Total grant dollars requested last cycle: $177,918
Total grant dollars awarded last cycle: $46,625
Percentage of proposals that received full funding: 5%
Percentage of proposals that received partial funding: 27%
Maximum grant size: $7,500
Average grant size last cycle: $6,661
Application deadline: March 15 March 18, 2013
Background
In 2007, the River Rock Foundation gave a $1 million gift to the Maine Community Foundation to establish the first fund in Maine dedicated to addressing the needs of people of color. The objective of the fund is to help communities of color achieve greater racial equity in Maine. The People of Color Fund assists these efforts by supporting these communities as they seek to develop their leadership, knowledge, tools, and skills.
The targeted beneficiaries of this fund will be self-identified people of color. Specific populations include but are not limited to people of Native American, Latin, Central American, African, Arab, Asian, and Caribbean descent.
Priorities
The goal of the People of Color Fund grant program is to help people of color in Maine to achieve greater equity by:
- investing in the development of existing, new, and emerging leadership
- supporting organizations that serve communities of color
- assisting communities and individuals of color to affect systemic change
The People of Color Fund advisory committee has identified three areas of interest where it will concentrate its grantmaking. While applications for other projects will be accepted and reviewed, the committee will give priority to the areas of interest listed below when awarding grants.
- Leadership Development: Projects or organizations that provide skill building, training, and mentorship for leaders of color
- Civic Engagement: Projects or organizations that increase understanding of and involvement in public institutions and civic processes; this includes legislative processes, voting, and citizenship classes
- Youth: Projects or organizations that do any one of the following:
- provide skill building, training, mentoring, apprenticeships, or internships
- promote cultural awareness and preservation
- address the particular challenges faced in their communities.
The People of Color Fund will award two types of grants:
- Project Grants for initiatives that advance racial equity. Projects are generally defined as activities with clear start and end, with goals or objectives that are related to but not the same as the organization’s mission.
- Organizational Development Grants to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations that serve communities of color. This includes projects to:
- strengthen governance and leadership
- improve staff skills
- create and implement strategic and organizational business plans
- improve services and programs
- improve financial management
- expand financial and human resources such as staff and volunteers.
The People of Color Fund will not fund requests for general operating support. This includes requests for money to help pay rent, utility bills, staff salaries, or other expenses related to the daily operation of an organization.
Eligibility Requirements
The People of Color Fund supports organizations that give voice to people of color and that engage people of color in developing solutions and services in their home communities.
The fund will only support projects in which a majority of the participants or intended recipients are people of color.
All applicants must meet the Maine Community Foundation’s general grant eligibility requirements.
To be eligible for support, applying organizations must also:
- provide services or support to an identifiable community of color in Maine
- have people of color in leadership positions with significant responsibilities (such as an officer of the Board of Directors or a management level staff position)
People of Color Fund grants will not be made for:
- Lobbying or religious activities
- program expenses that have already been incurred
- annual appeals or endowment fund campaigns
How to Apply
Complete the online grant application by clicking the link in the Grant Application box at the top right hand corner of this page. Online applications must be completed by March 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Applicants will be notified of the final decisions in early June.
Project Progress Report
All grant recipients will be required to submit a Project Progress Report (PDF | RTF | Word Document) approximately 10 months after receiving payment of the grant. Organizations that fail to file a progress report will not be eligible for future funding from Maine Community Foundation competitive grant programs for one year or until the missing report is filed.
Contact
If you have any further questions about the People of Color Fund, please contact Lelia DeAndrade by e-mail or by phone at (877) 700-6800.