Service and Engagement Grant Application Form

Thank you for your interest in the City of Montgomery’s Service and Engagement Grant. Please review the enclosed materials carefully and provide all the information requested. Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet the definition of community engagement or service to the community will not be considered.

The purpose of the Service and Engagement Grant is to provide a fair and consistent method of establishing grant funding for community groups or organizations that have the ideas and the skills necessary to execute creative community projects to benefit and engage citizens in the City of Montgomery.

Service to the community is defined as providing a beneficial service, project, or event that engages or improves the quality of life of Montgomery residents.

The City of Montgomery is a local government agency with the mission of “Working together to strengthen our premier community.” As this mission statement states, it takes a partnered approach to provide services to a community. This grant is one opportunity for Montgomery service organizations to partner with the City for the benefit of our community.

We encourage you to review this document while filling out the grant application.

Guidelines

All projects must be a creative effort to address an identified issue and build on assets in the community to improve conditions and enhance the quality of life in Montgomery.
The project must have a clearly defined plan of action with measurable outcomes for success.
Projects should encourage increased involvement of residents in neighborhood or community activities and build citizen leadership capacity.
Those projects dedicated to community wellness will receive ten additional bonus points in the scoring process—community wellness projects, such as mental wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, and exercise.
The group must agree to report on expenditures, lessons learned, photos, and stories to capture the project’s impact.
The proposal must document how this project can be sustained without grant funding.
Grantees are encouraged to publicize their project/activity to spread the word about this grant and the excellent work that they are doing for the community.
The City of Montgomery will generally award grants for specific projects rather than operating costs.

Eligibility

Eligible grantees are limited to those not-for-profit or civic organizations, educational organizations, neighborhood associations, or religious organizations serving the Montgomery community. Requests will not be considered from organizations that discriminate based on race, creed, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, or veteran status. The grant cannot fund commercial or charitable activities not directly of service within the City of Montgomery. Special consideration will be given to joint applications submitted by more than one group working together.

Documentation is required that the requested amount of the grant be equally matched from other sources in either cash contributions or in-kind property or equipment contributions. The applicant should match the grant with investments of their funds, other donations or grants, or other in-kind donations, such as labor. Service hours are credited at $20 per hour. The contributing service work should be specifically described to be considered.

Grant applications must be submitted by February 1 of each year to be considered in that year’s grant cycle. As a matter of fairness to all applicants, no exceptions to the deadline will be made. Decision notifications will be made to applicants within 90 days of February 1.

Financial Need

Recipients with documented outstanding project performance and demonstrated financial need may reapply for the grant but would be limited to a maximum of two consecutive years of funding. Applicants will not be considered for the third straight year of funding. Still, they could reapply after sitting out a year unless the City does not receive any other applications by the February 1 deadline.

Agreement and Final Report

The Montgomery City Council must authorize all grants. All grant applications will be reviewed and scored by City Staff and awarded by City Council. Such grants will require an agreement between the City of Montgomery and the grantee. The agreement shall specify how the funds will be used and require that, upon completion, the grantee gives a detailed report on the outcomes of the projects, including the expenditures and funds remaining. Any funds remaining shall be returned to the City consistent with the grant agreement. Applicants must also provide a plan for recognizing the City of Montgomery for the support provided through this grant.

2023 Grant Funding

A maximum of $2,500 will be awarded to any one applicant in any given year.

The decision to continue funding the Service and Engagement Grant is subject to the appropriation of funds for such purpose by the Montgomery City Council. Funding for the Service and Engagement Grant may be modified or suspended during times of economic downturn when revenue sources for the City are reduced and/or by City Council consistent with the adopted budget.

Grant Process Timeline

Applications available online: November 29, 2023
Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. February 1, 2023
Grant award notification: April 2023
Six-month progress reports due to City of Montgomery: October 31, 2023
Final Report due to the City of Montgomery: February 29, 2024

Contact

Matthew Vanderhorst
City of Montgomery
513-792-8323
mvanderhorst@montgomeryohio.gov

Application Form

Group/Organization Name
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Contact Name
First Last
Contact Title
Contact Phone
Contact Email
Program Title * Required
Project/Program Start Date
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Project/Program End Date
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Group Fiscal Year End
Federal Tax ID # (EIN)
Application Questions
Funding Amount Requested
Please enter a number less than or equal to 2500.
What is your group’s annual budget?
What is the group’s primary funding sources (government, private, other, and estimated amounts)?
List the source and amount of any government funding received for the project or program (include funding received from the City of Montgomery departments outside of this grant application process).
Have you received in the past, or currently receiving grant funding, for this or a similar project? If yes, please provide a detailed description.
Detail the group’s history, purpose, accomplishments, and goals.
Describe how your group plans to use the funds being requested. Please be as specific as possible including a timeline for the project as well as explaining the sustainability of the project and how that would be managed.
How will you identify residents in need of services and the anticipated number of recipients?
How will awarding funds to your group benefit City of Montgomery residents? Special consideration will be given for joint applications submitted by more than one group working together. You may share a specific example or a brief past “success story.”
Is the project or program still feasible if awarded partial funding? (please explain)
How will you evaluate the success of the project or program? Please note that your group will be required to submit a six (6) month progress report if awarded funds?
(Bonus) How is this program related to community wellness, such as mental wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, and exercise?
Project/Program Funding Sources
City of Montgomery
Other government entity
Other pending grants
Private business sponsors
Donations, events, fundraising, etc.
Other funding source
Name of other funding source.
Total Funding Sources
Project/Program Expenses
Personnel
Equipment
Materials
Other
Total Expenses
Name of other expenses
Consent
Groups or organizations applying for the fund through this program are obligated to spend the funds in the manner described in their application. All funds are specifically used for the purposes described in this application must be returned to the City of Montgomery. Failure to meet the objectives outlined in the application may result in future disqualification from applying for and receiving the City of Montgomery Service to Community Grant Program funds. I hereby certify that all the facts, figures, and representations made in this application, including all attachments, are true and correct. I agree to carry out the project or program as outlined within this application. Further, I understand that failure to do so will invalidate this agreement and necessitate the return of all Service to Community Grant Program funding to the City of Montgomery.
Proof of tax-exempt status and/or Articles of Incorporation as a not-for-profit organization, If applicable.
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Completed W-9 Form
Max. file size: 50 MB.