Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation

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1. Eligibility - Who Can Apply

2. Project Criteria

3. Types of Grants

4. How to Apply

5. Application Deadlines

6. Where to Apply

7. Evaluation of Proposals

8. Award Requirements

1. Eligibility - Who Can Apply

• Any Switzer Fellow, current or past, is eligible to apply for a CIF grant. Two or more Fellows must be involved in the proposed activity.
• Current Fellows who are still in school may collaborate, but funds may not be used for graduate school expenses. Funds may only be used to support direct expenses related to the proposed project.
• Collaborating Fellows must be employed or directly working on the issue on which they plan to collaborate. They may be engaged in any sector including non-profit, government, business or academia. Cross-sector collaboration is highly encouraged and favored.
• The organizations in which the Fellows are employed must be supportive of the collaboration and bring organizational resources and credibility to the project.
• Funding is available for new collaborative initiatives between Fellows. Funds may not be used to augment currently funded Fellowship or Leadership grants. However, collaborative proposals that build on past Fellowship or Leadership grant activities and outcomes will be considered.
• Grants will only be made to organizations with non-profit charitable status.
• Grants are for a one year period only. Fellows may seek renewal funding only upon completion of the initial project or upon demonstration of significant outcomes. Renewal requests will require matching funds.
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2. Project Criteria

Collaborative Initiatives Fund projects must be designed as a collaborative effort among two or more Switzer Fellows. Specific criteria include:

• The project must advance a current critical environmental issue.
• The project must have tangible results, and show a direct and positive impact on the issue.
• The project must foster collaboration among two or more Switzer Fellows, and must leverage financial and other resources of each Fellow’s organization to advance progress on the issue (organizational letters of support will be required).
• The project must demonstrate a clear strategy with realistic expectations. A work plan and timeline will be required.
• If the project is local in scope (as opposed to regional, national or international), it should have potential to be used as a model elsewhere for larger-scale impact.
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3. Types of Grants

There are two types of CIF grants: Seed Grants and Project Grants.

SEED GRANTS

Seed grants of up to $5,000 are available for small scale collaborative efforts or pilot projects.  Funds may also be used for the start-up or exploratory planning work that may be necessary in advance of a larger collaborative project.  Seed grants may be used to cover direct expenses including travel, materials, staff or convening costs. A limited amount of administrative support or funding for staff release time is also permitted. Planning/Seed grants are reviewed on a rolling basis and are awarded at the discretion of the Executive Director of the Foundation.  It is advisable to present your idea by telephone or email before submitting full documentation for a collaborative project.

Supported activities may include convening Fellows to explore collaborative project ideas; convening thought leaders for strategy development on policy issues; data collection or planning for a pilot project; or development of policy papers and action strategies. Please refer to the Current Grants section of this website to see types of activities funded in the past.

PROJECT GRANTS:

Project grants of up to $40,000 are available for collaborative projects that will advance a current critical issue, and utilize the individual and organizational leadership resources of the collaborating Fellows.  These grants may also be used to support direct project costs, release time and/or administrative support, with a focus on implementation of a project idea, rather than planning.  These grant requests will be reviewed twice yearly by staff and board, on the same cycle as the Leadership Grant Program.  Concept letters will be required for each Collaborative Initiatives Fund Project grant request before being invited to submit a full grant proposal.  Overhead or administration costs may not exceed 15% of the total request.  Please refer to the Past Recipients section of this website to see types of projects funded in the past.

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4. How to Apply

Collaborating Fellows should jointly produce the proposal for all CIF grant requests. All requests should include:

1. A completed Collaborative Initiatives Fund Cover Sheet that includes: the title of the project, the names/contact information of collaborating Fellows and the anticipated role of each, and the lead contact for the proposal.
2. A narrative describing the purpose of the project, clear objectives to be addressed, the nature of the collaborative activity, the workplan, timeline and anticipated results. Clearly outline products and outcomes expected from the project. Describe how long-term results will be tracked beyond the term of the grant.
3. A budget for the project, indicating other known or anticipated sources of funding and in-kind contributions.
4. A current and past year budget for the organization receiving grant funds
5. Documentation of non-profit status of the organization which will receive the grant if awarded.
6. Letters of support from the participating Fellows’ organizations.
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5. Application Deadlines

Planning/Seed grants:
Proposals may be submitted anytime. Awards made on a rolling basis.

Project Grants:

Proposals are reviewed twice yearly, in the spring and fall.  See below for deadlines.  Concept letters and telephone contact for project grants must be made at least four weeks prior to the full proposal deadline.       

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6. Where to Apply

Complete proposals may be sent electronically to:

Erin Lloyd, Program Officer - erin@switzernetwork.org.
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7. Evaluation of Proposals

Grant applications will be reviewed by Switzer Foundation staff and Board using the Collaborative Initiatives Fund Grant Review Evaluation Matrix. Priority is given to projects that will have clear and tangible outcomes, especially those which are likely to have national or broad scale impact. Policy initiatives, white papers, and development of interdisciplinary approaches or models are invited. Projects that engage Fellows across sectors, such as business, non-profit, government and/or academia are also strongly encouraged. Projects with local impact may be submitted, but those with potential to serve as a model are preferred.

Proposed collaborative efforts may be experimental in terms of working arrangements and perspectives, but the project should be synergistic and add value to participants’ efforts as well as produce joint outcomes. Joint efforts should focus on a clear action agenda or exploration of a strategy for future impact.

Based on recent polling of Switzer Fellows, priority for collaborative initiatives will be given to projects focusing on: climate change and energy policy and action, land use change, habitat/biodiversity loss and smart growth, and water resource issues (including access, scarcity and pollution). Addressing equity and social justice implications of these and other issues is also encouraged.

Award of a Seed grant does not guarantee support of a subsequent Project Grant through the Collaborative Initiatives Fund. Each project is reviewed on its own merits, and through a competitive process. However, successful outcomes on a Seed grant will favorably influence the review process.

This grant program is not intended to provide individual project support nor is it intended to assist a Fellow in engaging in a new field or career direction. Fellows seeking new projects or collaboration with a single organization should look to the Leadership Grant Program for possible support.
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8. Award Requirements

A grant report is expected at the conclusion of all projects. In addition, it is expected that all published and presented materials will credit funding from The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation.  Collaborating Fellows may be asked to present their results at a Switzer Network Retreat or other convening and to summarize their efforts for Switzer Foundation audiences on the website and in print.
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