on the selection criteria outlined here. The panel’s recommendations are subject to final approval by the AAUW Board of Directors. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis according to funds available in a given fiscal year. To ensure a fair and objective review process, AAUW does not comment on the deliberations of the awards panels. Thus AAUW is unable to provide written or oral evaluations of applicants. No provisions exist for reconsideration of grant proposals after the board has acted on the panel’s recommendations.

The following criteria apply to the selection of Community Action Grants:

• Relevance of the proposed project to the mission of AAUW
• Strength of the project rationale — the project meets a demonstrable, documented local need
• Clarity and creativity of the project design — the project has (1) clear and specific outcomes and (2) is original and/or innovative in its approach to achieving those outcomes
• Sustainability/impact of the project — the project (1) reaches underserved audiences, (2) builds connections with diverse individuals and organizations, (3) has potential for AAUW branch or state involvement/visibility, (4) has potential for long-term impact, and (5) has potential for long-term sustainability beyond the grant period
• Feasibility of the project — (1) proposed activities will logically lead to desired outcomes/achievement of goals, (2) the project time frame is realistic, (3) the budget is adequate and expenses are justified in the budget narrative, (4) there is adequate support from collaborative organizations and community partners, (5) the project director is qualified to direct the project, and if an AAUW branch, AAUW state, or nonprofit applicant, the organization has the capacity to carry out the project
• Strength of the evaluation plan — (1) specific evaluation methods are proposed to measure short-term, medium-term, and long-term results, (2) proposed evaluation methods are logical measures of projected outcomes, and (3) resources are adequate to support the proposed methods
• Strength of the dissemination plan — (1) specific dissemination methods are identified, (2) a realistic plan is provided to implement the dissemination, and (3) resources are adequate to support proposed dissemination
• Overall quality of the proposal — the proposal is clear and convincing
• Potential for and/or commitment of additional funds and involvement from community organizations and/or businesses

Regulations

Funds are available for, but not limited to, project-related expense categories, including

• Postage, mailing, shipping
• Photocopying, duplicating
• Office supplies
• Audiovisual materials
• Project-related telephone costs
• Professional fees or honoraria for speakers or special consultants
• Equipment purchases
• Meals, food, beverages, or lodging for camps or related activities
• Temporary, hourly clerical help
• Lease of facilities (does not include permanent office space)
• Advertising, publicity, graphic design
• Transportation (should be no more than one-third of grant request; $.545 per mile for auto expenses)

Funds are not available for the following:

• Salaries or stipends for project directors or permanent positions
• Tuition
• Higher education scholarships for students and participants
• Building funds, construction, or renovations
• Travel expenses for activities not within the scope of the project
• Overhead or general operating expenses for any organization or nonprofit organization
• Personal expenses, shelter, or life, medical, and health insurance
• Previous expenditures, deficits, or loans
• Creating or providing grants to other organizations
• Copyright or attorney fees
• Fundraising activities

AAUW regards the acceptance of a grant as a contract requiring fulfillment of the following terms:

• All grant recipients must sign a contract accepting the award. Retain these instructions, as they will become part of the grant contract if the applicant is awarded a grant.
• Grant awards are distributed in two equal payments, the first at the beginning of the grant period and the second at the midpoint.
• The Community Action Grant project director must be in an active leadership role, controlling programmatic, fiscal, and editorial responsibility for the project.
• The project director cannot be paid with Community Action Grant funds for work on the project and the project director’s employer cannot be reimbursed.
• Projects may be awarded only once. Former Community Action Grantees may propose new activities for future grants after waiting three application cycles but cannot reapply for the same project for which they received funding in the past.
• If eligible, an applicant may apply to more than one AAUW grant or fellowship program simultaneously. If awarded in more than one program, the applicant may accept only one award.
• AAUW is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity founded for educational purposes. Thus all proposed Community Action Grant activities must correspond to that mission. Specific questions regarding income tax matters should be addressed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or to the applicant’s personal tax adviser.
• Grant projects may not seek to influence new or pending legislation or favor a particular political candidate or party.
• Grant projects must be nonsectarian and may not seek to promote a particular religion or denomination.

Website Link

Deadline: Dec 1, 2019.