[BFUSA] Request for Proposal 2009

┃The Beautiful Foundation USA Request for Proposals 2009┃

The Beautiful Foundation USA (BFUSA)’s tagline, “Beyond Charity Toward Change,” encapsulates the Foundation’s new strategic direction in its grant-making activities. It is the BFUSA’s goal to act as a catalyst for the Korean American and other community-based organizations in the New York metro area as they evolve to next stage of development. BFUSA aims to strengthen the capacity of CBOs and to facilitate sustainable institutional change so that they in turn can achieve greater social impact on the community.

Overview
BFUSA is pleased to announce the request for proposal of grant-making 2009. This year, there are three categories of support: Project Support, General Operating Support, and Technical Assistance/Capacity Building Support. Grant period is one year.

Organizations can only apply for either the Project Support or General Operating Support, not both. All organizations are eligible to apply for the Technical Assistance/Capacity Building Support in addition to either of the above grants.

Grant guidelines and proposal submission forms are available on the BFUSA web site at www.beautifulfoundationusa.org.

For questions, please contact BFUSA by email beautifulfoundationusa@gmail.com or by phone (201) 461-0060.


Eligibility Criteria
Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations located in the New York metro area, that have the charitable purpose to improve the welfare of Korean-Americans and others.

Additional eligibility criteria for applicants to the Technical Assistance/Capacity Building Support: participation in the BFUSA’s 2nd Seed of Giving Conference (July 2009).

Restrictions
BFUSA does not provide funds to:
▪ Organizations outside the New York metro area
▪ Individuals
▪ Government agencies
▪ Programs for religious purposes
▪ Endowments
▪ Private foundations
▪ Real estate purchases
▪ Fundraising events
▪ Political causes or campaigns to elect candidates to public offices

Grant Range
▪ For Project Support: up to $ 15,000 per grant
▪ For General Operating Support: up to $5,000 per grant
▪ For Technical Assistance/Capacity Building Support: up to $500 value per grant.

Grant Support Priorities
▪ Project Support
Priorities will be given to organizations that promote welfare of low-income/immigrant community members with programs that:
-Prevent or treat mental health problems
-Provide free/low-cost legal aid/advocacy
-Assist to receive government benefits for free or low cost
-Provide educational programs such as ESL and vocational training
-Support senior citizens’ welfare
-Provide disability programs
-Provide services for domestic violence counseling/prevention/treatment
-Discover scientific/statistical findings about low-income immigrant challenges such as health condition, socio-economic disparity, or educational/economic opportunities

▪ General Operating Support
Priorities will be given to organizations with a proven track record of providing excellent services to improve the welfare of Korean-Americans and others in the New York metro area.

▪ Technical Assistance/Capacity Building Support
This year, the BFUSA focuses on improving financial record keeping skill through technical assistance/capacity building support. In order to apply, participation in the BFUSA’s 2nd Seed of Giving Conference (July 2009 TBD) is required. Preferences will be given to organizations that:
-Provide a vital service in our community
-Have a clearly defined mission
-Have a proven track record for carrying out the mission
-Have been in existence for at least three years.


Timeline: Application Process

Announcement of Application ┃Monday, April 13th, 2009
Application Deadline ┃Friday, July 31st, 2009
Site Visit Notification(Optional) ┃September, 2009
Notification of Grant Decisions ┃October 2009
Announcement of 2009 Grant Distribution ┃November 2009

*All dates are not confirmed and will be determined ASAP.

*Applications must be received by this deadline. We do not accept any late applications, including those postmarked Friday, July 31st but arriving after the deadline. Submission in advance of the deadline, therefore, is highly encouraged. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be returned. Faxed and emailed applications will not be considered. Applications without the requisite number of copies (two copies) will not be considered. No staples and no wired folders. Please use binder clips.

Applications can be mailed directly to:

The Beautiful Foundation USA
1605 John St. #202
Fort Lee, NJ, 07024


*BFUSA first notifies all applicants of its decisions by mail, then issues a press release to local media that highlights the organizations and projects awarded grants. Grantees are encouraged to also publicize their awards themselves and to acknowledge BFUSA support through press releases, newsletters, web sites, and annual reports.