APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

The application process for TUCI grants is designed to gather clear and concise information to support the applicant's request. Applicants will receive notification of the status of their request at the completion of each stage of the application process.

TUCI has two grant request review cycles: April 1 and October 1. These are the dates that full applications are due for those who are invited to submit full applications.

Step 1: Letter of Intent
Potential grantees must submit a letter of intent at least 6 weeks prior to grant request review cycle dates (April 1 and October 1). Letters of intent, then, would be due either the 2nd Friday of February (for the April 1 cycle) or 2nd Friday of August (for the October 1 cycle). Information about the grant process is also available on the web site: www.theurbanchildinstitute.org. The letter of intent, which should be three pages or less, needs to include the following:
- Description of the project
- Amount of funding requested
- Results anticipated
- Methods to be used to measure the outcomes of the program if funding is received
- Copy of the agency's IRS Tax Exempt certificate

Applicant organizations, whose interests and experience appear to fall within the current focus of TUCI will be invited to complete and submit a grant application. Invitations to submit a full proposal will be extended in a timely manner after The Urban Child Institute has received the letter of intent.

Step 2: Full Grant Application - April 1 and October 1
Following are the steps that occur for agencies and institutions that are invited to submit a full grant application:
All applications must be received by 5 p.m. on the deadline day of April 1 or October 1 (If there is a variance in the deadline date because of holiday or weekend, the agency will be advised in the invitation exactly when to submit the application).

All full grant applications must include the following:
A list of the current Board of Directors and officers of the organization requesting support as well as key individuals involved in the proposed project. Copy of Board-approved strategic plan and current business plans. Copy of financial statements and current operating budget confirming short-term and long-term fiscal viability.

Following is a suggested outline: organization structure, abstract (executive summary), proposal, evaluation component, and budget.
Following receipt of a grant application, TUCI staff will complete a staff review, grant sub-committee review, reference check, and if needed, an interview and/or site visit. This process may take several weeks. Reviewed grant applications will be forwarded to the Grant Committee of the TUCI Board of Directors for prioritization before submission to the TUCI Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors must approve all grants to be funded. If the grant request is for longer than one year, TUCI will require an annual update of the project's status. This information will be due upon the anniversary date of the grant award, and must be received and approved prior to any subsequent payments being provided.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Recognizing that limited resources are available and that leveraging of funds will help maximize the opportunity to achieve desired outcomes, TUCI has established grant application guidelines. Granting periods will be for duration periods of at least one year.

TUCI looks for the following types of programs and applications when reviewing grant proposals:
Applications that exhibit a collaboration of groups and organizations, preferably multidisciplinary, that are cooperating on a common issue. Applications that have realistic, achievable, and measurable short term and long term goals. Applications that demonstrate unique and effective ways to optimize resources. Applications that are replications of validated programs which serve a broad base of participants. In addition, TUCI will periodically produce Requests For Proposals requesting applicant participation.

RESTRICTIONS

There are certain types of requests that will not be considered by TUCI. These include:
- Appeals for annual operating expenses
- Grants to individuals
- Assistance for "crisis management"
- Grants for projects outside of Memphis, Tennessee
- Travel grants
- Endowments
- Debt reduction
- Financial aid
- Capital projects
- Indirect costs

For more information contact
Katy Spurlock at 901-526-1822 x.243.