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Open Grants Program

On March 5, 2009, the Golden LEAF Foundation adopted a new Open Grants Program that will replace our Annual Grants Cycle. A brief description of the Open Grants Program application process and the funding priorities for the Program follows.

Process

The Open Grants Program is designed to make it easier for applicants to submit a proposal to Golden LEAF and to make funding opportunities available throughout the year. View the full Open Grants Program guidelines.

Presenting a project for review will involve a two-step process.

First, applicants will complete a letter of inquiry on a form prescribed by Golden LEAF. The letter of inquiry will gather basic information about the applicant, a brief description of the project and the outcomes expected, and an explanation of how Golden LEAF funds would be used.

The Golden LEAF Board of Directors will review letters of inquiry to determine which projects appear to meet the Foundation’s priorities for the Open Grants Program and are likely to be competitive for funding. Only those applicants with competitive proposals will be invited to submit full proposals for consideration by the Golden LEAF Board. This two stage review will help applicants avoid investing time and resources in completing a full application for a project that is not likely to receive funding. Although an invitation to submit a full proposal indicates interest in learning more about a project, it does not indicate that funds will necessarily be awarded.

Letters of inquiry will be accepted year-round. Golden LEAF staff will use our best efforts to bring letters of inquiry and applications before the Board as soon as possible and will establish a timeline to provide applicants guidance on when they can expect to receive a decision regarding their submission.

The letter of inquiry process is not intended to replace the opportunity for potential applicants to contact Foundation staff to discuss project ideas and receive informal feedback. We encourage potential applicants to contact the Foundation prior to submitting a letter of inquiry.

How to Apply

• Review eligibility requirements.
  
  
• Review the Open Grants Program priorities.
  
  
• Submit a full Open Grants Program Letter of Inquiry form with attachments. Note - the form has character limits for each answer.
  
  
  • Complete the Word application form and mail it (using USPS or other well-recognized delivery service) to Golden LEAF; or
    
    
  • Complete the Word application form and e-mail it to LOI@goldenleaf.org. If you choose to e-mail the application form, you must first print the signature page, sign it, scan it, and then upload it as an attachment to your e-mail before sending OR mail your signature page separately and indicate that you have mailed the signature page in the body of your e-mail; or
    
    
  • Complete the on-line application form and all required attachments, including the Open Grants Program budget form and the certification and signature form. If you cannot upload the attachments, you may mail them to Golden LEAF. If you have already started an application, you can access it by clicking here; or
    
    
  • Hand deliver the application form and all required attachments to the Golden LEAF office.

IMPORTANT: If you submit an application by e-mail or using the on-line application form, you should receive an electronic response indicating that the application has been received. If you do not, please contact Golden LEAF immediately by telephone at 888-684-8404. If you mail an application, you are encouraged but not required to obtain proof of delivery. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

More detailed guidelines about how to apply are available by clicking here.

Applications will be reviewed by staff and by the Golden LEAF Board of Directors. The Board will determine whether to award a grant, decline a proposal, or request more information about a project. Applicants will be notified of the Board’s decision.

Declined Proposal Policy

When the Golden LEAF Board has declined to invite a full proposal for a project or has declined to fund a project, applications for support of the same or a substantially similar project may not be resubmitted for a period of six months from the date of the Golden LEAF Board’s decision. This does not preclude an applicant from submitting a letter of inquiry for a different project.

Priorities

The Golden LEAF Foundation is committed to using the funds entrusted to it for projects that show the most potential for strengthening North Carolina’s long-term economy, especially in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. In the Open Grants Program, Golden LEAF’s grantsmaking is focused in the areas of Agriculture, Job Creation and Retention and Workforce Preparedness.

• In agriculture, Golden LEAF sees particular promise in the areas of value-added processing, market expansion, and projects targeting alternative crops, livestock and aquaculture. Golden LEAF will also be exploring opportunities for an agricultural grants initiative separate from our Open Grants Program.
• Job creation and retention projects include efforts to create opportunities for employment with new and existing businesses in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities, particularly in the healthcare sector.
• In workforce preparedness, Golden LEAF focuses on efforts to train workers in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities for identified job opportunities, especially in innovative sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare and alternative energy.
• Projects that focus on other opportunities to support and develop economic strength in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities continue to be welcomed.

In light of the economic downturn, Golden LEAF will be looking for opportunities to complement and leverage federal and state stimulus programs to increase the impact of its grantsmaking on its target communities.

In addition to its Open Grants Program, Golden LEAF is developing special initiatives in the areas of agriculture and aerospace workforce development. The Foundation also supports projects through its Economic Catalyst program and its Community Assistance Initiative. Golden LEAF does not expect to provide support through the Open Grants Program to projects that would fall within the Foundation’s other program areas and initiatives. This leaves more funding in the Open Grants Program for projects that are not within Golden LEAF’s other funding areas. Golden LEAF is developing its agriculture and aerospace workforce initiatives and expects to provide more detail about them by mid-September 2009.

Characteristics of Competitive Proposals

Golden LEAF makes grants for projects that the Foundation’s Board of Directors believes have extraordinary merit and address the Foundation’s purposes as set forth in its Charter. In evaluating proposals, the Foundation looks for projects that will bring about tangible results for the targeted beneficiaries. The Foundation asks applicants to address the following questions when completing their proposals: (1) Who benefits from the project? (2) How do they benefit? (3) What difference does the project make in the community it serves? (4) How will the difference and benefit be measured and proven?

Golden LEAF anticipates awarding approximately $5 million in the 2009 Open Grants Program. Most grants in this program are not expected to exceed $200,000. Since requests are likely to far exceed funds available, the Foundation will be looking for projects with the following characteristics. (This list is not intended to be all inclusive, nor is it a listing of all criteria that will be used in evaluating proposals.)

• Projects that serve unmet needs that are clearly defined in communities.
• Projects that have clear objectives and deliverables and are accompanied by a plan for evaluating the short-term and long-term impacts of the project, with a concentration on economic impact.
• Projects that demonstrate a market demand for products or trainees.
• Projects that leverage support from other sources, including funds that may be available through state or federal economic stimulus programs.
• For projects developing new agricultural technologies and crops, those projects with clear and practical applications and market demand for the product, expected commercial viability within a short time frame, a plan for protecting the benefit of any intellectual property for North Carolina and North Carolina farmers, and a plan for outreach and deployment of new discoveries or research results to farmers are preferred.
• Projects that result in job creation and retention in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. Projects that include evidence of employers’ interest in hiring or retaining workers are preferred.
• Programs to create, expand, and/or improve business activity in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities.
• Programs that are collaborative in nature and/or are linked with or supported by existing multi-community, regional, or statewide programs and efforts.
• Training/workforce preparedness initiatives that target specific job opportunities in new and expanding industries and businesses located or considering locating in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities or that promote job retention activities in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. Training programs supported by Golden LEAF must be advertised, open to the public and result in the attainment of transferable skills.
• Projects that provide evidence of support, endorsement and demand by the communities or constituencies the project proposes to serve.
• Projects that provide evidence of sustainability through the submission of business and feasibility plans, as applicable.

Priority Communities

Golden LEAF accepts applications from all communities in North Carolina; however, funded projects must benefit tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. Applicants can strengthen their proposals by identifying the direct positive effect(s) the project will have on those target communities.

Low Priority Proposals

Golden LEAF has also identified types of requests which typically are of low priority in its Open Grants Program. These include:

• Endowments
• Capital Campaigns
• Construction Projects not tied to specific job creation and retention opportunities
• Infrastructure Projects not tied to specific job creation and retention opportunities
• Debt Relief
• Revolving Loan Funds
• Purchase of Land
• After-School or Day Care Programs
• General Employability Training Programs
• General Use Community Centers/Facilities

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