United Way of Central Virginia (UWCV) has announced an open, competitive application process for funding for the period of July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2018 for its first Community Impact issue, Education Readiness.
One of the most pressing needs in Central Virginia is Education Readiness. A sound educational foundation - particularly at the youngest ages - can make all the difference to the community in terms of poverty levels, job preparedness, crime, edonomic development, and a host of other important measures. "This is too big to do on our own," explains Marie Martin, UWCV's President and Chief Executive Officer. "It will take the whole community working together to ensure that our children are successful and ready for school."
To help the young children in our area start school "ready," UMCV is seeking proposals for projects and programs that directly support the educational readiness of children at the third grade level and younger, with a particular focus on ages 0-5, and the families of those children.
It is anticipated that a minimum of $500,000 will be awarded over the three year period with "166,000 being available in year one. Program and project proposals are due by February 12, 2015 at 3:99 p.m.
Funding will be awarded on an annual basis, renewable for up to two years, and will be based on a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Though no minimum or maximum number of awards has been defined by UWCV, submitted program proposals should only include those that are of sufficient quality to significantly and measurably impact education readiness outcomes in Central Virginia
Proposals must serve one or more of United Way of Central Virginia's service areas: the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell, and the City of Lynchburg, and non-profits having a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS will be given preference. Institutes of higher education, civic groups, preschools and child care centers, businesses and other organizations, entities or initiatives that focus on early childhood education readiness will be considered if genuine collaboration with a non-profit organization exists. Fiscal agents must have 501 (c)(3) status.
Interested applicants are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming RFP Information Sessions on Nov. 12 at 9:00 a.m. and Nov. 13 at 3:00 p.m. All applicants will be required to attend one of the mandatory meetings to be held on Jan. 7 at 9:00 a.m. and Jan. 8 at 3:00 p.m. All meetings will be held at UWCV's offices, 1010 Miller Park Square, Lynchburg. A downloadable draft of the RFP will be available on the UWCV website beginning Nov. 3.
For more information, visit UWCV's RFP website at www.unitedwaycv.org/rfp or contact Dawn Wise, UWCV Director, Community Engagement and Public Relations at dawn.wise@unitedwaycv.org or 434-455-6900. Please include "Education Readiness RFP" in subject line.
