Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation

Grant Guidelines

Application overview:
Organizations interested in applying for a Grizzlies Foundation grant should be aware of the steps in the application process.

1. Letter of Intent to Apply due by June 4, 2012.  Letters of Intent must be mailed. The purpose of the LOI is to solicit basic programmatic (and demographic, if applicable) information, ensure program structure and mission meet eligibility requirements, and program is meeting basic criteria for grants. A Letter of Intent is required. A Grant Application will not be accepted from an organization that does not submit a Letter of Intent.
2. Selected organizations will be notified of an invitation to submit a full Grant Application by June 8, 2012. Please note that submission of LOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a grant application.
3. Optional participation in Application Conference call on June 12, 2012 at 10:00am CST and June 14, 2012 at 2:00pm CST. Details will be emailed with call-in information.
4. Invited applicants must submit online Grant Application by July 9, 2012. Late submissions will not be accepted. Application must be accompanied by current IRS determination letter indicating 501c3 status.
5. Site visits may be conducted to review programs, meet program leadership and assess program fit.
6. Applicants will be notified by October 2012 if they receive grant award. Please note: invitation to apply and submission of a grant application does not guarantee funding.

Organizational requirements:
Interested organizations must be registered 501c3 organizations that operate programs in the Memphis, Tennessee community. Organizations must have been in existence for at least one year.

Focus Area A: Organizations that currently operate a youth mentoring program:

• Organization must be a member of the Grizzlies Mentoring Alliance. For more information, visit www.GrizzliesTeamUp.org.
• Organizations must have mentors age 18 or older screened and trained to be mentors. Mentors must not be compensated for their time. Please note, grants for peer-to-peer mentoring programs are not eligible to apply.
• Mentees must be between ages 9-20.
• Mentors and mentees have regularly scheduled, structured interactions averaging 4-6 hours per month for at least 6-12 months.
• Mentor to mentee ratios are within the range of 1 adult to 1 youth to no more than 1 adult to 4 youth.
• Mentoring activities take place at a school, place of employment, community center, faith-based organization or in the community.
• Program must be aligned to meet program’s intended outcomes and impact. It must also be fully integrated strategy if part of a larger organization.
• Organization must comply with the “Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring,” the evidence-based, national standards for youth mentoring.
  (Please visit http://www.mentoring.org/program_resources/elements_and_toolkits for more information.)
• Organization must track, evaluate and report program status and youth outcomes to the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation on regular basis.
• Organization must actively promote participation in the Grizzlies TEAM UP youth mentoring initiative, via events, presentations, marketing materials and online to demonstrate the standards and vision shared by Grizzlies TEAM UP partners and participants.
• Organization has a designated volunteer coordinator, director, or supervisor.
• Organization provides monthly statistical updates as requested to document status of mentors and youth served by the program and to contribute to the aggregate report on the current status of mentoring in Memphis.
• Organization provides “TEAMmates” updates each month on the status of mentors and length of mentors’ service to further the TEAM UP mentor retention strategy.
• Organization agrees to comply with all other terms of membership in the Grizzlies Mentoring Alliance.

Focus Area B: Organizations that contribute significantly to the recruitment and/ or retention of youth mentors.

• Organizations must be registered 501c3 nonprofit organizations with operations in the Memphis, Tennessee community
• Mentor recruitment efforts must be aligned with mission and vision of organization, and organization must be able to articulate commitment to youth mentoring development and growth in local community.
• Organizations must agree to track, evaluate and report strategy and progress on recruiting individual and/ or institutional participants for youth mentoring programs
• Organizations must actively promote part in the Grizzlies TEAM UP youth mentoring initiative, via events, presentations, marketing materials and online in order to demonstrate the standards and vision shared by Grizzlies TEAM UP partners and participants.

Focus Area C: Organizations that are strategically aligned with mentoring programs by providing specialized and significant expertise and support in program development.

• Organizations must be registered 501c3 nonprofit organizations with operations in the Memphis, Tennessee community
• Organizations must have and continue to provide relevant, ongoing support, expertise and development opportunities for youth mentoring program volunteers and staff
• Mentor recruitment efforts must be aligned with mission and vision of the organization and organization must be able to articulate commitment to youth mentoring development and growth in local community.

Organizations who are involved in any of the following activities are NOT eligible to apply:

• Provide religious instruction, conduct worship services or engage in any form of proselytization in their youth mentoring program.
• Assist, promote or deter union organizing.
• Finance, directly or indirectly, any activity designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office; or
• Impair existing contracts for services for collective bargaining agreements.

Important information related to Grizzlies Foundation Charitable Grants:

How can funds be used?
Funds are intended for program development, administrative support, volunteer recruitment and retention, evaluation, match support and/ or general operations of the host organization.

What additional guidance will the Grizzlies Foundation provide?
The Grizzlies Foundation will provide support to grantees in the form of training, technical assistance, volunteer screening resources, public awareness, and mentor recruitment and retention through the Grizzlies Mentoring Alliance, TEAMmates mentor retention program and comprehensive Grizzlies TEAM UP Youth Mentoring initiative. In addition, special opportunities and incentives, e.g. Grizzlies game tickets, may be offered to programs based upon availability and program’s compliance with requirements.

What are the reporting requirements?
Organizations receiving funding from the Grizzlies Foundation will be required to:

• Submit a mid-year and final programmatic progress report
• Provide monthly statistical updates as requested to document status of mentors and youth served by the program and to contribute to the aggregate report on the current status of mentoring in Memphis.
• Host a site visit by Grizzlies Foundation staff and partners
• Complete grant disbursement requests with supporting documentation as needed
• Include Grizzlies TEAM UP logo on relevant program materials, website, signage, etc.
• Announce partnership with and funding from Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation at time of allocation.
• Submit information including, but not limited to, mentoring success stories, mentor recruitment events, volunteer mentor training calendar, etc. as requested by the Grizzlies Foundation.