Shaping Tomorrow
Shaping Tomorrow grants address systemic and priority issues as identified by Erie Vital Signs.
Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to, those that promote the following activities:
- Cultural Vitality: develop new audiences, spark innovative programming, drive economic activity, and increase arts in education programming.
- Community and Civic Engagement: start community-wide volunteer hubs, provide incentives for parental involvement in schools, community-wide engagement tools, and voter education and participation.
- Economy: leverage other economic development funding, redevelop neighborhoods, enhance the financial capacity of low income families, and increase access to and training for family sustaining jobs.
- Regionalism: research and tools that support and encourage local governmental entities to explore, incentivize, and implement efficiencies, and to further collaboration and cooperation.
- Health: implement systemic school and community-based wellness initiatives to increase access to care, address food deserts disparities in low income communities, address system issues related to prevention of teen pregnancy, child abuse, and substance abuse.
- Environment: conduct and implement intelligent land use plans, educate and engage citizens about our local environmental agenda, protect natural habitat and important regional assets, address local controls over water and air quality.
- Pre K – 12 Education: enhance the out of school time offerings and system needs, increase access to high quality early childhood programs, support positive youth development, enhance school to career pathways.
- Brain Gain: engage diverse individuals and newcomers, expand leadership opportunities for college and young adults, develop positive brand for Erie aimed at young adults, and improve vitality of Downtown Erie.
Priority is given to the projects that:
- Impact a community need indicated by Erie Vital Signs;
- Demonstrate a program design based on proven or best practices;
- Promote problem solving that supports partnership and collaboration;
- Address a unique community need without duplication of services;
- Serve a broad number of people or has long-lasting community impact;
- Incorporates sound programmatic methods, implementation plans, and evaluation;
- Have a realistic and reasonable budget and plan for sustainability;
- Demonstrate strong organizational capacity, governance, and commitment to a project.
Shaping Tomorrow awards range between $20,000-$100,000 and may be distributed over multiple years.
Organizations may be recipients of Shaping Tomorrow funds multiple times each year. However, if you are applying as the lead applicant on multiple applications, it is strongly recommended that your leading partners justify your role.
| 2012 Letter of Intent Deadlines | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| February 1st | March 1st |
| July 2nd | August 1st |
Shaping Tomorrow awards will be announced on a bi-annual basis in May and October.
CLICK HERE to complete a Shaping Tomorrow Letter of Intent!.
Contact Program Officers, Amanda Brown Sissem or David González with questions regarding Shaping Tomorrow grants:
David González, Program Officer for Health, Community/Civic Engagement, Environment, and Regionalism, 814-454-0843.
Amanda Brown Sissem, Program Officer for Pre K-12 Education, Cultural Vitality, Economy, and Brain Gain, 814-454-0843.
