Self Development Fund: Application Information
- Deadlines
- Seed Grants: Start Up Funding for New Grassroots Groups
- Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grants: For Established Grassroots Groups
- Forms
Deadlines
Seed Grants and Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grants will be reviewed by the Review Committee on a quarterly cycle with deadlines on March 31, June 31, September 31, and December 31. In most cases, applicants will receive a response from the Review Committee within a month of the deadline.
Seed Grants
The Western North Carolina Self Development Fund provides funding for small, community-led groups across Western North Carolina. The Self-Development Fund is coordinated by a Review Committee of volunteer, grassroots leaders. It is administered through the Center for Participatory Change (CPC), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people across Western North Carolina recognize their own power, work together, and transform their communities.
The Self Development Fund offers Seed Grants of up to $1,000 for community groups and organizations. Seed Grants provide modest financial support for volunteer community groups in the early stages of their development. Grants usually go to groups that have had little experience with grantwriting and fundraising. Grant amounts may be limited, depending on the Self Development Fund’s current budget.
Applications to the Self Development Fund are accepted by invitation only.
Benefits of completing a Seed grant application.
By the time the application is complete and the grant is made, an applicant group will have:
- Start up funding for beginning a new project or organization;
- The experience of successfully completing a grant application;
- A track record of successful fundraising, which will make it more likely that other donors and grantmakers will provide additional support; and
- A grant application that can be used as a base for applying for other grants, complete with a mission statement, project goals, a timetable, an evaluation plan, and a budget.
The Review Committee
The Self Development Fund is run by members of grassroots organizations, for the benefit of grassroots organizations. The Review Committee makes decisions about funding, and also gives the applicant feedback and suggestions for strengthening other grant proposals. Organizations that receive grants may eventually be asked to have a member serve on the Review Committee to help develop the Fund and make decisions about future applications.
The Process
After discussing their application with a CPC staff member:
- Groups will complete the Application including the Cover Sheet and Proposal Narrative questions. After submitting the application, groups will be notified by the Review Committee.
- If the application is accepted as is, the organization will receive a check in the mail. If the application is returned, then the group can make any needed corrections and reapply for the next cycle.
- At 5 months the group will receive a call from the Review Committee just to check in and see what the group has learned during the grant period.
- At 6 months the groups will be asked to send a brief letter and a picture of the group to the Review Committee highlighting lessons learned, challenges, and insights the group has experienced.
Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grants
The Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grants provide modest financial support for community groups for any financial needs that the group might have, including funding for programs, projects, research, leadership development, training, conferences, stipends, and so on. The goal of the Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grants program is to help strengthen a group’s ability to raise money in their own community. The group designs and plans a community-based fundraising project, and submits that plan for a Matching Grant. If the grant is approved, then after the fundraiser is carried out, the group reports back how much net income they received, and that amount is matched by the Self Development Fund. (Due to the SDF’s limited budget, amounts granted may be limited; currently the SDF will be matching funds raised up to $500.)
The fundraising project that the applicant group wishes to match may be any event, strategy or project that the group uses to raise money from its community—a raffle, a fundraising letter, a dinner, a house party, a festival, a bake sale—whatever works for your group in your community.
Applications for the Grassroots Fundraising Matching grants are competitive, and will be evaluated on how clearly and thoroughly the fundraising project is planned (who, what, when, how), how critical the income from the fundraiser is to the organization, and how the fundraising project or funded activity demonstrate some form of ‘self development’ for the organization and its members.
Applications to the Self Development Fund are accepted by invitation only.
Benefits of completing a Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grants application
By the time the application is complete and the grant is made, an applicant group will have:
- A plan for carrying out a grassroots fundraising project in their community.
- A dollar-for-dollar match that doubles their income from that fundraising project (up to $500).
- The experience of successfully completing a grassroots fundraising project.
- A track record of successful community fundraising, which builds a foundation for future grants and donations.
The Review Committee
The Self Development Fund is run by members of grassroots organizations, for the benefit of grassroots organizations. The Review Committee makes decisions about funding, and also may give the applicant feedback and suggestions for strengthening their fundraising plan. Organizations that receive grants may eventually be asked to have a member serve on the Review Committee to help develop the Fund and make decisions about future applications.
The Process
After discussing their application with a CPC staff member:
- Groups will complete the Application including the Cover Sheet and Grassroots Fundraising Plan questions. After submitting the application, groups will be notified by the Review Committee if the SDF accepts their proposal for a Matching Grant.
- Groups will proceed with their grassroots fundraising activity. When groups have completed their fundraiser, they will briefly report back using the Reporting Form provided.
- Upon receiving the Reporting Form, the SDF will send the match amount (up to $500.)
- Groups are asked to send the SDF a picture or press release helping to publicize both the organization and the SDF. If their fundraising activity is a good model for other organizations, CPC staff may ask to work with them to create ‘how to’ information for other groups.
Application Forms
The following forms can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format, or by request from any CPC staff member.
Seed Grant Application (English)
Seed Grant Application (Spanish)
Grassroots Matching Grant_Application Application (English)
Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grant Application (Spanish)
Fondos Iniciales: Instrucciones y Solicitud
Checklists and Sample Forms
The following forms can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format. These checklists and samples are intended to be helpful guides in completing SDF applications. They are not the only way, or even the best way, to complete an application!
Checklist for applying for a Seed Grant or Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grant
Sample Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grant Application and Report Form
Blank Fundraising Timeline for Grassroots Fundraising Matching Grant