FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE BACKGROUND

SCF GRANT OVERVIEW

• Group 1 (11 Grant Recipients) will receive an average of $24,680 in financial assistance (annually) for capacity building activities that relate to the five key areas of capacity building. In addition, Grant Recipients (at no cost to the recipient) will receive year long individualized tailored technical assistance in critical areas of need based on an organizational effectiveness assessment conducted at the onset and conclusion of the grant period and attendance for two organizational representatives to one regional training Institute. Approximately 75 percent of the total training and technical assistance will be in the form of individualized technical assistance throughout the grant year. The regional training institute will provide 32 hours of training to each organization (2 attendees, 16 hours each). Individualized technical assistance will consist of 24 hours of on-site assistance and approximately 80 hours of additional weekly assistance by phone or Internet meetings throughout the grant year.
• Group 2 (10 NonGrant Recipients) will receive an organizational effectiveness assessment at the onset and conclusion of the grant period, in addition to a financial assistance for two organizational representatives to attend one regional training Institute.

• Onsite visits (One TA visit will be provided to each selected Grant Recipient)
• In-person meetings, telephone calls, emails, review of documents (An average of 1.5 hours per week of ongoing TA assistance will be provided to selected Grant Recipients)
• Provision of publications/education resources
• Direct consultation by First Nations staff and consultants
• The purchase of TA through other organizations or consultants, and/or
• The participation of Recipient staff in appropriate regional training Institutes

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

First Nations will only read applications from the following eligible entities:

1. Native American-controlled (Native-majority board) organizations and community groups that are in need of capacity building and are located in and serve the 22 targeted rural or reservation-based Native American communities listed below:
   • Arizona: Gila River Indian Community, Hopi, Hualapi, Navajo, Salt River Pima-Maricopa and White Mountain Apache
   • Minnesota: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, and the White Earth Band of Ojibwe
   • Montana: Blackfeet, Crow, Fort Peck Assiniboine, and Sioux
   • New Mexico: Acoma Pueblo, Mescalero Apache
   • North Dakota: Standing Rock Sioux, and Turtle Mountain Chippewa
   • Oklahoma: Cherokee
   • South Dakota: Cheyenne River Sioux and Pine Ridge, Rosebud Sioux, and Yankton Sioux.
   • Utah: Ute Mountain Ute
2. Organizations that are formally organized as a nonprofit organization. Proof of nonprofit status will be required through one of the following acceptable forms of documentation:
   • A reference to the applicant organization’s listing in the IRS’s most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code
   • A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
   • A statement from a state taxing body, state attorney general, or other appropriate state official certifying that the applicant organization has nonprofit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
   • A certified copy of the organization’s certificate or incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes nonprofit status.
   • Any of the items listed above for a state or national parent organization/fiscal agent and a statement signed by the parent organization/fiscal agent that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate.
3. Native American organizations and groups, including faith-based organizations, that document that they are:
   1. Addressing the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities and
   2. They are helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits.

• Native American groups that are faith-based will be eligible to participate in this SCF-funded project, as long as the programs or services that will improve in capacity as a result of this project will not include inherently religious activities. No preference will be given to either secular or faith-based organizations.
• Organizations that partner with First Nations to provide technical assistance and training or provide part or all of the cost-share (funds or in-kind) are not eligible to receive financial assistance.

CRITERIA FOR GRANT SELECTION

1. Working with agencies responsible for administering the ACF TANF program.
2. Whose annual budget does not exceed $500,000.
3. Implementing programs that address the broad economic recovery issue present in their communities.

PROJECTS ALLOWABLE THROUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• Computer software to support organization functions such as accounting and grant management.
• Additional training not provided by First Nations Development Institute.
• Additional staff.Costs to achieve 501(c)(3) or §7871 status

Training and TA needs to be provided could include, but are not imitated to the following examples:

1. Leadership Development/Human Capacity: appropriate board engagement; developing position descriptions for staff; Executive Director – effective delegation; and Executive Director – how to efficiently and effectively manage an organization that often has few or no staff (i.e., financial management, fundraising, board relations, etc.). 
2. Organizational Development/ Revenue Development: nonprofit accounting practices, including the development or refinement of an appropriate chart of accounts; producing, interpreting and analyzing financial statements; identifying and implementing a computerized accounting system; process of establishing appropriate internal controls; budgeting; working with accounting professionals; appropriate articles of incorporation, bylaws; policies and procedures e.g.., personnel manual, travel policy); and required reporting (annual report, IRS Form 990); identifying governmental and non-governmental sources of revenue; developing effective funding proposals; leveraging resources; monitoring and reporting on grant deliverables (i.e., to grant sources); and development of internal fundraising systems.
3. Program Development: strategic planning and program planning.
4. Evaluation of Effectiveness: program monitoring; evaluation and reporting (quantitative and qualitative).
5. Community Engagement: basing programs on community needs; conducting outreach and reporting to community members; and vehicles of community involvement.

Leadership Development

• Create and implement a volunteer management/recruitment plan
• Create board policies

Organizational Development

• Create a strategic or revenue development plan
• Create financial management procedures/improve internal controls

Program Development

• Obtain program-related equipment and durable supplies
• Research and develop new programs or services

Collaboration and Community Engagement

• Assess effectiveness of existing collaborative efforts
• Conduct assessment of community needs

Evaluation of Effectiveness

• Collect information related to service recipient outcomes
• Collect information related to service recipient satisfaction

APPLYING FOR SCF

Applications will be considered complete as long as they contain all the following:

1. Completed Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) Grant Application.
2. Attachment A: Program/Project Proposal not to exceed 1,500 words; must be double-spaced. This should include (but is not limited to):
   • The organization’s capacity building goals and objectives and how this project will help to achieve them.
   • A detailed description of the areas of organizational capacity which you will address under this grant. 
   • A detailed description of how the financial assistance will be utilized during the grant year.
   • The current needs and challenges this project will address.
   • The strengths your organization has to help address these needs and challenges.
   • How the improved capacity will benefit the clients of the organization.
   • What impact will this project have on the organization’s abilities to affect economic recovery in your community?
3. Attachment B: Organization’s operating budget showing project revenue and expenses for the current fiscal year.
4. Attachment C: A financial statement for the most recently completely fiscal year. 
5. Attachment D: Proof of the organization’s nonprofit status (see above for acceptable documents).
6. Attachment E: List of Board of Directors (include Tribal affiliation) and Key Staff
7. Attachment F: A completed W-9 for the organization or parent organization/fiscal sponsor.

GRANT DECISIONS AND AWARD NOTIFICATION

GRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

CONFERENCE CALL FOR APPLICANTS

METHODS FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Hard Copy submissions:

1. Submit an original and two copies of the proposal.
2. Full proposals must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, August 20, 2010.   This is the date of receipt, NOT a postmark date.

Electronic submissions:

1. Should be transmitted in Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat (pdf) or equivalent application(s).
2. Cover sheet is to be in MS Word or equivalent only – do not convert to a pdf format.
3. Legal name of the organization should be the only entry in the subject line of the email.
4. Send only one email. Be sure to attach all necessary files. Contact us if necessary.
5. List all attachments in the body of the email.
6. Full proposals must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, August 20, 2010.    Consider the difference in time zones (First Nations is in the Mountain Time zone).