DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR THE 2018 SCOOTER GRANTS: POWERING CHILD-CENTERED COMMUNITIES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS | DUE JULY 31, 2018 At the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, we know you have some amazing ideas for improving the lives of children in Pierce County! We’ve heard exceptional, innovative, and even wild concepts at our annual *Symposium On Our Youngest Citizens* and follow-up surveys for the past few years. With funding from South Sound Together, we’re excited to partner with you to bring these projects to life. We encourage all interested community members to submit project proposals for the grant program to invite children’s presence, ideas, and wonder in neighborhoods across the county. Following the Museum’s mission to “honor children and champion play” and vision that “communities embrace the power of play and value the contributions of children”, we seek to fund community action projects focused on developing a child-centered community. Successful projects will recognize and advocate for the needs and rights of children as citizens, increase the visibility of children as members of our communities, and/or positively influence systems that surround children and families. Each group will develop and implement a specific project that will engage youth and children of our community - listen to their voices and inspire adults to reconnect with their own inner child. To carry out these projects, the Museum will disperse small grants up to $2,000. To apply, please submit two PDF documents to crussell@playtacoma.org by July 31, 2018: 1. A letter, three pages or fewer including: a. Group description – names of individuals, ages, contact information, and their associated organizations. Please note who is acting as the primary contact for the project. b. A description of your project: what you aim to do, a project timeline, who will benefit, and how. c. A narrative explaining how the project addresses the goals of grant program (see FAQs below) 2. A single page, line item budget showing estimated expenses by category as well as anticipated income. Please submit questions to Chad Russell at crussell@playtacoma.org by July 20, 2018. Responses will be issued as soon as possible and published collectively by July 27, 2018. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT’S THIS ALL ABOUT? Small grants will be awarded to successful projects that cultivate child-centered communities, in unexpected and new ways, where all Pierce County children and their families can thrive. We want to showcase your success to invite participation and inspire others, so your proposal should include a practical implementation plan and steps to capture the impact of the project. Projects could address many of the spaces and interactions children experience throughout their days such as stores, restaurants, or other businesses; medical and social services; neighborhoods and parks; or childcare/schools. WHO CAN APPLY? Any Pierce County resident with a great idea for making our communities more child-centered and play-powered is eligible. You’ll also need at least two friends committed to helping with your plan. Individuals working together, non-profits, businesses, advocacy groups, neighborhood coalitions, service groups and more can apply. In fact, we hope to fund a variety of projects representing a broad range of interest groups. WHAT ABOUT KIDS? Children eight and over are encouraged to apply, with an adult acting as the primary contact for the project. And, since children are the focus of this grant program, be sure to think about how children will be involved in the project planning process and engaged in implementation. HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU APPLY? The sky’s the limit! But awards will be restricted to one per lead applicant. Although, if you’re a go-getter, you can participate in other projects, just not as the lead application. HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE? WHEN? We hope to award grants up to $2,000. Applicants will receive communication on funding decisions the week of August 20, 2018. HOW CAN I APPLY? Review instructions in the Request for Proposals and email your PDF documents to Chad Russell at crussell@playtacoma.org by July 31, 2018 HOW CAN FUNDING BE USED? The project must be intended to benefit the general public, rather than an individual, small group, club, or association. Funding is project-focused and is cannot be used for an organization’s general operating or capital campaign expenses. If used to support an event, it must be the launch of a longer-range program or effort intended to have ongoing elements. Grant funding will support expenses incurred from August 27, 2018 to March 1, 2019. WHEN IS THIS ALL HAPPENING? Submit your amazing ideas to us by July 31, 2018 at 5 p.m. We’ll be in touch if we have questions the week of August 6th. Funding decisions will be communicated the week of August 20th and we will announce awards publicly at our Power of Play Lunch on September 25, 2018. Projects will begin August 27, 2018 and wrap up by March 1, 2019. You'll give us a project update December 1, 2018, and let us know how it all went in final reports in early March 2019. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? As the second Scooter Grants: Powering Child-Centered Communities program group, you’ll be lighting the way for others to follow. Each project will be profiled in the Spring 2019 Symposium and shared on the Museum’s website. One or two of the projects will be highlighted at the Symposium to inspire others and launch the call for 2019 project proposals. ANY FINE PRINT? The Museum will run background checks on the primary contacts for each finalist. Names will be run through the Washington State Patrol. Applicants will be disqualified if they have: ever been convicted of a crime against a child or senior, or of a sexual offense; or been convicted of a violent crime, drug related offense, harassment, or weapons related offense in the last five years. Awardees will sign a contract agreeing to grant requirements, including a background check and an IRS form W-9. The contract will commit awardees to delivering the project as described in the proposal, reporting expenses (including receipts), submitting reports (including photos/videos) to document the project impact, and submitting final reports. Awardees will also commit to attend the 2019 Symposium. BUT, YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? To have all your ducks in a row by the deadline, we recommend you email Chad Russell at crussell@playtacoma.org by July 20th and he’ll answer you ASAP. He’ll also email you answers to all submitted questions by July 27th, 2018. -- [image: Summer Camp Email Signature] <http://playtacoma.org/camps> * <http://playtacoma.org/camps>Honor Children. Champion Play.* Chad Russell Community Engagement Manager *Children's Museum of Tacoma* 1501 Pacific Avenue, Suite 202 Tacoma, WA 98402 p: 253.627.6031 x 236 f: 253.627.2436 www.PlayTacoma.org <http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/> crussell@playtacoma.org [image: unnamed] <http://www.facebook.com/ChildrensMuseumofTacoma> *Play everyday with Pay As You Will admission <http://www.playtacoma.org/pay-as-you-will-admission> *