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2004 NEIGHBOR NETWORK PROGRAM GUIDELINES

PURPOSE
To strengthen community council organizations within the City of Cincinnati, by supporting projects that will enhance neighborhoods and target identified needs of the community.

Neighbor Network Grant -- A competitive grant which awards up to $1,000 to community councils for neighborhood improvement projects.

Grant Advisory Committee -- A group of 15 community representatives randomly selected from neighborhoods which are fully vested in Invest's Neighborhood Fund. This peer review committee will score and rank all proposals and make recommendations for funding to the Invest in Neighborhoods Board of Trustees. The Grant Advisory Committee reserves the right to recommend grants for less than the full amount requested; however, the Committee does recognize its obligation to award grant amounts that will allow for meaningful completion of proposed projects.

1. Those councils that are fully paid members of the Invest in Neighborhoods, Inc. trust as of April 30, 2004, are eligible to receive a 2004 grant. Each eligible council may submit one Neighbor Network Grant proposal.
2. Those communities that received 2003 funding and seek 2004 funding must submit this documentation by April 30, 2004, unless the Invest Board of Trustees has granted an extension in advance of April 30, 2004.

1. Neighbor Network Grant guidelines and a request for proposals will be sent to eligible councils in February, 2004.
2. Communities must vote on proposed projects at a regular membership meeting of its community council (not an Executive Committee meeting) and submit a copy of the community council meeting Minutes that document such a vote.
3. Communities submitting proposals must answer all questions on the grant application form. Answers to the questions may not exceed the limits stated on the forms. Additional pages in the form of an appendix may be attached to expand beyond the scope of the questions listed.
4. Communities are welcome to make an appointment to discuss proposal format and any questions they may have. This is a technical assistance opportunity only and will have no bearing whatsoever on the scoring and evaluation of the final proposal (pre-review information will not be made available to the Neighborhood Advisory Committee). Proposals will be reviewed for adherence to the established format and strength of proposal. Changing a proposal to incorporate these recommendations is optional.
5. Original copies of proposals must be submitted to Invest's offices by the final due date of May 3, 2004, in order to be considered for funding.

GRANT PERIODS & DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Grants will be awarded in June of 2004 for the period June, 2004, through April 15, 2005. Recognizing that the above-stated grant period is not a full year, the Committee, while strongly encouraging grant recipients to expend their awards within the required time frame, acknowledges the potential for extenuating circumstances that might prevent completion of projects within that time frame. Therefore, the Invest in Neighborhoods, Inc. Board of Trustees shall review requests for expenditure extensions on a case-by-case basis. Should communities foresee an inability to meet the expenditure deadline, a formal request to the Invest in Neighborhoods Board must be made as soon as possible.

1. This grant category is designed to fund less costly projects of immediate need to a community. Specifically, the application materials are simplified and restricted to the one-page form provided.
2. The Neighborhood Advisory Committee shall evaluate each application using a 3-point funding recommendation system: 1 point=No, not recommended for funding; 2 points=Maybe, funding may be recommended; 3 points=Yes, definitely fund.

1. Direct assistance (such as welfare) to persons in need.
2. Solely for employment purposes, as opposed to employment which is designed to strengthen the neighborhood council organization or to assist neighborhood residents to plan and execute projects which will benefit the residents of that neighborhood.
3. Payments, other than expense reimbursements to school or government employees working in their regular job capacity.
4. Providing funds for efforts that are not initiated by neighborhood councils.
5. The carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
6. Lotteries.
7. Any purpose inconsistent with activities permitted to organize exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any succeeding Internal Revenue Code.
8. Any other prohibitions detailed in the Invest In Neighborhoods Trust Agreement.

1. The GAC shall be responsible for reviewing each proposed use of funds from the Invest In Neighborhoods grant fund by each neighborhood council to ensure compliance with the purposes and prohibitions of Invest In Neighborhoods, Inc., and its funders.
2. All recommendations of the GAC shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees of Invest In Neighborhoods, Inc., for its approval.
3. The GAC shall be composed of 15 members chosen at random from eligible communities. In addition, at least one member will be appointed by the Board of Trustees.
4. The GAC will establish operating procedures for review and evaluation of grant proposals and shall make those procedures known to the general membership of Invest In Neighborhoods, Inc.
5. Only members of the GAC, Invest in Neighborhoods Board liaisons, and Invest staff will be permitted to participate in proposal reviews. Invest staff are not permitted to evaluate or vote on community proposals and funding requests.

GRANT AWARD ADJUSTMENTS
After a proposal is approved, the community council may adjust the dollar amounts among line items, but it may not change the scope or intent of the project. Any modifications must be reported in writing to the Invest In Neighborhoods Board of Trustees.

GRANT RECOGNITION
The public, in general, does not always understand the function of non-profit foundations or the benefits to communities resulting from their activities. Because of this, Invest considers it extremely important that its grant programs be associated with the funding sources. An example of appropriate wording for publicizing this grant could be:

This program/project is made possible by Invest In Neighborhoods 2001 Neighbor Network Grants Program

Funded communities, as a condition of their award, will permit Invest In Neighborhoods to publicize specifics of these projects in furthering the purpose of Invest in Neighborhoods, Inc.

GRANT ACCOUNTING
Each participating council will keep records of all project expenses and submit them by April 30, 2000, to the Executive Director of Invest In Neighborhoods, Inc., along with a project evaluation, as proof that these guidelines have been met. Any unused funds will be returned to Invest In Neighborhoods, Inc.

QUESTIONS
Questions about the Neighbor Network program or proposal procedures should be addressed to the office of Invest In Neighborhoods, Inc., at 921-5502.