2015-16 Community Improvement Project RFP

The NYJL Community Improvement Project (CIP) follows the same principle as the NYJL’s Playground Improvement Project, one of our most successful signature projects, which has been renovating New York City playgrounds in partnership with the City Parks Department since 1991.

In the fall of 2014, the NYJL selected Union Settlement Association, a nonprofit that serves as an on-the-ground resource for East Harlem residents of all ages, as its third annual CIP partner. Union Settlement is a passionate advocate for the needs of underserved communities, bringing education, wellness, and community-building programs to the neighborhood. The CIP committee volunteers completely renovated the youth services area at the Washington Community Center, refinishing the space along with installing new floors, painting the walls and providing up to date furnishings for the area. By helping the Union Settlement Association realize their vision, the NYJL was able to help make necessary improvements to a space that serves as a neighborhood sanctuary for young people and their families.

The goal of the NYJL Community improvement Project is to create a partnership with the facility selected for one year in duration to assist the facility in increasing its community impact. An assessment of need will be conducted after the one year period to determine whether there is an ongoing need for further volunteer assistance from the NYJL but no additional funding beyond the initial $50,000 will be provided.

Good Faith Statement: All information provided by the NYJL in this RFP is offered in good faith. Individual items are subject to change at any time. The NYJL makes no certification that any item is without error. The NYJL is not responsible or liable for any use of the information contained herein or for any claims asserted therefrom.

Thank you for applying to the New York Junior League’s fourth annual Community Improvement Project. Please note that we will only consider projects in Manhattan and that the NYJL will allocate a maximum of $50,000 to the final project selected. The RFP closes on May 29, 2015. Short-listed applicants will be notified in early June. If your organization is selected as one of our short list applicants, you would need to be available to host a site visit for representatives of the NYJL in early to mid June 2015.

For more information, please contact cip@nyjl.org.

*1. Please state the name of your Organization

*2. Please provide your contact information:
Name
Title
Email
Phone Number
Address

*3. Please provide a detailed description of your organization, your history, organizational mission, population served (including numbers served in each of the past 3 years), location(s) and hours of operation.

*4a. How is your organization funded?

*4b. Please indicate what percentage is supported through educational grants, private donations and/or other sources of funding (please identify each).

*5. Please attach your most recent Form 990 to this application.

*6. Please attach your most recent audited financials to this application.

*7. Please attach proof of your tax status to this application.

8. Please attach a copy of your most recent annual report (if any) to this application.

*9. Please provide a list of your Board of Directors, as well as key staff and the roles that they play within your organization.

10a. Please outline exactly what light renovations and/or upgrades, together with the approximate cost per improvement activity, that you would like to see done to your facility. Please email photographs of the current facility to cip@nyjl.org.

PLEASE NOTE: a maximum of $50,000 has been allocated to this project (and will not be exceeded). Funding will not be applied to refreshments, salaries, etc.

10b. Please outline how the work you wish to do would utilize approximately 30 volunteers over 6 work days to complete the work:

*11a. Does your organization work with volunteers? Please describe in detail the kind of services these volunteers (if any) currently provide.

*11b. Do you have a volunteer coordinator? If not, how are your volunteer services (if any) managed?

11c.Would there be a specific and dedicated Volunteer Coordinator assigned to work with the New York Junior League?

*11d. Will you be able to remain open in the evenings, until 9:30 p.m.and Saturdays, from 9:00-1:00 p.m., for volunteer events?

*12. Would there be opportunity for the NYJL to provide other volunteer services such as education programming, mentoring services, done in a day projects, etc.?

*Please visit the Community Impact page for a full listing of our volunteer programs.

13. Would your organization be comfortable with the New York Junior League taking creative reign on the design specifics of the project, after initial brainstorming and need assessments are discussed?

*14. Please indicate whether volunteers will be indemnified by your organization.

*15a. Please outline why you would like to work with the NYJL and include how you learned about the NYJL. Please also indicate if you have worked with the NYJL in the past, when and in what capacity.

15b. How do you feel your organization’s mission aligns and overlaps with the mission of the New York Junior League?

15c. Have you applied to the New York Junior League Community Improvement Project previously? If so, in what year? If different project/space is being proposed than the previous proposal, please explain.

12. Please share any other information that you feel would be helpful for us to assess your organization and your application.

Thank you for your interest in working with The Junior League of the City of New York!

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