SIF Intermediary Requests Proposals for youthCONNECT Initiative

Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), one of the 11 organizations selected as an intermediary for the Social Innovation Fund competition, is now accepting applications for its youthCONNECT initiative. The goal of the initiative is to create a network of high performing nonprofits in the National Capital Region working to improve opportunities for low-income youth, ages 14-24.  With a competitive process spanning five months, this opportunity will fund a total of four non-profits.

The grant competition will have three stages:

Stage I: Preliminary Proposals

In the first stage, applicants will respond to a Request for Preliminary Proposals (RFPP).  After proposals that do not meet minimum eligibility qualifications are eliminated, the remaining proposals will be reviewed by a team of independent reviewers.  Six to eight nonprofits that best meet the selection criteria will receive a request for a full proposal.

RFPP Public Release:  September 20, 2010
Bidders Conference: September 22, 2010
Webinars 1 and 2:  September 29; October 6, 2010
Preliminary Proposals Submission Deadline:  October 12, 2010, 5:00 PM EST 

The Bidders Conference was held on Wednesday, September 22. If you would like to access the Bidders Conference PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

Stage II: Full Proposals

Selected nonprofits will submit full proposals.  Proposals will be assessed by an independent Review Team based upon weighted selection criteria.  VPP’s evaluation advisor, Child Trends, will be part of the review process and will assess all evaluation plans and statements of evidence.

Organizations selected in Stage I to receive full RFP notified: October 27, 2010
Full proposals due: November 30, 2010

Stage III: VPP Investment Selection

Three to five finalist organizations will be selected for VPP’s investment selection process, which includes interviews, organizational assessment, program review, exploration of aspirations, formal due diligence, and possibly further review of evaluation plans.

VPP’s Investment Selection Process:  December 15, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Final Awardees Notified:  By January 31, 2011

As a part of the preliminary proposal process, interested applicants MUST attend either the Bidders Conference or the initial webinar to apply. Both will provide an extensive overview of the youthCONNECT initiative and the open competition process. The second webinar will provide an opportunity for applicants to ask additional questions, but will NOT provide a comprehensive overview.

Project Award Amount

• Approximately $2.7 million total funding over a two-year period will be available for subgrantees selected through the open competition from the Social Innovation Fund and VPP (combined).
• Matching grants equal to 100% of the total grant award per year will be required of the subgrantees.
• The match grants of the subgrantees must be secured and documented by the end of each award year.
• Total funding, with matching grants from open competition subgrantees, is $5.4 million.

Note: Eligibility for the award is contingent upon attending either the Bidders conference or the initial webinar. Communities should pay close attention to these deadlines.