UNSOLICITED GRANT PROPOSAL

The Connecticut Health Foundation’s (CT Health) grant application has two phases.  The first phase requires submission of a Concept Paper that briefly describes the proposed work to be completed under the grant.  If the Concept Paper meets the expectations of CT Health, an applicant will be invited to participate in the second phase of the application process, the Full Proposal. 

PLEASE NOTE:
Incomplete grant applications (those missing significant required information in the narrative or appendix) and those received after the due date will not be reviewed in the cycle for which they were submitted.

The applicant can resubmit a completed application at the next grant cycle.

Phase I:  Concept Paper 

All prospective applicants are required to submit a summary [not to exceed two pages] of the proposed project.  Please ensure the Concept Paper includes the following criteria:

1. Importance of the issues to be addressed
2. Goals and objectives
3. Outcomes
4. Strategies to achieve the proposed outcomes
5. Timeline illustrating what is to be achieved over the life of the project
6. Total funds needed to successfully implement the project
7. Funds requested from the foundation
8. Where appropriate, a list of other funding sources [both actual and/or requested]

Concept Papers assessed to best align with the foundation’s strategic objectives in its three priority areas – children’s oral health, children’s mental health, and racial and ethnic health disparities – may be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their project idea with program staff prior to submitting a Concept Paper.  Concept Papers should be sent to the attention of the grants manager or email grantsmanager@cthealth.org.  

Concept Papers must be received one month prior to the final application due dates shown above.

Phase II:  Full Proposal

Applicants who have completed the Phase I Concept Paper and have been invited to submit a Phase II Full Proposal are required to submit the following:

• Cover Sheet [PDF | Word]
• Budget Worksheet [PDF | Word]
• Budget Justification
• Proposed project not to exceed 10 pages (see Proposal Elements for page requirements).
• Required attachments

Required forms and the narrative must be single-spaced and typed in an easily readable 12-point font.
 

PROPOSAL ELEMENTS

Full proposals must include the following sections: 

1. Cover Sheet:  Provide the required contact information in the format provided by downloading the Cover Sheet [PDF | Word].
2. Executive Summary [not to exceed 1 page]:  This section provides an overview of the issues(s) to be addressed; proposed goals, objectives, measureable outcomes; the project’s evaluation method; and grant funds requested.  The Executive Summary must include an “impact statement” that briefly describes the end result of the project.
3. Proposed Project:   In this section, applicants must explain the relevance of the project in relation to at least one of CT Health’s priority areas and illustrate how the proposed project will address one of the foundation’s strategic objectives. This section must include:
   • Understanding of the issue(s) to be addressed by providing relevant data or research to support the need to address the issues(s). [not to exceed 2 pages]
   • Goals & objectives of the proposed project.  [1/2 page]
   • Methods and/or activities that address the proposed objectives and how the goals and objectives of the proposed project will be achieved.  [2 ½-3 pages]
   • Rationale for the strategies and activities chosen.  Provide evidence of the effectiveness of the selected strategies and why this approach will be successful. [1/2-1 page]
   • Organization’s capacity and expertise to effectively respond to the issues(s) it proposes to address.  [1/2-1 page]
   • Organization’s commitment to cultural and linguistic competence (see below).  Explain how the organization strives to increase its cultural and linguistic competence through organizational policy, procedures and practices.  Please provide clear examples.  Describe how the organization would ensure that the proposed grant project would be implemented with cultural and linguistic competence [not to exceed 1 page].*
   • Evaluation - Explain how the objectives and outcomes will be measured and describe how the organization will know if the proposed project is having the intended impact. [not to exceed 1 page
   • Sustainability of effort - Describe, when appropriate, how the project will be continued at the conclusion of CT Health’s funding. [not to exceed 1 page]
4. Budget Justification:  A narrative explanation of the budget line items and their relationship to the goals and objectives of the project.
5. Budget Worksheet:  Provide the required financial and budget-related information in the format provided by downloading the Budget Worksheet [PDF | Word].  CT Health funds indirect costs not to exceed 15% – expenses that cannot be directly linked with the work of the grant proposal but are associated.  These include facility costs, administrative staff and other expenses related to the work of the project necessary to operate the organization.

PROVIDE ONE COPY EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ATTACHMENTS.

Financial Documentation:
Operating Budget:  Provide a copy of the organization’s operating budget, including:

• The most recent audited financial statement
• A copy of an independent auditor’s opinion
• A copy of any management letter presented to the board of directors and management’s response

The most recent 990 or 990PF

Board of Directors: 
Provide the following information about the organization’s board of directors:

• A list of board members, including racial/ethnic composition and affiliations
• Frequency of meetings and average attendance over the previous 12 months
• Description of how the board demonstrates its fiscal oversight
• Description of how the executive director is evaluated

A copy of the most recent annual report, if available

Public entities or government organizations also must include an organization chart or table indicating where this project will be located and the division responsible for its implementation.

Legal Requirements:  The foundation funds two types of organizations – nonprofit and public/government agencies.  Nonprofit organizations must have a valid tax-exempt status under Section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code and be classified as a private foundation or public charity.   If a proposal is submitted by an unincorporated organization, collaborative or community project, a fiscal agent that has a valid tax-exempt status under Section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) is required.   A letter of agreement that states the organization’s willingness to act as fiscal agent must accompany the proposal, with signatures of the organization’s CEO, president or executive director.

Application Checklist:  The checklist PDF | Word] must be completed and returned along with the full application.

Six (6) copies of the proposal and one set of the attachments must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on the application due date to:  Grants Manager, Connecticut Health Foundation, 74B Vine Street, New Britain, CT 06052.  Applications received after the due date will not be accepted. 
Do not submit applications in notebooks or binders.

*About Cultural and Linguistic Competence

The Connecticut Health Foundation acknowledges that there are various perspectives on cultural and linguistic competence.  While the foundation does not endorse any specific definition, the National Center for Cultural Competence provides some definitions, frameworks and guiding principles applicants may find helpful.  For additional information click here:  http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/foundations/frameworks.html

Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together in a system, agency or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.  It is a developmental process that evolves over an extended period (adapted from Cross et. al., 1989).

Cultural Competence (adapted from Cross et al., 1989) requires that organizations:

• Have a defined set of values and principles, and demonstrate behaviors, attitudes, policies and structures that enable them to work effectively cross-culturally
• Have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of the communities they serve
• Incorporate the above in all aspects of policy-making, administration, practice, service delivery and involve systematically consumers, key stakeholders and communities

Linguistic Competence (adapted from Goode & Jones, 2004):  requires that organizations and their personnel:

• Communicate effectively and convey information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse audiences, including persons of limited English proficiency, those who have low literacy skills or are not literate, and individuals with disabilities
• Have policies, structures, practices, procedures and dedicated resources to support this capacity