The Community Fund and Social Innovation Fund
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Transcript of The Community Fund and Social Innovation Fund
The Bonner FoundationSam Ha & Elvis Diaz
The Community Fund and Social Innovation Fund: Best Practices, Resources, and Future Ideas
AgendaCOMMUNITY FUND
• What is the Community Fund?
• Resources and Best Practices
1. Initial Knowledge and Motivation
2. Completion of Proposals
3. Approval and Selection Process
4. Tracking and Evaluation
• Questions/Feedback
SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND
• What is the Social Innovation Fund?
• Tentative Process/Ideas
• Questions/Feedback
What is the Community Fund?• Each semester, $50 per Bonner Scholar is set aside in
an accumulating reserve called the Community Fund
• Three intended uses:
Community ProgramBenefit program partner, donations to community-based organizations
Student ProgramExpenses to support/implement student-led service projects or programs
TrainingExpenses to support students to attend conferences or workshops
• Student initiated and managed process
4 Stages of Community Fund ProcessInitial
Knowledge & Motivation
How do you get applicants to know about the fund, its qualifications, and the process, and also be motivated to apply?
Completion of Proposals
What does an effective proposal look like, and how do you prepare and support applicants through this process?
Approval & Selection Process
What is an effective committee structure that will work for your campus?
Tracking and Evaluation
How do you track the progress or completion of funded projects? How do you evaluate the project’s impact?
Initial Knowledge and MotivationOne reason why students may not apply to use the
funds is because they do not know or have access to what these funds can be used for.
Recommendations:• Allot time for a Community Fund session or
workshop into Bonner Orientations or meetings• Facilitate a training on “Idea Generation”
Initial Knowledge and Motivation
Most usage of funding (~50%) is for small expenditures such as supplies, food, and background
checks.
Challenge CF applicants to use this fund for more creative, problem-solving projects.
Examples of CF-Funded Projects:• Davidson Refugee Support: Davidson students are partnering with Refugee
Support Services to build capacity within the organization and offer additional services for the refugee community. The students will develop ESL and test prep courses, nutrition and cooking classes, a community garden and community social events.
• Madison County Partnership for Children and Families: Madison County Partnership for Children and Families is one of our community partners. This organization received a $1,000 grant from us to purchase new children's books and literacy education materials/supplies.
• Heavy Industry Pollution Africatown: The Exposing Heavy Industrial Pollution in Africatown winter term project will allow Bonner Scholars to continue supporting the Africatown community in Mobile, Alabama, as they file a legal suit to hold industries accountable for the environmental and health detriments as a result of the over-pollution from those industries. Bonners will engage with the community and learn laboratory techniques to share with community members.
• Printed Book to Support Local Homeless-Support Nonprofit: Funds to print published interviews conducted of homeless clients at the local non-profit partner The Neighborhood Center by Jason Cruz. Printed books were sold to raise funds for new emergency bed space at the shelter.
Completion of ProposalsTitle of Proposal Student Name Student Email
Type of Community Fund Request
Community Program
Student Program
Training
• Goal Statement
• Project Overview
• Key Stakeholders
• Community Collaboration
• Student Motivation and Roles
• Sustainability
• Budget
• Workplan
Community Program
Completion of ProposalsResources:
• Template Community Fund Proposal is available for modification and use on the wiki
• Will eventually be programmed directly into BWBRS
• The Bonner Wiki also has many other examples of other CF proposal forms, among other resources and examples
Student submits application for funding
Committee approves applicationCommittee denies application
Application is reviewed by committee
Committee asks for
clarification
Bonner Coordinator reviews the committee’s recommendation
Coordinator denies application
Coordinator asks for
clarification
Student submits receipts for expenses
Funding approved
Approval and Selection Process
Approval and Selection Process•Bonner Senior Intern chairs the committee with one elected representative from each Bonner class (i.e. one first year, one sophomore, one junior, one senior).
•The committee is composed of two student representatives from each class (eight total students).
•One or two students convene the committee. Other students choose to participate. There are typically 4-6 members on this committee.
•One of the three Congress Representatives leads the committee and other Bonner Scholars are invited to be a part of the committee. At least three Bonner Scholars must review an application.
Tracking and EvaluationImportant, Overlooked Piece of the Community Fund Process
• What follow up occurs post-funding?
• Submission of receipts
• Student reflection questions
• Follow up with community partner: Did the project effectively achieve its goals?
• How will the impact be sustained? What are next steps?
• Best Practices:
• Have students who have received funding present their projects to the Bonner group
• Community partners should play an instrumental role in helping students develop and implement projects under ‘Community Programs’
• Keep a public log of previously funded projects (e.g. Macalester’s Action Fund)
Tracking and Evaluation
Questions• What aspect of the Community Fund process is the
most challenging for your campus?
• What does the funding process look like for your campus?
• Do you have any resources or best practices to share?
New source of funding open to Bonner students to develop and implement Social Innovation Projects
What is the Social Innovation Fund?
Refining Our DefinitionBonner Social Innovation Project:
Community-based projects that can be completely new, or seek to improve or expand upon current, existing programs, structures, or initiatives
Tentative ProcessApplicants submit a one page “concept paper” by two deadlines/year.1
Foundation reviews concept papers and invites full proposals after discussion with applicants.2 Applicants submit
full proposals.3Foundation reviews proposals, with flexibility for discussion, updates, and clarifications. 4
Finalist proposals are forwarded to Foundation Trustees.5
Foundation Trustee review and select proposals to fund.6
One year funding disbursed to applicant’s Bonner Program.7
Follow up and evaluation after one year. Potential renewal for additional year of funding.8
Things to Note• Begin with a pilot program with smaller grants
(~$1,000-2,500), which may be renewed the next year for up to $10,000
• Students required to have both a faculty/staff advisor and community partner advisor
• Sustainability is a key factor. Applicants are encouraged to think about how to improve and expand existing programs, not just create their own programs for the sake of doing so
Examples of Applicable Projects
• Reaching Out, Supporting, and Empowering Southeast Asian Immigrant/Refugee Families, Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE)
• Oral Histories and College Access: A Family-Based Collaboration, Casa de Esperanza