Community Grant fund application and guidelines

Areas of consideration for non-profit organizations and individual city of Mankato residents that request funds:

1. Community Performing Arts and Music
   Goal:
   • Enhance public performances in various genres of music and performing arts
2. Community Beautification and Public Art
   Goal:
   • To beautify and improve the community and public spaces
3. Community Social Services
   Goal:
   • Provide social services that enhance the quality of life and independence of service to recipients/clients
4. Community Events
   Goal:
   • Provide opportunities of gathering for citizens which result in a positive economic impact

• Individual artist (eligible for no more than $2,500)
• Organizations with prior year operating income of less than $50,000 (eligible for no more than $2,500)
• Organizations with prior year operating income of $50,000 or more (eligible for no more than $5,000)

Available funds from the city of Mankato will be allocated among applicants based on their eligibility level and how well they meet the grant criteria. The maximum amounts stated are guidelines only. Applicants may receive less than the maximum amount. Applying for a Community Grant does not guarantee receipt of funding.

Applicants may request less than the maximum in their category.

• City of Mankato not-for-profit organizations
• Individuals who reside in Mankato

• Each applicant organization must be registered as a not-for-profit corporation with the State of Minnesota.
• All proposed programs/projects must show a detailed budget depicting that requested funds meet a minimum of a 3:1 funding ratio (revenue from other sources: requested monies).
• All proposed programs/projects should place a high priority on serving under-served participants, open to the public, and/or meeting objectives set forth in the Envision 2020, city of Mankato Strategic Plan or other city of Mankato planning documents.
• The Council encourages collaboration between organizations and other types of community groups and/or individuals.
• The Council will consider applications to fund the same project/program in multiple years. Applicants must re-apply each year and there is no guarantee of ongoing funding.
• All proposed programs/projects must take place in Mankato between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012.
• Organizational/individual grants must have other revenues or matching dollars to support the proposed grant.
• Applicants must comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and assure the City Council that no person will be excluded from participation or be denied the benefits of any program or service on the basis of sex, race, sexual orientation, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, or ability.
• Any public art project is subject to the prior approval of the city of Mankato City Council.
• All organizations are required to submit a written final report due no later than December 31, 2012. Failure to submit a final report will disqualify any individual or organization for future community grant funding.

• An existing deficit from a previous year or project.
• Organizational/individual grants which fail to demonstrate other revenues or matching dollars to support the project/program.
• Personal expenses such as child care and unrelated wages due to proposed project commitment.
• Joint and collaborative applications without letters of intent/agreement signed by the principal director of all parties to the project outlined in the application.
• Applicants that are governmental organization/agency or a subsidiary thereof.
• Individuals who do not reside in Mankato.
• Organizations which lack a base in Mankato.
• Applicants which submit late and/or incomplete applications.

The applicant must complete the following application materials to be considered eligible for a community grant. Applicant materials must be submitted in the following order:

1. One completed community grant application checklist.
2. One original application form (pages five to nine), including signed statement of assurances, narrative, budgets and demographic information (stapled).
3. Five copies of the original application form (pages five to nine), including signed statement of assurances, narrative, budgets and demographic information (individually stapled).
4. For organizations only: one copy of proof of not-for-profit status (see below "proof of not-for-profit status").
5. Submit the application by the deadline. Incomplete/late applications will not be accepted.
6. Do not staple or put applications in folders/binders.

To be eligible for the city of Mankato community grant program, an applicant must be either an individual residing in Mankato or a not-for-profit corporation currently registered with the state of Minnesota.

Applicant organizations must submit one of the following as proof of not-for-profit status:

• A copy of 5103 certificate
• A copy of current annual report to the Secretary of State (signed and dated less than one year ago)
• A copy of the cancelled check made payable to the Secretary of State
• Organizations incorporated prior to 1943 should submit a certificate of good standing from the Office of the Secretary of State or a copy of enabling legislation

Do not send Internal Revenue Service documents or annual reports submitted to the Attorney General. These do not provide proof of not-for-profit status.

The applicant individual or organization and proposed project/program are strongly encouraged to integrate the city of Mankato Strategic Plan, other city of Mankato planning documents (i.e. City Center Renaissance Plan, Arts, Culture, and Community Enhancement Plan, etc.) and Envision 2020 where applicable. If the program/proposal does not advance the above stated plans, the applicant is encouraged to demonstrate how the proposed project will enhance the quality of life for city of Mankato residents.

Applications will be reviewed by a minimum of a six member grant review panel consisting of a minimum of three City Council members and three staff appointed by the City Manager. The grant review panel will be open to all City Council members. The grant review panel will review all community grant applications and provide recommendations to the City Council. The City Council ultimately determines funding of the community grant program.

The grant review panel reviews and evaluates applications. The bullets under each criterion are examples of issues the panel may consider. These bullets do not represent the only means of evaluating the criteria but are provided as a guide to the panel. They may not apply to every application.

1. Need and justification
   • originality of project
   • need for the project is adequately demonstrated/documented to warrant funding
2. Organizational capability
   • evidence of sound management and planning
   • demonstrates financial responsibility and evidence of public and private financial support other than the request to the Council
   • a demonstrated personnel support structure to implement the project
   • appropriateness and adequacy of facilities and equipment
3. Community involvement
   • project meets objectives set forth in city of Mankato Strategic Plan/other planning documents or Envision 2020
   • enhances quality of life for Mankato citizens
   • impact of project on the community (community events are strongly encouraged to show a economic impact)
4. Evidence of community support
   • impact of volunteer services on individual or organization
   • impact of in-kind contributions on individual or organization
   • evidence of board support
   • other evidence of community contributions

Community is specially defined as the Mankato constituents served by the applicant; however, attention is made to applicants serving greater Mankato also.

If an applicant is awarded a grant, 100 percent of the awarded grant will be disbursed within 30 days of Council action.

Grantees are required to include the following donor credit on all program materials and in publicity:

The donor credit must be prominently displayed on related program materials. A city logo can also be provided for program materials. Individuals and organizations which fail to credit the city of Mankato may be declared ineligible for future funding.

January 11, 2012

• Applications available for 2012 community grants

January 19, 2012

• Community grant question and answer session. This is an opportunity for grant applicants to ask questions regarding the completion of the application. The question and answer session will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Intergovernmental Center  in the Le Sueur Room (lower level), 10 Civic Center Plaza.

February 24, 2012

• Application must be submitted to the city of Mankato by 4:30 p.m. (use contact information below). Late applications will not be accepted.

February 27-March 23, 2012

• Review period conducted by the review panel

March 26, 2012

• Council work session-discuss Panel recommendations (6 p.m. – Blue Earth River Room, Intergovernmental Center, 10 Civic Center Plaza)

April 9, 2012

• City Council meeting – formal approval of grants (7 p.m. – Minnesota River Room, Intergovernmental Center, 10 Civic Center Plaza)

April 13, 2012

• Notifications sent to recipients

December 31, 2012

• Final report submission for 2012 grants