Mar Vista Community Council Community Improvement Grants

Submitted by Albert Olson on Mon Jul 26, 2010, 8:03am

A year ago MVCC launched the Community Improvement Grant application process (CIG). This pilot grant-making initiative is designed to empower local community groups, schools and organizations to implement projects and programs that improve quality of life in the Mar Vista community.

Based on the annual MVCC budget allocation, the requirements listed below and related considerations, and thanks to the enthusiastic participation of several groups and organizations (The Learning Garden, The Sustainable Living Workshop, Charnock Elementary School Arts Program, PS Arts, the VHS Robotics club, Tree People and many others) MVCC is today proud to offer an evolving, transparent and effective grant-making process to fund activities that significantly benefit the community.

The Board of Directors of the Mar Vista Community Council has recently allocated a total of $10,000 of CIG funds to be made available to eligible applicants for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Individuals and organizations within the Mar Vista community are encouraged to submit proposals which will be considered by the Board for final approval as a Community Improvement Grant. Successful CIG funding of projects depend on budgetary and related considerations which may vary throughout the fiscal year, as well as and the requirements listed below,

1. Criteria for the Community Improvement Grant selection

a. Funding shall be for projects designed to improve the quality of life in the Mar Vista community
b. Funding shall be for a specific activity, physical item(s), improvement project, community or education event. Funding shall not include general donations to community organizations’ operating funds, etc. Funding shall conform to all published DONE guidelines regarding Neighborhood Council funding proposals.
c. Funding shall be for projects that will be implemented in the 2010-2011 fiscal year
d. Funding proposal shall provide:
1. Exact amount of money needed
2. Exact way in which money will be spent, and to whom the money will be paid
3. Timeline for how money will be spent
4. Organization or person responsible for carrying out project
5. Explanation of benefit for the community
e. Organization or individual will provide appropriate means for public recognition of MVCC involvement in project.
f. Special emphasis in choosing recipients of grants will be placed on projects whose needs are immediate, and whose resources for alternative funding are limited.
g. Total funding for these grants in the year 2010-2011 will not exceed $10,000. Maximum funding for any proposal shall be $3,000, and each proposal shall be for one of the following three amount classifications:
1. $3,000 to $1,500
2. $1,500 to $500
3. not to exceed $500
2. Notification to the Public
Disseminate a notice to stakeholders, schools, and neighborhood associations of
the availability of the grants on a one-time basis and request that interested
groups or individuals submit proposals.

3. Selection of CIG Proposals
a. Executive Committee and/or relevant MVCC committees, will review proposals, and present to the Board a list of grant candidates for approval.
b. Final CIG projects shall be presented to the MVCC Board for approval.
c. MVCC Treasurer will coordinate with grant candidate and appropriate MVCC committee representatives the exact form and time of payment, based on the criteria of the project.
To apply, please complete and submit the online application form and/or request an application to be emailed to you by contacting us at info@marvista.org.