Leadership Grant Program - How to Apply

First steps

1. Interested organizations must first find a Switzer Fellow with whom to work on the proposed project or for the proposed position. This grant program is only open to organizations working with a Switzer Fellow. See below ("How to Find a Fellow or Organization") for suggestions on finding a Switzer Fellow.
2. Once an organization and a Switzer Fellow have made contact and agree to pursue a Leadership Grant project, the organization must contact the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation by phone or email to discuss the anticipated project before proceeding. This is to ensure that the project idea is appropriate to the guidelines.
3. After this initial conversation, the organization may be directed to submit a concept letter summarizing the proposed project. Concept letters must be submitted by the published deadline. A concept letter should be 1-2 pages and describe the project, the position for the fellow, and the ways in which the proposed project will enhance the host organization's capacity to address the issue at hand. Please include the dollar amount to be requested and describe the matching funds that will be contributed to the project.
4. Concept letters (and proposals, if invited) are to be written collaboratively between the Switzer Fellow and the applicant organization. No requests will be considered from an organization that has not developed the proposal jointly with a Switzer Fellow.
5. Concept letters will be reviewed after the deadline and the applicant will be notified within 2-3 days by foundation staff as to whether a full proposal will be invited.
6. If a full proposal is invited, follow the grant proposal guidelines below. Telephone interviews will be conducted during the review process.

All proposals should include the following, and should be submitted as a single Adobe PDF document (however, audited financials can be a separate document):

• A completed Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation Leadership Grant Program Cover Sheet.
• A project narrative that includes:
  • A brief description of the applicant organization, its current programs and services.
  • A statement of the environmental problem being addressed and the particular skills, capacity and position that qualify the organization to undertake this work.
  • A description of the activity to be undertaken with foundation support and outlining the specific work plan for the year and a time line.
  • A statement of anticipated results and evaluative criteria that the applicant organization will use in assessing these results. Please specify the targeted environmental outcomes.
  • A description of the constituencies engaged or involved with the project, and any social equity dimensions of the work. Please describe who benefits from the proposed project.
  • A statement of how the organization will be strengthened by the collaboration with the fellow, and the specific role and responsibilities of the fellow. In addition, please specify training or professional development opportunities that will be provided to the fellow during the project.
  • An explanation of the timing and commitment for raising matching funds for the project. Specify who is responsible for raising matching funds.
• A letter from the Switzer Fellow relating the proposal to his or her professional development and professional career objectives.
• The Switzer Fellow's and the project supervisor's curriculum vitae.
• A statement signed by both the fellow and the applicant organization regarding the nature of the collaboration and the employment agreement between the two. Indicate whether the position is temporary, part-time, full-time, staff or consulting, and whether or not it is expected to become permanent. An explanation of pay rate and benefits should be included.
• A list of current board members of the organization, and their organizational affiliations.
• An itemized income and expense budget for the project proposed, indicating other known or anticipated sources of funding. In addition, please budget for any other training needs or professional development opportunities needed to meet the career objectives of the Switzer Fellow. Click here for budget guidelines.
• The organization's current operating budget and most recent financial statement.
• For nonprofit organizations, a copy of the IRS tax status determination letter along with a statement signed by an officer of the applicant organization that the IRS determination letter is still valid.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions before submitting concept letters or proposals.

Fall cycle:

• September 1: Concept letters due
• October 1: Invited proposals due
• December: Award decisions made

Spring cycle:

• February 1: Concept letters due
• March 1: Invited proposals due
• May/June: Award decisions made

Proposal materials should be submitted electronically to:

Erin Lloyd, Program Director — erin@switzernetwork.org

Projects are evaluated on the extent to which they advance the leadership capacity and professional career of the Switzer Fellow, and on their ability to identify and address a critical environmental problem, measurably improve environmental quality, and achieve equitable environmental outcomes.

All Leadership Grant Program proposals submitted for review are evaluated in a three step process. First, foundation staff evaluate proposals for completeness and have phone or in-person interviews with the lead contact for the organization, and with the fellow. Then, proposals are reviewed using the Leadership Grant Review Evaluation Matrix that identifies the qualities and parameters by which each proposal is evaluated. This matrix is meant as a tool to help applicants hone their narrative toward issues of greatest interest to the foundation, and to help foundation staff and trustees in their evaluation of the proposals. Lastly, all proposals are reviewed by the Board of Trustees who make the final grant decisions.

Organizations receiving Switzer Leadership Grants are required to submit a detailed final report at the end of their grant period. (Follow the same budget guidelines above for final reporting on grant expenditures.) In addition, all fellows participating in a Leadership Grant Project will be asked to present their results or project to other fellows at a Switzer Fellows retreat, convening, via webinar, or in writing for Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation publications.

Organizations seeking a Switzer Fellow with whom to develop a proposal should contact the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation office, but may also search our online database of fellows in Find an Expert. This database is searchable by fellow name, geographic location, and area of expertise.

Organizations may reach out to fellows via the Leadership Exchange and should submit the following information to Erin Lloyd, Program Director (erin@switzernetwork.org): Organization name, contact name and title, full organization contact information including email and website address, brief organization description, and a summary describing the position or project you hope to fill with a Switzer Fellow. Please indicate any time restrictions if applicable.

Fellows often develop a partnership with an organization they already know, or in which they are interested. Fellows may also use the Leadership Exchange section of the website to view current opportunities for partnerships. Fellows may contact the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation office to discuss their interest in the program. Foundation staff may be able to facilitate connections between fellows and prospective organizations suited to a fellow's interests and skills.