Micro Community Grants:

 

These grants are donations to community organizations and charities that support causes consistent with the credit union philosophy of "people helping people". The Foundation seeks to address needs by supporting the communities of North Carolina and South Carolina credit unions. We will assess grant requests with sufficient flexibility to accommodate the community's needs, while seeking measurable results of stated priorities and goals that improve these credit union communities.

 

Grant Applications must come from credit unions and credit union chapters throughout the Carolinas. We are a Foundation that represents the credit unions of North Carolina and South Carolina and this Micro-Community Grants program will utilize the two state leagues and credit unions chapter infrastructures in both states.

 

The credit union chapter presidents will introduce this Micro Community Grants program to the credit unions in the chapter and ask these credit unions to find possible candidate recipients. Organizations wishing to apply for a grant will prepare a two page summary about their organization and the purpose for the grant to be submitted to the chapter leaders. If the chapter leaders approve of the organization, they will direct them to the foundation website for a full application to be completed by the organization and submitted to the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation.

 

If the Foundation approves the request, funds are directed to the chapter for presentation to the recipient with appropriate publicity at the local level. This will allow credit unions to reach into their local communities with a helping hand. All credit unions within the chapter should be invited to attend the check presentation. It is the chapter leadership’s responsibility to communicate information regarding the grants to the other members of the chapter.

 

Grant Priorities:

 

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation seeks to address needs by supporting the communities of North Carolina and South Carolina credit unions. The Foundation will assess grant requests with sufficient flexibility to accommodate the community’s needs, while seeking measurable results of stated priorities and goals that improve these credit union communities.

 

The Micro-Community Grants (MCG) of the Foundation will focus on organizations that meet the Foundation’s mission and that:

 

  1. fosters the principles of the Foundation in service to the public,
  2. improves the charitable resources of a community, and
  3. promotes the principles of the credit union movement.

 

Preference will be given to projects that:

 

  1. expand the impact of limited resources, are designed to create programs that can be replicated in other communities or that create lasting institutions or programs;
  2. serve geographic areas or constituencies that generally have limited resources and which generally do not attract funds from other foundations; and

 

In an effort to enhance the Foundation’s connection with the community, grants supporting organizations utilizing credit union volunteers will be given special consideration.

 

Funding Focus:

 

The Foundation is most interested in funding organizations that meet the Foundation’s mission and that have:

 

·         Consistent and effective management, clear goals and objectives;

·         A demonstrated ability to respond to the needs of specific groups in a manner that yields measurable results;

·         Defined parameters and endpoints for a specific project ; and

·         Unless otherwise approved, ability to utilize funds within a one year period from the date the grant is approved.

 

The Foundation does not fund programs, organizations or associations that:

 

·         Request funds for endowment campaigns,

·         Request funds for individuals,

·         Request funds for general and administrative costs,

·         Request funds for salaries, stipends or travel expenses,

·         Sponsor partisan, political or denominational programs,

·         Request funds for specific programs which have already been completed,

·         Request funds for the reduction or liquidation of existing debt,

·         Act as a pass-through facility (not-for-profit organizations that ask Foundation for funds to distribute to other not-for-profit organizations), or

·         Do not make their requests in writing.

 

Within the types of grants noted above, the elements that the Foundation will emphasize are as follows:

 

• Equity, Expansion and Quality: Proposals should reflect attention to The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation’s commitment to equal opportunity and the expansion of quality services to credit union members. Through its grant making, the Foundation intends to improve opportunities for all the residents of the Carolinas as well as expand opportunities for, and access to, a wider range of services to meet the growing needs of the community’s residents.

• Outcomes and Evaluation: Grant proposals should identify concrete, measurable anticipated outcomes. Data collection should be viewed as integral to the project and to organizational effectiveness. Evaluation should be designed to reflect the meaningfulness of the project to clients and be supportive of their efforts to improve their clients’ current situation.

• Collaboration: The Foundation encourages collaboration among grant makers and grant recipients to contribute to our overall understanding of civic issues of importance to the residents of the Carolinas. Wherever appropriate, grant proposals should identify partnerships and connections throughout the community to support and steward projects.

 

Position on Diversity

The Foundation believes that diversity enhances an organization, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or physical, developmental, or cognitive ability. This commitment will be reflected in the standards applied to proposal evaluation.

 

Number and Duration of Grants

A typical grant is $5,000 to $15,000.

No organization shall have more than one active grant or grant request with the Foundation at any time, and while multi-year grants may be made, the majority of grants will be for one year in duration from the time the grant is approved, with a maximum of three years duration.

 

Organizations must wait a full year before submitting an additional request for grant funds.

 

Each Chapter is allowed to submit 3 grant applications per year.

 

Application Process

Overview
The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation employs a formal application process consisting of a written application. Applicants are urged to study the process carefully. Grants are awarded quarterly, in January, April, July and October. Only applications that reflect institutional priorities as identified by the applicant's CEO will be considered.

 

General rules

·         Applicants may submit one application per 12-month period.

·         On a case-by-case basis, the Foundation will consider new requests to any grant program area before a grant in that program has been fully expended.

·         At any phase of the application process, an institution may request a withdrawal of its application without prejudice to future applications.

·         The Foundation will only consider inquiries that contain the required information and documentation listed below.

 

 

 

Step by step process:

 

    1. Credit Union or Chapter will actively look for potential grant recipient organizations.
    2. Prior to completing a full grant application each organization must submit a two page summary about their organization and purpose for the grant. This summary should be submitted to the Chapter leadership with a copy to the Foundation.
    3. Optional – have a representative from the applicant organization and if applicable the sponsoring credit union present to the chapter leadership.
    4. The Chapter leadership should review the summary and determine if this is an organization the chapter will support through the grant process.
    5. Chapter leadership should communicate intentions to entire chapter for feedback.
    6. Once approved for support by chapter, then the organization should be directed to the Foundation website to download the instructions for completing and application as well as downloading the application itself.
    7. Organization will complete application as instructed. Sponsoring credit union or chapter representative can be available for assistance.
    8. Completed application packet should be submitted including chapter recommendation letter and any other appropriate recommendation letters to the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation as per instructions. Credit unions and credit union chapter presidents are strongly urged to consider an initial phone conversation or office visit with the foundation staff before submitting an application.
    9. Foundation will review application and contact either chapter representative or individual credit union representative to schedule site visit.
    10. Once application packet has been submitted and site visits have been completed applicant will be presented for approval.
    11. If approved, Executive Director will communicate with chapter representative and/or credit union contact regarding next steps.
    12. Micro Community Grant Agreement document and Narrative Project Completion document will be mailed to recipient organization. (see appendix 1 for sample)
    13. It is the chapter leadership’s responsibility to communicate to the remaining parties in the chapter.
    14. Chapter leadership and/or credit union representatives are responsible for coordinating check presentation events including but not limited to:
      1. Inviting all credit unions in the chapter to attend the event;
      2. Coordinating local media coverage of the event (press release will be provided by the foundation);
      3. Inviting special guests and/or local politicians;
      4. Arranging details with the grant recipient.

 

Deadlines:


For the January grant cycle: December 15, 4:30 p.m.

For the April grant cycle: March 15, 4:30 p.m.

For the July grant cycle: June 15, 4:30 p.m.

For the October grant cycle: September 15, 4:30 p.m.

(If either date falls on a weekend, the deadline is extended to 4:30 p.m. on the following Monday.)

We appreciate early submissions. Applications received after the deadlines will be assigned to the next grant cycle.

 

Submission Address

Electronic submissions will not be accepted.

All materials must be mailed or delivered to:

Carolinas Credit Union Foundation

4160 Piedmont Parkway

Greensboro, North Carolina 27410

 

To download the Micro-Community Grant Application click here.