Deadline: 11-Apr-22
The Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity is nominating for the Community Champions Awards & Grants Challenge to provide with one-time grants or cash assistance to individuals and community-based organizations that have served communities of color and those with low incomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding Information
- Ten selected individuals will receive $2,500 cash assistance.
- Ten nonprofit organizations will receive $20,000 each (winners of online voting).
- Ten nonprofit organizations will receive $12,500 each (runner-ups of online voting).
Eligible Funding
Individuals must use funds to address their financial hardship. Organizations may use funds to support payroll, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, or other operating expenses and/or to provide and organize mutual aid projects.
Eligibility Criteria
- Criteria for Individuals:
- Must be nominated by a non-profit organization, community-based organization, elected official and/or City commission or board.
- Must live in Philadelphia as a permanent, year-round resident.
- Must have provided community service or volunteerism during the pandemic (between March 17, 2020 and March 14, 2022).
- Must be able to demonstrate household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (i.e., supplying a 2019 or 2020 tax return or similar documentation that demonstrates income).
- Must be able to demonstrate an emergency financial hardship (i.e., a utility shutoff notice, eviction notice, or similar financial crisis).
- Must not be currently employed by the City of Philadelphia.
- Must be eligible to receive Financial Assistance under Section 17-1404 of the Philadelphia Code.
- Criteria for Nonprofit Organizations:
- Must be based in Philadelphia and benefit Philadelphians.
- Must submit documentation demonstrating an annual budget under $1 million.
- Must have current 501(c) (3) IRS status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c) (3) IRS status and be in good standing with the IRS.
- Must serve Philadelphians at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
- The activities this grant will fund must have begun during the period of March 17, 2020 to March 14, 2022.
Note: The City of Philadelphia reserves the complete and absolute right to determine which individuals and entities will be financial assistance from this program based on the criteria described or for any other reason determined by the City.
For more information, visit https://www.phila.gov/2022-03-21-apply-now-or-nominate-someone-as-a-community-champion/