Norwich Optimist Pay it Forward Challenge!

Deadline for receipt of applications is Feb 14th, 2012 . All applications must be submitted

electronically (by email) to info@ norwichoptimistevents.com with the words Pay it

Forward in the subject line.

Please review the application process thoroughly and submit the form electronically. .

Thank you for your efforts in helping to spread the Pay It Forward concept. Wishing you

the best of luck from the Optimist Club of Norwich and District!

The Norwich Optimist Club is committing $1,500 to fund our 2012 Pay It Forward

Challenge. Grants are designed to fund a one-time-only service-oriented project

identified as an activity the entrants would like to perform to benefit their school,

neighborhood, or greater community. Projects must contain a “Pay it Forward" focus -

that is, they must be based on the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who

in turn do favors for others, with the results growing exponentially to be considered in the

grant making process.

WE CAN NOT GIVE GENERAL EDUCATIONAL GRANTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT

OF YOUR SCHOOL, THE PURCHASE OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, ETC AS

PART OF THIS CHALLENGE. Grant applications are reviewed and considered by a

Selection Committee and the winners will be announced Feb 26th, 2012.

When completing an application, you should:

• explain the project thoroughly as to its contribution to the community.

• include specific details about how it will be organized

• attach a clear and concise budget

SELECTION CRITERIA

Selection Committee members will score the applications based on:

-Adherence to the Pay It Forward concept (explaining how the project's benefits will

multiply exponentially); Your application will not be considered if there is not a clear

demonstration of how the benefits will multiply exponentially. We may receive ideas

for projects that simply state a positive impact. We do not discourage them, but they

are not Pay It Forward projects. Pay It Forward is: I do a favor with the understanding

that those recipients will then "pay it forward" to 3 people each and that the 3 people

will then "pay it forward" to 9 people, etc. If you are not familiar with the Pay It

Forward concept, please read the book Pay It Forward or read one of the excerpts

posted on this sitewww.payitforwardfoundation.org before submitting a grant

application.

Qualifying projects must involve one of the following areas of our community and must be

performed in the spring/summer/fall of 2011.

• Youth in our community

• Seniors in our community

The maximum per grant available is $500. We are pledging a total of $1,500 to this project

and hope to fund as many winners as possible. These grants are available for projects on

a one-time-only basis for 2012. Because funding is limited, applicants are welcome to

involve other funding sources as well if needed to perform their project. Please document

any other current committed source(s) of funding of the project in your budget.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Include a copy of the proposed budget. Proposals, including application and budget, must

not exceed three pages . Limit one application per project. Applicants will receive

confirmation that their application has been received for submission. Winners will be

announced on our website on Feb 26, 2012 . If approved, applicants should receive funds

within 30 days after notification of approval and be prepared to start their project.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The Optimist Club of Norwich and District has pledged $1,500 to fund the Pay It Forward

activities that are chosen as part of this challenge. These mini-grants up to $500 are

available to families, groups of friends, schools, churches and community-based groups

or anyone with a good idea that wins.

Only projects that clearly contain a “pay it forward” focus – that is, projects on the concept

of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with the results

growing exponentially are given consideration in this challenge.

Funds may be used for supplies, materials, transportation or equipment needed to

perform the project. Funds may not be used to pay for personnel, or for celebration food

and drinks.

Applications for the challenge must be submitted electronically (email)by Feb 14th, 2012.

Applicants will receive a confirmation that their application has been received. Winners will

be announced on Feb 26, 2012 on our website www.norwichoptimistevents .com

The Optimist Club of Norwich and District requests that a final report on the results of the

project be submitted within 30 days of completion of the project.

Quantity Item Unit cost

Total

40 Framed canvas $5.00 $200.00

7 Picture hangers $1.20 $8.40

250 Printed cards $90.00

1 Bus transportation $100.00

subtotal $398.40

taxes $51.79

Total $450.19

WHO MAY APPLY

Friends, families, classmates, schools, churches and community youth groups (with an

adult sponsor) may apply for funding.

Youths or adults may write the application. Groups whose members are all over the age of

18 must include work with youth under the age of 19 as part of their projects.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, complete the following application and submit it to the Optimist Club of Norwich

and District by e-mail. (See guidelines below) Please write or type your responses directly

onto the form.

Provide sufficient information to enable the Selection Committee to have a clear

understanding of your project (when applications are written by youth, the age of the

authors will be taken into

consideration).

Address questions to info@norwichoptimistevents.com

Some suggestions:

♦“Youth Representative(s)” are the names of one or more young people who are class,

organization, or project leaders.

♦To prepare the itemized budget, “get pricing ahead” to identify costs and indicate quantity

and price for each item. Add tax and then total your budget, rounding to the nearest dollar

to reach the amount you are requesting. Here’s a sample

• Pay it Forward Grant Application

Group or organization__________________________________________________________

Main Contact_________________________________________________________________

Email____________________________________________phone______________________

Address_____________________________________________________________________

City__________________________Prov_________________PC________________________

Name of Project_______________________________________________________________

Adult Sponsor_________________________________________________________________

Email____________________________________________phone_______________________

Youth representative(s)__________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Number of young people involved in project__________________________________________

List any unique characteristics of youth involved_______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Approximate date(s) and/or time span of project_______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Total cost of project_________________Total PIF Grant amount requested_________________

Attach up to two pages including description of your project and budget.

Project description- Describe the young people involved in your project, the benefits of the project to your school, neighbourhood or greater community. Provide sufficient information to enable the Selection Committee to have a clear understanding of your project(when applications are written by youth, the age of the authors will be taken into consideration). Specifically address the “pay it forward” focus of your project- the concept of one person doing favours for others, who in turn do favours for others, with the results growing exponentially.

Budget- Provide a budget for your project, including materials, supplies, equipment and/or transportation costs and listing quantity, unit costs and taxes. Show the total budget for your project as well as the specific amount you are requesting from the Optimist Club of Norwich and District.

Good Luck and thank you for entering this challenge!