Grants

Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund
2008-2009 Grant Application Information

Mission of the Fund

The UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund (the Fund) provides financial support for community-based projects that bring together the ideas, energy, and resources of UC Berkeley and the community to enhance the quality of life in Berkeley.

Purposes and Goals of the Fund

Through the award of annual grants, the Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund seeks to:

1. Enhance the quality of life in Berkeley generally, and the neighborhood environments for people who live and work near the campus or are impacted by campus development and activity.
2. Link the resources of the university with the community to address community needs.
3. Improve communication, strengthen relationships, and encourage collaboration among the campus, the City of Berkeley, and the community, including fostering campus/community partnerships that continue after the conclusion of the grant.

Funding Categories

The Fund awards grants for projects in two general categories;

Neighborhood Improvement Projects: Projects that enhance the physical environment of Berkeley neighborhoods or facilities that serve the community, including planning activities, feasibility studies, and needs assessments that would lead to such projects.

Examples:  Landscape improvements, playground enhancements, historic preservation, facade improvments in business districts, public kiosks..

Community Support and Service Projects: Projects that enhance the economic, social, and cultural wellbeing of Berkeley residents, including projects that assist the community and community-based organizations to maximize resources and develop their capacity.

Examples:  Literacy improvement, performing arts events, science education enhancement, outreach and health services for transitional age youth.

Grant Amounts and Timeframe

The minimum grant award is $5,000. The Fund is not required to award grants for the full allocation every year, in which case funds will be carried forward for future distribution.  For 2008-2009, the total amount available for awards is $212,000.

Community support/service grant periods are one year.  Neighborhood improvement project grant periods may be up to two years.  Grant recipients may reapply for funding in future years.  Generally, the grant period begins in September and ends in August.

Key Funding Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of:

• How closely they match the Fund’s goals.
• The importance of the community need being addressed.
• The project’s design and implementation.
• The use of innovative approaches.
• Clearly articulated, realistic goals and measurable outcomes.
• Meaningful roles of and close collaboration between the community and university partners.
• Endorsement of the project by stakeholders.
• The lead organization’s qualifications, practical community experience, resources, and organizational capacity to implement the project within the proposed timeline and to manage grant funds.
• Opportunities to leverage funding from other sources.

Operational Requirements

• The project, key partners, and the benefits of the project must be located in the City of Berkeley.
• The project must be a collaboration between one or more community partner(s) (e.g., a community-based organization or agency or neighborhood association) and a UC Berkeley partner (e.g., an academic department, non-academic unit, or individual faculty, staff, or students).
• The grant applicant must be a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or must have the consent of a 501(c)(3) organization to serve as fiscal agent.  Written confirmation by the 501(c)(3) organization of its willingness to act as fiscal agent is required.
• Projects that affect the city’s infrastructure or that require approval by or permits from the City of Berkeley must secure such approvals in advance of the grant application. If not, grant funding may be contingent on securing the required approvals.

• Deficit or emergency funding, debt reduction, loan repayment or retirement, or for project costs incurred before the effective date of the grant. 
• Political programs or activities to support, change, lobby, or otherwise influence legislation and/or ballot measures, elect candidates to public office, or other political issues.
• Any organization that discriminates on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or political affiliation. The Fund may support organizations and projects that target groups that have been subject to historical discrimination. 
• Religious activities; however, religious institutions may apply for funding for nonsectarian projects.
• Purchase or long-term real estate rental(s), lease(s), or sub-lease(s).
• Purchase of alcoholic beverages.

• Grant recipients will be required to execute a Terms and Conditions document before funds will be disbursed.
• Generally, the full amount of the grant will be disbursed when the award is made.
• Grant recipients will be required to submit a mid-year report by February 28, 2009 and a final report by October 31, 2009.

Additional Information

• Submit two copies of the proposals to:
  Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund
  Office of Community Relations
  UC Berkeley
  336 Sproul Hall #4208
  Berkeley, CA 94720-4208
  
  
• Proposals must be received (not postmarked) at the Office of Community Relations by 5:00 pm, May 1, 2008.
• If you have a project idea and need assistance finding a UC Berkeley partner, contac Irene Hegarty, Director, UC Berkeley Community Relations, 510/643-5296, calpartnershipfund@berkeley.edu
• For more information or to obtain application packets e-mail the Fund at calpartnershipfund@berkeley.edu or call UC Berkeley Community Relations at 510/643-5299.