Nashville.gov

COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND (CEF) GRANTS FOR FY09

For FY09, Metro is inaugurating a new Community Enhancement (CEF) Grant program for Nashville nonprofit organizations. The CEF has been designed to meet community needs by funding:

• Services not currently provided by Metro Nashville Government.
• Services which enhance those already provided by Metro Nashville Government.

This program will award grants in three areas:

• Domestic Violence

Services provided to the family members where domestic violence is/has been an issue of concern.
Total Allocated: $750,000

• Education/Aftercare

Services provided to children and youth so they may succeed in school.
Total Allocated: $750,000

• Community Service

Services provided that enhance the lives of Nashvillians and the community in which we live.
Total Allocated: $500,000

WHO CAN APPLY

In order to submit an application, an organization must comply with all nine criteria listed below:

1. Must have a non-profit status to apply. “Nonprofit status” may be demonstrated by one of the following:

a. 501 (c) (3) designation of exemption from federal taxation from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as provided by 26 U.S.C.A. or;

b. Both a copy of the articles of incorporation as a non-profit; and the registration identification number provided by the Secretary of State as a Charitable Organization or proof of such exemption as allowed.

2. Must have a completed profile on www.GivingMatters.com, the data base of nonprofits maintained by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Questions about GivingMatters may be directed to the Rev. Mary K. Friskics-Warren at 321-4939 ext 109.

3. Must be currently registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State Office and have filed the necessary report to the Secretary of State Office of Charitable Solicitation (unless, according to the organization’s size, it does not meet the threshold requirement)

4. Previous recipients of Metro Direct Appropriations with unresolved findings resulting from monitoring by the Metro Office of Financial Accountability are not eligible to apply

5. Must have been in existence for 3 years.

6. Must be delivering services to the citizens of Davidson County.

7. Must have an audit conducted by a certified public accountant completed within the preceding 12 months.

8. The total grant funds requested by an organization must not exceed 35% of its total revenues for the fiscal year included in the audit described in Item 7.

9. Organization staff must attend a Mandatory Training on the CEF process to be held Friday, May 16 from 1-4 at the Downtown Library Conference Center at at 615 Church Street. Note that this is a change in location necessitated by insufficient capcity at the former training site. The training session scheduled for May 15 has now been closed due to being filled to capacity. Due to space limitations, only one representative from each organization, please. Click Here to Register for training.

HOW TO APPLY

An organization may apply for funding for a specific program only – applications for general operating support will not be considered. Choose one of the three following grant funding categories and complete the grant application included in the ‘COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND HANDBOOK’.

• Domestic Violence

• Education and Aftercare

• Community services

APPLICATIONS: An organization may submit only one application. The complete application can be found on Page 11 of the Handbook. A Word version of the application cover sheet and spending plan is included in "Key Links" below for those who wish to complete the form on their computers.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 4:30 pm on May 28.

Applications should be delivered to:

Metro Nashville Community Enhancement Fund
C/o Tiffy Barnett, Division of Grants Coordination
222 Third Avenue North, Suite 650
Nashville, TN 37201

APPLICATION REVIEW: After initial staff screening, applications will be further evaluated and rated by a panel of reviewers selected by the Mayor, the Vice Mayor and the Chair of the Metro Council Budget and Finance Committee. Final funding decisions will include giving consideration to the extent to which the beneficiaries of proposed projects may be underserved. “Underserved” may describe the population, geographic area, or specific problem to be addressed by the application being considered.

QUESTIONS?

Many questions may be answered by referring to the FY09 COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND HANDBOOK.

Other questions must be directed via email to dgc@nashville.gov. No questions will be answered by phone, but those with no access to email may pose questions by calling 862-6104. All questions and answers will be posted to this website by May 15, 2008.

KEY LINKS:

FY09 COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND HANDBOOK (INCLUDES APPLICATION PACKET)

FY09 COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND APPLICATION FORM (.doc, MS Word format)

METRO GRANTS MANUAL (describing grants management requirements for recipients)

GIVINGMATTERS.COM

SHORT, VENDOR APPLICATION

To Register for Training on May 16 (Only one representative from each organization, please.)

Amendment 1 Questions & Answers - May 15, 2008

Division of Grants Coordination Home Page | Register for Training