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LIFE Initiative

As part of a long-range planning effort, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation Trustees are currently evaluating the granting programs. We anticipate revisions to be completed in time for the April 1 deadline. The next grant deadline for grant programs will be April 1, 2009. Thank you.

Through the Literacy is For Everyone (LIFE) initiative, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation seeks to assist organizations in providing opportunities for adults and families to read, write and speak English at a functional level that allows for self-sufficiency and quality of life. Grant support of up to $7,000 will be provided to literacy and language providers for training, materials, awareness building and administrative support to improve the quality and the capacity of their existing programs to serve more learners.

LIFE Goals & Objectives

Build an infrastructure for all individuals to speak and learn English for adults and families.
Provide an opportunity for economic independence and for dealing with basic medical, legal and consumer issues.
Create awareness in the community for literacy skills and integrate literacy into social services, job training and other rehabilitation programs.

Grant Eligibility
Grant applications from non-profit organizations that are developing and expanding programs and services related to adult literacy, family literacy and the needs of non-English speaking individuals will be considered.

SPECIAL NOTE: We encourage non-profits whose services are not literacy based to consider collaborations with experienced literacy providers to integrate literacy services into their existing programming.

You must contact Sandy Wright at 405.606.2916 or Mary Surbeck at 405.606.2917 to determine the eligibility of your project and to ensure you fully understand the guidelines before you develop your written proposal.

2009 Deadlines*
April 1, 2009

*Or first business day after the deadline.

Requirements

Applicant organizations must have current non-profit or public status and have been in existence for two or more years from the date of the application.
The organization must operate an instructional literacy program that has been in existence for at least one year that serves the literacy and language needs of adults and families.
Organizations should possess documented program experience including delivering instruction, learner and volunteer recruitment, and training and experience in the use of literacy instructional materials. This experience includes, at a minimum, the ability to report student enrollment, attendance and completions by year, and to document waitlist, referrals and circumstances that surround a participant’s departure from the program.
The organization must have fiscal accountability. A current statement documenting the financial status of the organization will be required.

Criteria & Areas of Emphasis

Increases in programming capacity to support expansion of services to more literacy and language learners
Efforts to develop new partnerships and collaborations among literacy and community organizations to create greater availability and accessibility of literacy and language instruction to adults and families.
Efforts that enable the organization to more effectively recruit, train and retain volunteer staffing to serve increased numbers of learners.
Increased access to literacy training and language acquisition instructional opportunities for volunteer tutors, staff and instructors.
Acquisition of written curriculum and instructional materials, technical equipment and tools to support expanded training programs and instructional opportunities for participants.
Development of promotional efforts that create increased awareness of the community for the organization’s programs and services to engage learners who might not otherwise participate in literacy education opportunities.

Application Procedure
Step 1: Review Requirements and Criteria & Areas of Emphasis

Step 2: Discuss eligibility of project with Mary Surbeck, 405.606.2917 or Sandy Wright, 405.606.2916. Grant applications that are not discussed with Mary or Sandy prior to submission will not be considered.

Step 3: Complete the application process as provided below.

Complete the Organizational Information Form including attachments requested. Questions must be completed in the space provided.
Organizational Information Form

Submit a Proposal Narrative, no more than five pages in length and in the order indicated that addresses the following:

Organizational Overview & Need for the Project
Provide a brief overview of your organization's current literacy or language programs including:

Population served including geographic area(s), number of persons served, age, income levels and ethnicity, language groups, and special needs, if any, of the individuals served.

Types of curriculum and instructional methods used; the types and ages of the learners served and how the instruction is delivered (classroom, staff instructors, volunteer tutors); the number of instructional hours learners receive and how their progress is evaluated.

Current methods your organization uses to recruit and train literacy learners and/or volunteers and the rate of retention.
Provide a statement of need that outlines why the proposed project is needed, including the number of participants to be served and a general description of their characteristics.

Proposed Project Description
Describe your proposed literacy or language project. Include information about specific program components such as startup activities, recruitment and retention strategies, instructional approach and the number of hours to be provided for training and/or instruction, if applicable.

Provide a timetable for the project, including anticipated project start and end dates.

Describe who will be involved in implementing the project, including their roles and qualifications.

Will other groups participate through collaboration and partnership? Describe their role and contribution.
Describe in measurable terms, the goals and objectives you would like to achieve through this project.

Budget
Provide a complete budget, both income and expense, for the overall project. Please identify income sources such as cash or in-kind. An example of a Proposal Budget in the preferred format is provided via this link.

Be specific about the amount you are requesting from the Learning and Literacy Initiative.

List other potential sources of funding received or being sought in support of this project.

Sustainability
Outline the project's short term and long term funding plans.
Explain the future of the project after the grant funds have been expended.

Evaluation & Reporting
Applicants should provide a specific plan for establishing program goals and measuring both the outcomes and impacts of the proposed program.

Outcomes or the statistical data generated during the course of the project should include:

a. Headcount = number participating, served during the course of the project (unduplicated count for the total of the project rather than per activity)

b. Retention = number completing the program as outlined

c. Change = number of participants who have progressed one or more educational level(s).

The evaluation process should also include a method or tool for collecting and documenting the impact and anecdotal stories that communicate the effect of the program or project on the community.
The proposal narrative outlining plans for program evaluation must answer the following questions:

What are the goals of the program?
Based on the program goals, what tangible and measurable outcomes are expected?
What process will be used to establish the baseline of information from which outcomes, retention and changes will be measured?
What kind of tool(s) will be used to measure outcomes and how will the information be quantified?
How will the impacts or long-term effects of the program be collected and documented?

Applicants should submit examples of forms or documents that will be used for the evaluation process. For an example of a program evaluation that can be adapted as needed by LIFE grant applicants, please visit the Program Evaluation Example.

Reporting
Grantees will be required to submit an interim report six months into the project and a final report at the end of one year. Six-month reports should include outcomes and impacts gathered to that point and may include a site visit by program staff.

Your program officer will conduct an exit interview with the grant representative either prior to or immediately after submission of the grant final evaluation report.

Complete the two-page Proposal Abstract. This document is a summary of the Proposal Narrative. Do not submit attachments with the Proposal Abstract.
Proposal Abstract

Complete and submit the Checklist and Summary Sheet
Checklist and Summary Sheet

Submitting the Grant Packet
Submit ten (10) copies of the following:
Learning and Literacy Organizational Information
Proposal Narrative
Proposal Abstract

Submit one (1) copy only of the following:
Application Checklist and Summary Sheet
Required documents (items 1-6 on the Organizational Information form)

Mail above documents to:
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
P.O. Box 1146
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1146

Completed application packets must be received by 5:00 p.m. of the deadline date. Application packets may also be hand delivered to 1000 N. Broadway Ave. Faxed or emailed applications forms will not be accepted.

Decision Process
The LIFE Advisory Committee will review all grant proposals that are prepared according to the guidelines outlined above. Grant recommendations will be submitted for approval by the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation at meetings in February, May and September. All applicants will be notified of the Trustees' decision.

Report Forms
Grant Interim Report Form
Grant Final Evaluation Report Form

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Grant Approvals:
Grant approvals from the April 2, 2008 deadline:
No grants approved

Grant approvals from the January 2, 2008 deadline:
Oklahoma City Literacy Council -- $25,000 to support the hiring of a part-time staff person

Grant approvals from the July 1, 2007 deadline:
Community Literacy Centers -- $7,000 to expand adult basic educator services to serve two new sites.
Oklahoma Christian University -- $4,800 to support the expansion of the ESL based “Lunch Time Learning Series.”

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Content

LIFE Initiative