• Maximum Grant Amount
• Eligibility
• Proposal Process
• Selection Considerations
• Allowable Grant Fund Uses
• Expectations of Grantees
• Important Dates

Maximum Grant Amount

The maximum grant to any individual community college or college consortia will be $25,000. Separate colleges within a larger community college district are eligible to apply.

Eligibility

Community, junior and technical colleges that are accredited two-year institutions offering associate degrees are eligible to apply.  The ten community colleges that received a Community College Encore Career Grant in the first grant round in 2007 are not eligible to apply for a second grant at this time.

Proposal Process

The deadline for submitting proposals closed April 24, 2009.

Selection Considerations

Civic Ventures, in consultation with several outside advisors, will review all submitted proposals based on the following considerations:

• Community college commitment: Evidence of committed leadership, buy-in across community college departments, and assignment of personnel and other community college resources.
• Institutional capacity and readiness: Experience and expertise in adult workforce education, career transition services, social purpose career training and credentialing, and related areas.
• Dedicated resources and adaptability for adults 50+: Clear plan for adapting programs and developing a marketing approach for older adults.
• Track record in education, healthcare or social services labor market: Identification of local labor market needs in education, healthcare, social services or the environment; endorsement of social sector employers; and past history of placing graduates in relevant jobs.
• Well-defined partnerships: Clearly defined roles and responsibilities with partner employers, community leaders and others involved in proposal implementation
• Quality of proposed innovation: Clarity of program approach, placement within the community college structure, and specificity of course offerings or other strategies to prepare older adults for documented workforce shortages.
• Potential for impact: Articulation of specific goals and objectives, measurable results, such as a specific number of older adults enrolled in degree programs or placed in social purpose career positions, and other qualitative or quantitative outcomes.
• Cost effectiveness: Appropriateness and adequacy of proposed budget expenses and information on other financial commitments for proposal implementation
• Geographic and institutional diversity: In addition to individual proposal considerations, Civic Ventures seeks grantees that represent diversity in: 1) community college characteristics - programmatic focus, setting (urban, suburban, rural), institutional size, location in different regions of the United States; and 2) student characteristics - age, socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic/racial breakdown.

Allowable Grant Fund Uses

Grant funds must directly support expenses associated with the community college's proposal to advance encore careers. Expenses may include: staff salary and benefits; consultants to assist with program design and implementation; marketing; materials development; meeting expenses; curriculum development or certification; instructional support; assessment activities; professional development; incentives or subsidies for older adult participants; and other expenses approved by Civic Ventures. No portion of the grant may be used for indirect costs or recovery of shared or common costs of the grantee.

While there are no matching fund requirements, it is anticipated that community colleges will build on existing programs and resources. As such, the proposal narrative asks for an estimate of other financial and in-kind resources that will be used to support implementation of the proposal.

Expectations of Grantees

Community colleges that receive Encore Career Grants will be expected to:

• Make significant progress toward the accomplishment of their stated goals and expected outcomes.
• Submit program progress reports on a quarterly basis and the end of the grant period, and financial progress reports every six months.
• Designate a lead staff person who will be responsible for reporting and communicating with Civic Ventures.
• Attend a two day national meeting of grantees in Washington, D.C. convened by Civic Ventures during the week of July 27, 2009.  Travel expenses for one representative will be covered by Civic Ventures.
• Participate in the national network in other ways - online, conference calls, sharing of ideas and information, etc.
• Provide requested data and other information to contribute to a national effort to promote and learn from the community college experience.

Important Dates