Community
Guide to Proposal Writing
This guide has been developed to assist organizations applying
to the Neighbourhoods Alive! Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF)
or Community Initiatives program and outlines the information
required for the funding review process.
Project location
Organization and contact information
Required proposal information
Budget Sheet
Accompanying Letters
1.
Tell us where your project is located
The NRF has designated twelve neighbourhoods in Winnipeg
(Lord Selkirk Park, Point Douglas, Spence, West Broadway, William
Whyte, Centennial, Daniel McIntyre, Dufferin, North Portage, St.
John's, St. Matthews and West Alexander), as well as Brandon
City Centre and Thompson for financial
support. To be eligible for NRF funding, projects must be located
in or primarily serve one of the designated neighbourhoods.
If your project is located in or serves one of the designated
neighbourhoods, please provide the address and a map showing the
area served. Click here
to see the boundaries of these neighbourhoods.
To be eligible for funding from Community Initiatives, projects
must be located in or primarily benefit the inner city of Winnipeg.
Click
here to see the area informally defined as the inner
city (City of Winnipeg).
Note: You can find more detailed maps online at www.mapquest.com.
Each City has its own website where maps can also be found:
City of Winnipeg - www.winnipeg.mb.ca
City of Brandon - www.city.brandon.mb.ca
City of Thompson - www.thompson.ca
2. Tell us about your
organization
Funding from the NRF should be administered by an incorporated
not-for-profit organization. If you represent an incorporated
organization, please provide:
- a copy of Registered Articles of Incorporation, including
any amendments, and a Current Certificate of Status;
- name, address, telephone, fax, email of your organization;
- a name and number of a contact for the project;
- a list of your board or committee members.
If your organization is not incorporated, or is not associated
with an incorporated organization, please contact Neighbourhoods
Alive! for more information at 945-3379.
3. Required proposal
information
Describe the purpose of your project
A project description should be a brief statement about
what you are requesting.
For example: $5,000
to purchase equipment and supplies for the construction of a community
garden.
What neighbourhood need/opportunity will
the project address?
Describe the need or opportunity you seek to address and why (goal).
It is useful to provide any supporting documentation about the
need for the project and how your project could address it.
For example: To transform
a neglected vacant lot into a neighbourhood amenity that will
supply affordable, fresh vegetables to a neighbourhood food-buying
club that serves low-income residents.
Who is the target group?
Describe who will benefit from the project.
For example: The 20 low-income families that participate
in the food-buying club will benefit directly from the food produced
from the garden, while the neighbourhood will benefit indirectly
from having a well-used and maintained community space.
How will you involve the community and local
resources?
Neighbourhoods Alive! supports community-driven neighbourhood
renewal, describe how your project fits with the neighbourhood's
5 Year Strategic Plan and how the community will be involved.
(Applicants will need to consult with the local neighbourhood
renewal corporation to determine if the project is consistent
with the 5 Year plan--click
here for contact information).
For example: A community meeting will be held to
gather input on the design, construction and maintenance plans
for the project. In addition, the participants of the food-buying
club will be responsible for construction and maintenance. Local
businesses will be asked to contribute seeds and to the cost of
community benches.
What do you hope to accomplish over a specific
time (objectives)?
The objectives provided in a proposal should describe the anticipated
outcomes of the project--what you hope to achieve.
For example: Each family in the food-buying
club contributes $20 dollars/month towards fresh vegetables. The
project aims to provide each of the 20 participating
families with enough supply of fresh produce during summer and
fall months to reduce their food bills for those months by approximately
25%. This example describes two objectives:
1) to provide a certain supply of fresh produce to each participating
family; 2) to reduce the monthly food bill for each family by
25% during the summer/fall.
List the project activities you will undertake
Activities can include any planning, implementation
and evaluation steps undertaken to achieve the objectives.
For example: Hold a community meeting in January to develop
a design for the garden and create plans for construction and
maintenance; residents prepare the vacant lot in April (clearing
any garbage, shrubs or weeds that are in the way of the garden);
construct and plant the garden in April/May; prepare a tracking
system to account for cost-savings of each family.
How will you measure and evaluate your accomplishments?
Describe how you will evaluate the project. In some cases, you
will assess the effectiveness of a project in relation to a service
provided, and make recommendations on how it could be improved.
In most cases, you will measure the accomplishments of the project-results--the
outcomes. In either case, you will need to identify measureable
indicators to determine if you have achieved your objective(s).
For example: The food-buying club will track monthly expenditures
to determine if each family has received an adequate produce supply
to reduce their monthly bills by 25%. The local neighbourhood
association will report on how the garden has been maintained
by the participants.
What NRF category(ies) of eligible initiatives
(identified in the NRF Fact
Sheet) does your project relate to and how?
For example: The project is consistent with the stability
and well-being categories as it enhances the physical environment
and supports healthy living for residents.
What is the total cost of the project and
how much of the total are you requesting from the NRF? -
see example budget
When you will begin and end the project?
(realistic dates)
Provide a start and completion date for
your project, taking into consideration the time needed for evaluation
and preparing a final report.
Who will manage the funds? (incorporated
organization with liability insurance)
Who will manage and deliver the project?
(sponsoring organization's director, project co-ordinator, etc)
How the results of the project will be
known and reported?
For example: A final report describing how the project met
the outlined objectives and activities will be submitted 1 month
after project completion.
If you plan to continue the project in
the longer term, how it will be maintained and operated once Neighbourhoods
Alive! funding has ended (what is your plan for sustainability?)
For example: The food-buying club will
seek donations of seeds, soil and other supplies from local businesses,
in addition to funds raised from a community Harvest Feast in
September.
4. Budget Sheet:
Attach a separate detailed budget sheet outlining the total cost
of the project, including income and expenses (see example
budget). The income should include requested funds and funding
from all other sources. It should also include in-kind support
in dollar values.
Show in detail how funds will be spent on the project. Be sure
to show exactly what Neighbourhoods Alive! funds will cover. If
you are requesting funds for staff, include a job description
and list of qualifications. Attach any cost estimates or quotations
regarding your project.
5. Accompanying
Letters:
Your proposal should be submitted with a covering letter, preferably
on your organizations letterhead and signed by your board
chairperson, identifying the purpose of the project and the amount
being requested from Neighbourhoods Alive!
NRF applicants are required to include a letter of support from
the recognized Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation in the designated
neighbourhood this project will serve.
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