This RFA closed on September 19, 2018

Previous Cycle: 2018 CZI Community Fund

At the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, we believe the people most impacted by the challenges their communities face should lead the development of solutions, and that our mission should begin close to home. Established in 2017, the CZI Community Fund supports Bay Area organizations and leaders working to meet basic and most urgent needs in their local communities.

$25k – $100k
Budget
If selected, organizations will receive year-long, unrestricted or project grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
Key Dates
July 31, 2018
CZI Community Fund Launched/Proposal Portal Open
August 2018
Virtual Office Hours
Sept 2018
In-person Community Office Hours
Sept 19, 2018
Full Proposal Due/Proposal Portal Closed
Oct 30 - Nov 16, 2018
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to have face-to-face meetings with finalists
January 2019
Second Round of CZI Community Fund Recipients informed & publicly announced
Overview

In January 2018, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced it’s inaugural cohort of 41 Bay Area organizations implementing locally-driven solutions. Based on feedback from this dedicated group of grantees, as well as from local community stakeholders, we launched the second round of the CZI Community Fund for announcement in early 2019.

This second round of funding will support organizations responding to and addressing some of the basic and most urgent needs of at-risk and vulnerable populations in Belle Haven, East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City. The Community Fund hopes to bolster organizations working to break cycles of poverty and help residents achieve economic and social stability.

We hope that by continuing to connect and partner with the communities where we live and work, we can collectively build toward a future for everyone where people have the power to shape their communities. For more information about our work in the Bay Area beyond the CZI Community Fund, click here.

Fund Criteria

All proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Response to Basic Needs: Preference will be given to organizations working to support systems and services that address the basic and most urgent needs of at-risk and vulnerable individuals and families in Belle Haven, East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City.
  • Community Engagement: Preference will be given to organizations that (1) intentionally and authentically engage with the communities they serve in the development of their strategies and solutions, and (2) demonstrate a long-term commitment and connection to the communities they serve.
  • Intended Impact(s): Preference will be given to organizations that (1) demonstrate a clear understanding of the problem(s) they are trying to solve; (2) clearly outline their approach to solving the problem(s); (3) define what short-, medium- and long-term success looks like; and (4)  identify potential challenges and pitfalls.
  • Organization/Project Leadership & Staff: Preference will be given to organizations whose leadership and staff (1) have deep experience in the communities of Belle Haven, East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and/or Redwood City; and (2) reflect the rich diversity and stories of the communities they serve.
  • Collaboration: Preference will be given to organizations that demonstrate a collaborative spirit through (1) an awareness of available overlapping and complementary efforts and services; (2) a desire to partner to increase impact, where appropriate; and (3) an understanding of local community context and the desire and ability to leverage existing community relationships and/or build new ones.
  • Fiscal Responsibility & Sustainability: Preference will be given to organizations that can effectively receive and responsibly spend grant dollars, as demonstrated by (1) a clear budget narrative that articulates how grant dollars will be used, as well as a plan for financial sustainability beyond the CZI Community Fund grant cycle, and (2) an upload of your organization’s current fiscal year budget, your projected FY19 budget, as well as the budget for your proposed project, when applicable.
Eligibility Requirements

Tax status: Organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; have a valid fiscal agent or sponsor that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; or be a local municipality or government agency. Valid documentation must be submitted with your proposal by the proposal deadline, Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at 4 p.m. PDT.

Organization Budget: Organizations and fiscally sponsored projects must have an operational budget of at least $100,000.

Availability for a Face-to-Face Meeting: Organizations that move beyond the internal review process must be willing and available to participate in a site visit or video conference meeting with CZI staff during the weeks of October 30 – November 16.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Grantee Status: Organizations with grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative that end on or before December 31, 2018, are eligible to apply for funding from the CZI Community Fund. Organizations with grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative that extend beyond December 31, 2018, are not eligible to apply for funding from the CZI Community Fund.

Process & Timeline

All proposals must be completed and submitted through our online application portal, SurveyMonkey Apply, no later than Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at 4 p.m. PDT.  Please note we are not accepting proposals via email or paper mail.

All proposals will be reviewed by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative staff and evaluated based on the eligibility requirements and fund criteria. Recipients will be notified in January 2019. All grants will have a grant period of January 2019 – December 2019.

Office Hours

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative team will conduct virtual office hours in August and in-person office hours in September to (1) provide support and assistance with the proposal process, (2) go over the SurveyMonkey Apply system and (3) answer questions about the work of the CZI Community Team. Attendance is not mandatory and will have no be considered in the funding decisions. If you would like to participate in office hours, please contact community@chanzuckerberg.com with the subject line “Office Hours” and we can share more details.

$25k – $100k
Budget
If selected, organizations will receive year-long, unrestricted or project grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
Key Dates
July 31, 2018
CZI Community Fund Launched/Proposal Portal Open
August 2018
Virtual Office Hours
Sept 2018
In-person Community Office Hours
Sept 19, 2018
Full Proposal Due/Proposal Portal Closed
Oct 30 - Nov 16, 2018
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to have face-to-face meetings with finalists
January 2019
Second Round of CZI Community Fund Recipients informed & publicly announced