Applications Open for Central Indiana Racial Equity Fund – US

Deadline: 14-May-21

Applications are now open for the Central Indiana Racial Equity Fund to address the inequities in their criminal legal systems that unfairly target, penalize, and disrupt the lives of Black residents in Central Indiana.

CIREF has prioritized capacity-building for its final grantmaking round. More specifically, the fund seeks to invest in building the internal infrastructure of Black-led organizations and organizations prepared to scale up existing programs aligned with the CIREF priorities.

The strategic investment in building the capacity of Black-led organizations reflects an important legacy for the fund in supporting the fight for racial and equitable justice in Central Indiana.

Priorities

• CIREF prioritizes building the capacity of Black-led organizations and other not-for-profits that are working to address one or more of the CIREF funding priorities:
  • improving interactions between the Black community and Central Indiana law enforcement departments and agencies
  • reducing Black representation in the juvenile and criminal justice system by providing positive alternatives for education and employment
  • increasing employment and wealth opportunity for Black communities, in particular, as it relates to matters of criminal justice, re-entry, and police interactions
• In addition to looking for successful programs aligned with the CIREF priorities, the steering committee is especially interested in organizations proposing:
  • solutions to reduce the number of Black people impacted by violence and the criminal justice system by providing targeted interventions focused on perpetrators or victims of crime
  • innovative examples to address the chronic trauma and mental health needs pervasive throughout the community, recognizing some of the cultural apprehension around accessing health services
  • the integration of proven program models that build trust among residents and leverage strength from within the community to help change the current negative societal narrative characterizing Black neighborhoods

Funding Information

• Category A: Grants awards range from $25,000 to $75,000
  • There are three categories of awards:
    • Annual Revenue of Organization- Total Grant Award for up to 2 years
    • $25,000- $50,000- Up to $25,000
    • $50,001 – 100,000- Up to $50,000
    • $100,001 – $249,999- Up to $75,000
• Category B: Grant awards up to $300,000 based on the annual revenue of the organization.
  • Annual Revenue of the Organization- Total Grant Award for up to 2 years
    • $250,001 – $499,000- Up to $150,000
    • $500,000 + – Up to $300,000.
• Total Grant Award for up to 2 years

Funding Categories

• Category A
  • Black-led organizations seeking to strengthen their internal infrastructure in one or more of the following areas:
    • Fund Development/Grants Management
    • Board Governance and Planning
    • Program Development and Evaluation
    • Financial Management System
    • Communications/Technology
• Category B
  • Organization must select one of three scaling strategies to apply to an existing program or programs:
    • Service reach – organization seeks to reach more people (ideally, justice-involved youth/adults or families)
    • Service expansion – organization seeks to add an additional evidence-based program or service to enhance their overall program model
    • Service replication – organization seeks to replicate their proven/documented program in other geographic areas throughout Central Indiana.

Geographic Areas

• CIREF supports work taking place in Central Indiana that includes Marion County and the surrounding Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, and Shelby Counties.
• All applicants must demonstrate resident engagement for the proposed project or funding request submitted.

Eligibility Criteria

• Category A
  • General Criteria
    • Eligible organizations must operate at least one existing program aligned with CIREF priorities for three years or more.
    • Funds must be used to secure resources or expertise to improve the organization in one or more of the designated funding categories. No portion of this grant may be applied to the implementation of the program.
    • The Fund will provide guidance to awardees in the use of capacity-building resources.
    • Eligible organizations must submit a current board of directors list.
    • Awardees will be required to participate in special convenings facilitated by the Fund and provide regular reporting for the duration of the grant period.
    • Organizations must submit current Form 990 or financial statements with the application. 
  • Who can Apply 
    • Central Indiana, Black-led 501(c)(3) organizations. Eligible organizations must have a 501(c)(3) tax exempt designation OR use a fiscal sponsor that has a 501(c)(3) designation. Organizations without this particular tax exempt designation will be disqualified from consideration.
    • The CIREF steering committee defines a Black-led organization as having a majority (50% or greater) Black board of directors and executive leadership (this includes the executive director and other senior leaders).
    • Organizations must have experience operating a program aligned with one of the CIREF priority areas for at least three years
    • Organizations may use a fiscal sponsor or fiscal agent to apply on their behalf but must provide information on plans to become an independent nonprofit.
    • Organizations must have annual revenue between $25,000 and $249,999.
    • Organizations that submitted applications in the first CIREF round may apply.
• Category B
  • General Criteria 
    • Organization must provide information on the program(s) to be scaled including alignment with the CIREF priority areas.
    • The program(s) to be scaled must have been in operation for three years.
    • The organization must build on the success of its past work and demonstrate outcomes achieved.
    • Organizations must describe efforts to work with and learn from people who have been systematically oppressed and/or excluded, as well as efforts to engage area residents.
    • Organizations will have up to two years to implement their scaling strategy.
    • In addition to completing the entire application, organizations must submit additional documentation including:
      • Organization’s current board of directors list
      • Current Form 990, financial audit or financial statements
      • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with partners (if applicable)
      • Logic model (optional)
  • Who can Apply 
    • Central Indiana 501(c)(3) organizations currently offering one or more programs aligned with the CIREF priority areas and seeks to scale up the work. Organizations without a 501(c)(3) tax exempt designation will be disqualified from consideration.
    • Program(s) must have documented outcomes demonstrating the potential for greater success, if properly scaled.
    • Organization must have annual revenue of $250,000 or greater.
    • Non-Black-led organizations are eligible to apply, but they must partner with a Black-led organization to carry out the scaling strategy.
    • Black-led organizations may apply as the lead and do not need to partner with other organizations, although it is highly recommended.
    • Black-led organizations collaborating with other organizations, but not serving as the lead, may also apply for Category A.
    • Organizations that submitted applications in the first CIREF round may apply.

What will not be supported

• Category A
  • Non-Black-led organizations
  • Requests for organizations and programs operating outside of CIREF’s priority areas
  • Organizations with programs operating for less than three years
  • Funding to support the implementation of a program or service
  • Direct awards to individuals.
• Category B
  • Requests for projects outside of CIREF’s priority areas
  • Organizations offering a series of activities or events versus a complete program.
  • Applications submitted by non-Black-led organizations without a Black-led partner organization
  • Requests for programs operating less than three years
  • Requests that do not directly serve or impact justice-involved youth or adults or provide opportunities that reduce and/or prevent their participation in the criminal justice system
  • Requests that do not primarily support African-American youth and/or adults
  • Direct awards to individuals.

For more information, visit https://www.cicf.org/about-cicf/funds-and-foundations/special-focus-funds/racial-equity-fund/ciref-grantmaking/