2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
Introduction
United Way of Allegheny County has a long history of investing in the community’s safety
net. Through funded initiatives, volunteer engagement, and advocacy, United Way addresses
critical needs in our region’s communities. A 2007 United Way Community Needs Assessment
and the update conducted in 2011 documented the needs of financially struggling adults and
families and demonstrated the necessity to concentrate more strongly on the needs of the newly
struggling – especially women and their families.
Through its role in PA 2-1-1 Southwest, United Way fields calls from families in need. In 2012,
PA 2-1-1 Southwest received over 31,600 calls from individuals needing help. Of these, 80%
were women, and about 33% were seeking help for the first time. Callers sought help to
maintain their housing and utility service, secure shelter to escape domestic violence, overcome
hardship following military service, care for loved ones unable to care for themselves (such as
an aging parent or a spouse or child with a significant disability), access counseling and mental
health services, and secure employment. Many women and their children are just one step
away from financial crisis due to significant life events or situations. At this critical juncture,
small investments can help them prevent crises as they rebuild their strength and financial
security.
United Way of Allegheny County’s Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) has a long tradition of
supporting critical needs in Allegheny County. WLC has more than 1,600 members and raised
$6,772,870 in the past year. This year, WLC is raising additional dollars to create the United for
Women initiative. The intent of this initiative is to support women and their families who are
facing financial hardship due to a significant life event or situation, such as the death of a
spouse, a divorce, loss of employment, a long-term illness, caring for a loved one with intense
needs, rebuilding following military service, or other traumatic events. Services should focus on
the woman.
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
Proposal Process
2013 Request for Proposals (RFP) – United for Women
The United for Women initiative aims to help women who are struggling due to a major life event
or situation. Programs funded through this initiative will assist women who are financially
struggling for the first time, or who have found themselves unable to regain financial stability.
The initiative targets women who, through short-term and modest financial help and other
supportive services, can overcome an event-induced barrier to financial stability. United for
Women seeks to support programs that will:
1. Provide Programs and Services
Services and resources will be supported to help women who have experienced an
event-induced financial hardship overcome hurdles, prevent short-term crises from
becoming a lifelong struggle with poverty, and provide tools to achieve long-term selfsufficiency and family stability;
2. Conduct Outreach
Many women who are facing an impending financial crisis due to a life changing event
are unaware of where or how to reach out for help. United for Women seeks projects
that will, in addition to providing short-term assistance, engage in outreach to women
who are experiencing event-induced financial hardship and either do not have the
familial or social networks to overcome the financial hurdle or are unaware of the
services and resources available to help them; and
3. Engage Volunteers
Needs for the United for Women target population often extend beyond monetary and
basic needs assistance. United for Women seeks proposals that engage corporate
volunteers to mentor, coach, or assist women them with meeting their goals.
United Way is seeking nonprofit health and human service organizations that currently serve the
target population and have the capacity to provide high quality, integrative programs that
address the above outcomes and achieve community impact. Lead agencies must demonstrate
a record of service with the target population. United Way encourages applications that involve
strategic and innovative collaborations with other organizations, in order to best meet the
financial needs and emotional supports of women in or near crisis.
The total expected to be available to invest in this RFP is approximately $600,000 for grants
covering a period of no more than 12 months. United Way is not placing a limit on the amount
that may be requested, but agencies should consider award amounts between $50,000 to
$100,000 when developing proposals.
Funding awards will be announced June 2013, to be effective for a one-year period of
July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.
Agency Eligibility
A single agency may submit a proposal. Applications from partnerships and collaborations of
multiple agencies are strongly encouraged. Agencies or lead agencies (in the case of a
partnership or collaboration) submitting proposals must meet the following criteria:
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
 501(c)(3) organization located and providing a health or human service in Allegheny
County (NOTE: arts, cultural, religious, recreational, political programs, government
agencies and institutions providing formal education are not eligible)
 In full compliance with all federal, state, county and local requirements and laws
pertaining to non-profits, including the USA Patriot Act and other counterterrorism laws
 Meets the requirements of the Solicitations of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act passed
by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in December, 1990
 Is able to provide all requested documentation
It is strongly encouraged that:


The lead applicant agency currently serves financially struggling women;
The applicant agency can demonstrate the opportunity for meaningful volunteer
experiences. These experiences include, but are not limited to, training, mentoring, and
service.
Proposal Timeline
Date (2013)
Deliverable
March 1
RFP Materials Posted on United Way Website
March 8
e-C Impact Webinar for “new” Agency Applicants
March 13
Applicants Submit Completed Step 1 Forms electronically.
March 22
Qualifying Providers Invited to Submit Full Proposals
April 3
Applicants Submit Full Proposal
April 23-24
Site Visits to Invited Agencies (Note: Site visits will be conducted only
for agencies new to United Way or in instances when further
clarification is needed.)
June 21
Selected Agencies Notified of Award
Application Process for Qualifying Agencies
Step 1: Due via eC Impact March 13, 2013
Applicants will complete and provide preliminary agency and project information, including:



Agency Cover Sheet (hyperlink on website with items included on the sheet)
Agency Budget Summary
Step 1 Proposal Summary Form (hyperlink on website with items included on the form)
Step 2: Due April 3, 2013 [By Invitation Only]
Applicants selected from step 1 will submit a full proposal through e-C Impact, including:
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
All agencies
a. Detailed program description
b. Program Logic Model with outcome projections
Select agencies
Agencies who did not submit proposals through the following RFPs the 2012 Request for
Proposals - Assisting Financially Struggling Adults and Families Achieve Long Term Self
Sufficiency or the 2013-2016 Request for Proposals – Preparing Children and Youth to Succeed
in High School and Life will complete and provide preliminary documentation including:
a.
b.
c.
d.
-
-
Organizational Eligibility Tool
Supporting documentation – IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
Agency Program Budget Form
Supporting documentation including:
audit(s) covering two years for agencies with contributions/revenues greater than
$300,000; for those at or below $300,000, year-to-date Statement of Financial Position
(Balance Sheet) and Statement of Activities (Income Statement) are required for FY
2011-12 or FY 2012.
most recent IRS Form 990;
Board list
Stage 3: Site Visit target dates - April 23 – 24, 2013 [By Invitation Only]
Finalists in the selection process may be invited to participate in a site visit if they are not
currently funded by United Way or if there are questions related to their proposal. Site visits will
be conducted by a team of community and corporate volunteers and United Way staff.
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
Statement of Need
The 2007 United Way Community Needs Assessment and the update conducted in 2011 have
documented the critical needs faced by persons who are financially struggling, and in particular,
the needs of those who for the first time find themselves unable to meet the financial demands
for self-sufficiency due to economic and life crises. Many women are struggling financially due
to a significant life event or situation, such as the death of a spouse, a divorce, loss of
employment, a long-term illness, caring for a loved one with intense needs, rebuilding following
military service, or other traumatic events.
The following information provides key indicators of need that reflect the dangers these women
face if they fall into the cycle of poverty:



26.8% of families headed by women experienced poverty in 2007. That figure is 53.6% for
families headed by women when there were children in the home under the age of five.1
Recent research has shown that women have had a slower road to recovery than men from
the economic crisis that began in 2007. As of 2011, women had regained just 11 percent of
the 2.7 million jobs they lost during the recession, compared with the 25 percent of jobs that
men have regained.2
Women are more likely to report “more hunger, more difficulty paying bills or affording health
care, and more inability to meet their children’s needs.” Both single and married mothers
with minor children report that they have gone hungry in the prior year because they could
not afford to purchase food.3
Local statistics further support the need for expanding services for financially struggling women.




In 2012, 2-1-1 received over 31,600 calls from individuals needing help. Of these, 80%
were women.
Given the high percentage of calls 2-1-1 received from women, we can ascertain that
assistance with housing, utilities, and meeting basic needs are major concerns.
 Statistics compiled between indicate 29% of callers struggling to avoid foreclosure or
eviction, 25% to avoid utility termination, and 20% seeking basic needs referrals –
such as emergency food. It is estimated that as many as one third of calls are from
individuals and families seeking assistance for the first time.
 Of the 30,210 daytime calls answered in 2011-12, 66% were for basic-needs
assistance.
During the United for Women telethon, held September 6, 2012, PA 2-1-1 Southwest
“received calls from women seeking help with a range of needs, from caring for aging
parents and siblings [with disabilities], to mental health services referrals and utility
assistance.” (2-1-1 CONNECTION, October 2012)
The average length of an emergency shelter stay has doubled since 2006, in large part due
to the lack of affordable housing options to refer to (Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater
Pittsburgh, November 2011).
1
American Community Survey 2005-2007.
Institute for Women’s Policy Research analysis of U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics data, July
8, 2011
3
IWPR/Rockefeller Survey of Economic Security (2011)
2
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT

Jewish Family and Services reports several needs of women in financial crisis, including:
rental assistance, utility assistance, childcare, transportation, clothing, and furniture, (SOS
Pittsburgh Final Report, 2011-2012 Program Year)
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
United Way Response:
Through this RFP process, United Way seeks proposals from agencies in Allegheny County that
include key strategies and partnerships aimed at the United for Women target population.
Partnerships and collaborations are strongly encouraged as a means to achieving community
impact through enhanced, expanded services. United Way encourages agencies to highlight
opportunities to engage corporate leaders in meaningful volunteer experiences. Proposed
projects should include approaches that seek to implement preventative strategies, in addition
to direct assistance to meet basic needs.
Project Outcomes:
Proposals chosen for funding will focus on achieving and providing a comprehensive plan for
measuring at least one of the following outcomes.

Resolve short-term basic needs crises and prevent more serious situations from developing
Potential strategies may include, but are not limited to:
 Partnerships that work together to connect women to resources that provide emergency
food or shelter; utility termination to avoid an immediate crisis, coupled with strategies to
achieve longer-term household stability
 Provide connections to healthcare and general health-related resources
 Provide financial and legal assistance

Increase the number of women who secure and maintain employment
Potential strategies may include, but are not limited to:
 Services to increase access to employment and employment training through supports
such as volunteer mentors and short-term tangible supports
o Example: Connecting a woman who has recently lost her job with a volunteer
employment coach to help her identify and secure alternate employment.

Prevent housing-induced crises
Potential strategies may include, but are not limited to:
 Promote/build an early-warning system for connecting women at risk for eviction/
foreclosure with appropriate resources
o Example: Providing a woman who is leaving a domestic violence situation with the
upfront costs (e.g. first month’s rent, security deposit) necessary to secure safe and
permanent rental housing.
Provide assistance to female Veterans or the families of Veterans facing hardship following
military service
Potential strategies may include, but are not limited to:
 Provide direct assistance or counseling
 Provide job placement opportunities and workforce services


Increase access to services for emotional and mental health
Potential strategies may include, but are not limited to:
 Link women with existing organizations that provide respite care for primary caregivers
who are caring for a loved one with intense needs
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT


Provide emotional and mental health supportive services
Connect women with children to existing mentoring networks that serve children and
youth
Community Outcomes Strategies
Proposals should be designed to achieve community level impact through comprehensive
services and strong collaborations between agencies that are aligned toward a common goal.
Proposed projects should involve at least two of the following community outcome strategies:
1) Increase access to relevant and time sensitive services to a woman in need or to her family;
2) Increase the number of formal partnerships among nonprofit and human service agencies,
for improved efficiency and better service delivery;
3) Increase the number of formal partnerships between nonprofit or human service agencies
and the business sector;
4) Engage the business and labor community as volunteers, leaders, and partners in efforts
that improve outcomes for financially struggling women; and
5) Illuminate the issues faced by financially struggling women who have experienced trauma
and identify subgroups with sensitive needs (such as victims of domestic violence, female
Veterans, etc.).
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
Scoring Criteria
The following four criteria are applied by United Way staff and teams of trained review
volunteers (the majority of which are United Way donors) to rank the proposals. The questions
that follow each are used in this process to elicit if the criteria are met.
The Project Serves the Target Population:
 Does the proposal address women who are financially struggling due to a life changing
event or situation?
The Project Utilizes a Sound Approach that will Achieve Measurable Results:
 Does the project clearly describe how the agency(ies) will provide short-term support to
financially struggling women?
 Does the project track appropriate and measurable indicators?
 What indicates that the proposed plan is likely to achieve the project’s defined outcome?
The Project Leverages Necessary Partnerships
 Does the proposed collaboration demonstrate a record of service or a meaningful extension
of existing partnerships?
 Are the necessary partnerships in place to effectively carry out the aims of the proposal and
reach the target population?
The Project is Likely to Lead to Community Impact and is the Best Investment of United
Way Donor Dollars:
 How will this effort implement preventive strategies, mobilize volunteers and corporate
community leaders and employees (United Way donors) and/or provide a better model of
services?
 What indicates this project is the best investment of United for Women’s donor dollars?
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
Proposal Summary Questions (to be answered online - Program Section)
Please note: These questions will be answered online and are provided here only for
your review. The online answer box for each question is limited by a certain number of
characters as noted below. If you choose to work first in a WORD document, use tools-word
count to track the total characters used per each question.
Step 1 Items
1.
Purpose Statement: Provide a brief description of the project.
(1500 character limit)
If the project is a collaboration please list partners and explain how the
collaboration accomplishes what would not be possible otherwise. Give a brief
history of the partners working together and why they were selected. (1500
character limit)
3.
Describe the ways in which the lead agency currently serves the target population and
the
record of effectiveness in working with them. (1000 character limit)
4.
Choose the geographic area/s that this effort will serve. (There will be a drop down box
in the online form.) Explain why these areas were selected, and describe the record of
service within these areas.
(1000 character limit)
Step 2 Items
1. Describe the project and why it is the best investment of United for Women’s donor dollars.
(2500 character limit)
4. Describe why the proposed project is likely to achieve the project’s defined outcome. (1500
character limit)
5. Describe how will this project implement preventive strategies, mobilize volunteers and
corporate community leaders and employees (United Way donors) or provide a better model
of services? (1500 character limit)
2. Describe the ways in which project provides an opportunity for meaningful volunteer
experiences? These experiences include, but are not limited to, training, mentoring, and
service. (1000 character limit)
3. Indicate how the proposed project aligns with the Community Impact Outcomes stated
above. (Drop-down menu)
4. Logic Model (See the overview on page 10)
Logic Model Overview
 State the overall project goal statement
 State the intended short-term, intermediate, and longer-term community level outcomes
that will result from implementing the proposed project.
 State the intended program-level outcomes
For each outcome, the agency will provide the following in the logic model:
o Measurable indicator
o Total number of participants to be tracked
o Number of participants expected to meet the stated outcome
Measurable Indicators that should, at the minimum, be included by program type
o Basic needs
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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2013 United Way of Allegheny County - Request for Proposal
United for Women
Preventing Short-term Crises from becoming Long-term Poverty
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT
o
o
o
 Number of participants who averted a crisis
Housing related
 Number of evictions or foreclosures prevented
 Number of individuals or families who were provided with shelter and/or
location of alternative safe housing
Workforce development
 Number of job placements
 Number of participants connected with a job coach
 Number of participants who completed training, received certifications, or
received other job readiness services
Health related
 Number of participants who were provided with supportive services or
referred to appropriate services or resources
www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org
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