Frequently Asked Questions
The following frequently asked questions may be helpful in completing your application. If other questions arise, please contact us at
in**@lv****.org
.
Definitions
Organization Name
Name of the organization that is responsible for conducting the project and providing a written summary of the project upon its completion.
Primary Contact
Name of person responsible for project management and completion. Include this person’s name, address, phone number and email address—we may contact them for additional information.
Project Name
Name chosen for your project.
Public Benefit
LVNPPA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, organized and operated for purposes that are “beneficial to the public interest” (as determined by the IRS). LVNPPA focuses grantmaking in seven general areas of concern and within these broadly defined areas, applicants must demonstrate how their project is beneficial to the public interest. Some examples (provided by the IRS) include providing relief for the poor, distressed or under privileged; advancing education or science; maintenance of public buildings, monuments or works; lessening the burden of government; easing neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.
Small Business
LVNPPA defines a small business as one with 1-50 employees and with gross annual sales of less than $5 million.
Sponsoring Business
If you are applying as an individual, nonprofit or other community organization, your proposal must have a sponsoring North Portland business. The sponsoring business is required to write a letter of support for your project, which must be submitted with your application.
General Questions
The Selection Process
The LVNPPA Board reviews all applications. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants may be selected for informational interviews or asked for written clarification. Remaining applications are ranked against the guidelines. Recipients are announced by the end of June and funds will be available in July. All applicants will be notified of the final action.
How Are the Funds Distributed?
All grant money is awarded through a process managed by LVNPPA and based on the applicant’s actual receipts or invoices and amount awarded to the project. As expenses for the project are incurred, the recipient must submit a request for payment, along with the supporting receipts and invoices.
The Application
Q1. Briefly describe the project.
Describe the organization, committee, staff, or volunteers who will plan and carry out project activities (WHO).
Describe the current situation or conditions and what will change as a result of the project. The project also must provide a public benefit, and should benefit the sponsoring business. Explain in detail the benefits to each (WHAT).
Provide a timeline for your activities. Include a start date, dates for the completion of major steps or milestones, and a date of completion (WHEN).
Provide the location of the project with specific address (if applicable). Which parts of the community will be involved with the project (WHERE)?
Q2. Why is this project important?
How will your project change the business environment, neighborhood or commercial area? What needs does your project address? Explain how you became aware of these needs and why you decided to do this project.
Q3. How does your project address one or more of the LVNPPA focus areas?
Your project must address one or more of the LVNPPA focus areas (link), provide a public benefit, and benefit the sponsoring business in some way. Identify which focus areas your project addresses, and describe how your project addresses them. Explain the project objectives, state measurable benchmarks, and describe how these will be achieved.
Q4. Timeline
Project start date must be after July 1, as funding is not available until after that date. The project must be completed by June 30 of the following year.
Q5. Amount Requested
Enter the dollar amount that you are requesting for the project. Projects are funded by reimbursement of receipts submitted. Payments will be made to the business or organization listed on the application. The business or organization is responsible for paying its subcontractors and vendors. Depending on available funding, projects may be funded for full or partial amount. LVNPPA recommends applicants having multiple funding partners. If LVNPPA is the only funding source for your project, and if it will not be possible for your project to move forward with partial funding, please indicate. Please note that these are micro grants, and LVNPPA typically has a total of $10,000 to disperse annually.
Q6. Funding Partners & Additional Support
Have you received commitments for this project from other sources? If so, list the name of the source, and the amount they have or will contribute to the project. Please list the names and amounts of other funding partners that are considering the project, and indicate that these are “pending.” Include any pro-bono or other volunteer services that will be provided.
Q7. How will you measure success of the project?
What measurements will be tracked to determine if the project has met its goals? Think of activities that will be performed as part of this project. If funded, you will be required to write a project summary, including project successes and things that could have been done differently.
Q8. Budget
The budget matrix lists some costs that are normally associated with community-based projects. Extra lines are also provided, if needed, for special costs associated with your project. Allocate the money you are requesting from LVNPPA into the first column. Allocate other funding partner support dollars in the “Matching Dollars” column. If other partners have offered expertise or consulting, provide the estimated value (based on the rate they charge) of such support. If volunteer labor is available, use the Oregon Minimum Wage to calculate the estimated value.
Notes: All “Matching Dollars” entries must correspond with the list of other support stated in question six, “Additional support.” Round all values up to the nearest dollar. Enter totals in the right column and at the bottom of the matrix. Calculate what percentage of grant funding will be used for the personal services line entry, if any.