Form

2023–2024 Community Improvement Project - Request for Proposal

Thank you for submitting a proposal to the New York Junior League’s (NYJL) 11th annual Community Improvement Project (CIP). The goal of the NYJL CIP is to establish a one-year partnership with an organization and to support its efforts to increase its community impact by providing a team of skilled CIP volunteers, funding support, and in-kind services for capital improvements.

A few important notes:

We will only consider Manhattan-based projects with budgets from $1,000 up to a maximum of $70,000.
While projects may include some element of work to be done by a professional (contractor, electrician, etc.), a significant portion of the work is expected to be completed by NYJL volunteers.
Proposals should include no more than 3 interior rooms and 1 outdoor space and detail the impact that the renovation would have in further supporting the organization’s mission and increasing its impact.

The RFP deadline has been extended. It now closes on April 28, 2023, at 11:59pm ET. Short-listed applicants will be notified approximately 2-5 weeks following the close of the application. If your organization is selected as one of our short-list applicants, you must be available to host a site visit for representatives of the NYJL in May or early June 2023. The site visit will take approximately one hour to complete and will focus on reviewing the work requested to be completed.

Please answer all questions in their entirety and include your supporting documentation in your response package. If you have any questions, please send them directly to CIP@nyjl.org.

APPLICANT INFORMATION

Please provide your contact information

Organization Name

Facility Address Requested to Be Renovated

Contact Name

Contact Title

Contact Email

Contact Phone Number

Organization Mailing Address

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Please provide the applicable information for the organization/facility

1. Please provide a detailed description of your organization, including the history, mission, and population served.

2. How is your organization funded?

3. What percentage is supported through educational grants, private donations, and/or other sources of funding (please identify each source/percentage individually)?

4. Will volunteers be indemnified by your organization? (Y/N)

NYJL INFORMATION

1. Why would you like to work with the NYJL?

2. How did you learn about the NYJL and this opportunity?

3. How do you feel your organization’s mission aligns with the mission of the NYJL (https://www.nyjl.org/about/#our-mission)?

4. Have you worked with the NYJL in the past? If so, in what capacity?

5. Have you applied for the NYJL CIP previously? (Y/N)

a. If yes, please list the year(s) and explain how this application is different from prior submissions.

FACILITY/LOCATION INFORMATION

Please provide the applicable information for the relevant facility

1. What is the current use of the facility that you are recommending for light renovations and/or improvements? Please provide details on the specific rooms in the facility that you are requesting improvements to.

2. How would the improvements by CIP help to further the mission of your organization and/or build capacity?

4. Do you foresee any reason why in the next 5 years this facility may be demolished, sold, foreclosed, or leased to a third party? (N/Y)

5. If needed, a contractor will typically work during normal business hours and our volunteers typically work weekends (8:00 am - 2:00 pm). Would you be able to accommodate these work shifts?

6. The project execution may either take place in Fall 2023 (approximately September - December) or Spring 2024 (January - May). Would you be able to accommodate either of these timelines?

7. Would your organization be comfortable with the NYJL taking creative reign on the design specifics of the project, after initial brainstorming and need assessments are discussed? (Y/N) If no, please elaborate.

If no, please elaborate.

8. OUTLINE THE SPECIFIC WORK AND APPROXIMATE COST PER IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITY YOU WOULD LIKE DONE AT YOUR FACILITY. UPLOAD AS AN EXCEL SHEET USING THE TEMPLATE BELOW.

PLEASE NOTE: A maximum budget of $70,000 has been allocated to this project and will not be exceeded. Funding will not be applied to salaries, refreshments, etc. Any construction labor will be completed by qualified construction professionals and not NYJL volunteers and should be accounted for in your cost estimates. Contractor estimates should be checked with a professional to verify potential cost in advance of application submission. Examples of volunteer activities include painting, assembling furniture, hanging art, and organizing. Examples of contractor activities include flooring and cabinetry.

Excel Sheet Upload

9. Upload a minimum of three existing conditions photographs of the room(s) you are proposing for improvement.

Photo

COVID-19 SAFETY

1. Please summarize your organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Has COVID-19 changed the way that services/programming are being delivered (i.e. a shift toward virtual)?

2. Does your organization still have any COVID-related policies in place that we should be aware of?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Aside from the CIP volunteers, does your organization have other opportunities to use volunteers on a regular basis? If so, describe the type of activities or services that volunteers could provide to your clients or staff.

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

IMPORTANT ATTACHMENTS

Attach the following to this application:

List of current Board of Directors & Key Staff – please include role descriptions

Most recent 990

Most recent audited financials

Proof of tax status

Most recent annual report (if available)

Thank you for your interest in working with the NYJL!

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