• Proposal Process
• Selection Considerations
• Important Dates

Proposal Process

Through a national competition, 115 proposals were submitted by community colleges in 35 different states. Ten colleges were selected to receive Encore Career Grants. The deadline for submissions was May 1, 2007 and the proposal process is now closed.

Selection Considerations

Civic Ventures, in consultation with several outside advisors, reviewed 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 and social services; 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.

Important Dates