Growing
Roots in the Neighbourhood (GRIN)
Grant
Program Terms of Reference
Background/Context
An annual project funding program is offered
by the Regina Horticultural Society (RHS). The Growing Roots in the
Neighbourhood initiative was launched in March 2014.
Regina Horticultural
Society Mission: to encourage gardening for the enhancement of the local
environment and the quality of life of its members and the general public.
Regina Horticultural
Society Mandate: to educate, through its various programs, its members and
the general public about gardening, and to promote and support gardening in
Regina and surrounding area.
Function of the Committee
This Committee,
consisting of members from the Regina Horticultural Society and at least one
RHS Board member, will work together to provide the necessary documentation
supporting the RHS’ funding initiative. The Terms of Reference for GRINwill be presented to the Board annually
before the Annual General Meeting, following the results and evaluation of the preceding
year. Based on that assessment, the funding program may be amended for thesubsequent
year.
TheTerms
of Referenceprovide:
·
A clear
description of the funding program’s objectives and intended outcomes which
support the RHS’ vision and mandate.
·
A
straightforward application process and form.
·
Well-defined
eligibility criteria according to the guidelines provided by the RHS Board.
·
Candid
and easy evaluation and review criteria.
·
A
concise message to promote the initiative and one to endorse the ultimate selection
of funding recipient(s) and to publicize the success of the program at the end
of the project.
Key Points
Name of fund: Growing Roots in the Neighbourhood – GRIN
Intended audience:
-
New gardeners in Regina (for example, immigrant
families, children, newcomers to the city, community/neighbourhood
revitalization initiatives)
-
Practiced gardeners (for example, including a
garden as part of a community revitalization project)
-
Partnerships (organisations, not-for-profit, groups
supporting access to healthy food and a healthy environment)
Eligible applicants:
-
Community-based and partnerships, but not
restricting an individual from applying (scoring will favour partnerships)
-
Examples: Regina Community Food Assessment,
community associations, schools, etc.
-
GRIN applications will be accepted from members
of the general public
Ineligible applicants:
-
RHS Directors
-
GRIN Review Committee members and their family
Publicity:
-
The Publicity Director will ensure
communications via:
-
Media (radio, television and print) via public
service announcements
-
‘Sister’ organisations and forums (garden clubs,
greenhouses, community centres)
-
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
-
RHS media (website, newsletter, workshops,
presentations)
-
Educational media (Regina Public Library, U of
R, post-secondary institutions
Application process
Form and Application Guidelines
Screening
Criteria based on the following:
-
Fit RHS mandate and vision = education and promotion
of gardening
-
Preference given to grassroots-type projects
-
Preference given to community-based projects
-
Must address a gap
-
Must demonstrate potential for being sustainable
o
project can stand alone afterwards and does not
rely on ongoing support from RHS
o
project contributes to environmental
sustainability
-
GRIN awards are made on an annual basis
-
Multi-year projects may apply for a subsequent
year of funding, but activities and results must be distinct
-
Each year’s application will be assessed on its
individual merits
-
No core funding (no salaries, no administrative
overhead)
-
Must demonstrate community benefit and/or impact
of project
-
NOT dependant on RHS volunteers for labour
-
Willingness to liaise with RHS sponsor/contact
(ie., questions, access to expertise, promotion of outcomes)
Possible examples of hands-on gardening:
-
demonstration gardens
-
immigrant/newcomers gardens
-
youth and/or seniors’ gardens
-
increase / improve access to existing garden
space(s)
-
development of new garden space
-
matching of potential gardeners to garden spaces
-
education/training: perhaps for new Canadians;
persons in poverty?
-
activities targeting specific group, community,
organisation or partnership
Scoring: more to community-based partnership with an organisation
than to a single individual (more prudent approach, and supports
community-based partnerships). Rubric listed on application guidelines, and
point allocation indicated on application.
Eligible costs:
-
start-up costs: materials, supplies, equipment
rental
-
NO salary
-
NO administrative overhead
-
NOT funded by other sources (double-funding of
same costs)
Nota: RHS is not in competition with other funders
or Not-For-Profits (not undercutting another organisation’s funding objective).
Must tie-in with RHS Mandate.
Administration of program:
-
Announce launch and deadline dates within press
release
-
Provide access to the application and the guide
-
Review of applications by members of the GRIN
committee with recommendations to the RHS Board
-
RHS Board President to contact successful
applicant(s)
-
Ensure signing of liability disclaimer by
successful applicant
-
Announce GRIN recipient by end of April
-
Ensure understanding of project outcomes and
deadlines to applicant(s)
-
Approve funding which will be awarded at the
April 2015 Education Event (up to 90%)
-
Appoint RHS Project Liaison(s) to project
lead(s) who will, through regular contact:
o
Provide mentorship, support and guidance to
recipient including but not limited to timelines, expectations, follow-up,
reporting, disbursements
o
Contribute to the assessment of the criteria at
the end of the project, including obtaining feedback from the proponent about
the GRIN initiative (application, processes and outcome)
o
Ensure all initial monies are expended by August
31, 2014
o
Co-ordinate a presentation post-project to RHS –
eg AGM, Education event, Christmas party
o
Recommend remittance of 10% holdback of funds
once presentation has been confirmed
o
Contribute to review and evaluation of GRIN
program
-
If there is no successful applicant, no funds will
be dispersed
-
Review and evaluate successful outcome of GRIN
and its administration
-
Recommend program amendments, as may deemed necessary
Review/adjudication process:
-
Two board representative(s) + one volunteer
member representative: GRIN Committee
-
Scoring grid of 50 points; each category given a
numerical value
-
Last page of the application will have score and
assessment results
Communication with applicants:
-
Transparency and fairness will be used by the
Review Committee to answer submission
inquiries;
-
RHS President will contact successful
applicant(s) no later than mid-April
-
RHS President will meet with successful
applicant(s) to explain the administration of the program
-
For successful project: RHS Project Liaison will
be recruited from RHS membership.
-
Project Liaison will ensure regular contacts
with project lead through email, telephone calls and in person, on site.
Assessment of results at the end of the project:
-
Review of communication pieces:
o
Press releases
o
Application form and guidelines
-
Review of administration of program:
o
Intake and review processes
o
Project monitoring: liaison role, financial transactions, start
and end dates
o
Feedback from GRIN funding recipient
o
Post-project presentation
In order to assess if the GRIN funding initiative contributed to the
Regina Horticultural Society’s mission and educational mandate of RHS, the following
questions are presented:
-
Did the GRIN initiative help to increase the
profile of the RHS?
-
Did this initiative validate the RHS’s
activities in terms of its mandate and organisational credibility?
-
Did the project achieve the desired project
outcomes as originally identified? Why?
-
Was the process clear for the applicant(s)?
-
Was the project framework supportive and
encouraging the project outcomes?
-
Did the proponent promote the success of the
project?
February 28, 2015
The Regina Horticultural Society is pleased to announce the launch of a
grant funding initiative.
The Growing Roots in the Neighbourhood (GRIN) grant is
an annual $1,000 fund.
ü The funds will be allocated to one or
more approved project applicants.
ü Successful projects will promote the
engagement of Regina citizens in gardening through education for the
enhancement of their local environment and their quality of life.
ü Projects
must be located within Regina. They must be started in spring 2014.
Application form and guidelines can be
obtained from the Regina Horticultural Society website: www.reginahortsociety.com
The application form and guidelines will be
available from Regina Horticultural Society (RHS) representatives at Seedy Saturday, at St Mary’s church
on 15th and Montague Street, on February 28 2015.
Applications will be accepted no later than
12 midnight, March 30th 2015.
Each project application will be assessed by a
review committee consisting of Regina Horticultural Society members. The
successful applicant(s) will be notified by end of April by the President of
the RHS, Denise Mlazgar.
We wish to thank all applicants, but only successful candidates will be contacted by
RHS. The decision
to approve or decline a funding application is
not subject
to an appeal.
For more information, please contact us at grow@reginahortsociety.com
