Mini- Grants Request for Proposals (RFP)
Fall 2012
Deadline for Submission: Friday, December 14, 2012
Proposal Request:
Vibrant Pittsburgh (VP) is seeking to engage Affinity Groups and support their efforts to grow the diversity of the
region’s workforce. Through the Mini-Grants Initiative, VP will support projects that:
 Increase the visibility of Pittsburgh’s diverse communities,
 Help attract, welcome and retain diverse talent, and
 Are implemented by Affinity Groups that represent diverse communities in the region.
Rationale:
Over a hundred years ago, the Pittsburgh Region was one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States with
immigrants accounting for 26 percent of the region’s population. Today, the foreign-born population is 3 percent.
Although Pittsburgh is tackling a unique demographic challenge as one of the oldest and least diverse
metropolitan areas in the United States, the trend is beginning to change. Pittsburgh’s above average economic
performance in recent years is creating opportunities for natives and newcomers who have skills suited to its
increasingly knowledge-driven economy, and immigrant and other diverse communities are once again growing.
Affinity Groups that represent diverse communities are major assets in the region that serve as magnets for
attracting more diverse talent. Affinity Groups provide critical support networks to their members and newcomers
who connect with them. Because of the role they play, Affinity Groups need to be key partners in Vibrant
Pittsburgh’s effort to attract, welcome and retain a diversity of talent.
About Vibrant Pittsburgh:
Vibrant Pittsburgh (VP) is an economic development non-profit organization, located in Pittsburgh, PA, that works
to grow a talented and diverse workforce for the region. Vibrant Pittsburgh began with a multitude of
conversations among community leaders from the business, non-profit, education, and foundation sectors and
officially launched in December 2010.
The VP mission is to lead a “People Renaissance” that:
1) Embraces inclusion;
2) Ensures our region’s growth by attracting, retaining, elevating and welcoming a diverse workforce; and
3) Promotes the Pittsburgh Region nationally and internationally as a diverse, welcoming region of
opportunities.
For more information about Vibrant Pittsburgh, please see our website www.vibrantpittsburgh.org
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Application Process and Selection Criteria:
Helpful Definitions:
Affinity Groups: this term describes a broad range of community-based and university student organizations as
well as corporate initiatives and groups (i.e., Employee Resource Groups, ERGs) that represent our region’s
diverse minority and immigrant communities and bring together people with a common interest and/or
background, including race, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability etc.
Pittsburgh Region: the Power of 32 Region (P32) is made up of counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Northern
Maryland, West Virginia and Eastern Ohio. To view the full list of the P32 counties, please see:
www.powerof32.org
Diversity and Inclusion: Diversity is any collective mixture characterized by differences and similarities and their
related complexities and tensions (R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr.). Inclusion means that every person is valued and
their
contributions
are
welcomed.
According
to
the
Dignity
&
Respect
Campaign
(www.dignityandrespectcampaign.com) inclusion begins with the core belief that everyone deserves dignity and
respect. An inclusive definition of diversity goes above and beyond race and ethnicity to include cultural
background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age, gender etc.
Diversity and Inclusion Outcomes: By mobilizing Affinity Groups in the region and working with them to attract,
welcome and retain diverse talent, VP seeks to (a) increase number of diverse talent residing in the region; (b)
increase engagement and dialogue on diversity as a component of economic development; (c) increase number of
support services for diverse talent and newcomers; (d) increase collaboration between public and private sector
on workforce diversity; and (e) increase political will to invest in diversity in the region.
Who Can Apply? Affinity Groups that represent diverse minority or immigrant communities in the region are
encouraged to apply for Mini-Grants funding. Applicants, or sponsoring organizations (for collaborative projects),
must have a non-profit status and be located and working in the Power of 32 Region (P32). To view the full list of
the P32 counties, please see: www.powerof32.org
Use of funds: Mini-Grant funds may be used for a wide range of activities that aim to increase attraction and
retention of diverse talent in the region.
Proposed initiatives should:

Aim to increase the number of diverse individuals who relocate to the Pittsburgh Region (“attraction”);
OR facilitate the welcoming of newcomers; OR increase the retention of diverse talent in the region;

Address challenges related to attraction and retention of diverse talent with creative and innovative
efforts that may involve the creation of new resources, events, or ongoing programming and other
activities that will lead to an increase of our region’s diversity; and

Promote collaboration across communities and/or organizations, engaging non-profit, business,
academic and/or other community partners whenever possible, to strengthen the project’s likelihood of
success and impact. Collaborations with businesses and their Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are
particularly encouraged.
Selection Criteria: In selecting funding recipients, the Mini-Grant Review Panel(s) will take into consideration the
following selection criteria:
 Creativity and innovation
 Timeline
 Clarity of presentation
 Use of collaborative approach
 Breadth and depth of impact
 Plan for measuring success
 Likelihood of success
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Funding Criteria: VP will consider funding requests for both new initiatives as well as efforts that expand
existing programs. Funds will be distributed across an array of Affinity Groups to reflect the diversity of our
communities. Mini-Grant requests should be between $250 and $7,500. Small requests are encouraged.
Deadline for Submissions: 5 pm EST, on Friday, December 14, 2012. Submit completed applications and
related attachments to minigrants@vibrantpittsburgh.org
Timeline and Proposal Review Process:
If you are interested in learning more about the Mini-Grants Initiative, join us for a Mini-Grants Phone Information
Session (Oct. 30) and Mini-Grants Networking Event (Nov. 13) or check Vibrant Pittsburgh’s website
(www.vibrantpittsburgh.org) for a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and “How to Apply for Mini-Grants
Funding” PowerPoint.
Additional Mini-Grants resources include:
 Tuesday, October 30: Mini-Grants Phone Information Session:
o When: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 12noon
o Where: Phone conference call
o RSVP to adrianad@vibrantpittsburgh.org We will email you the conference call number and
materials
 Tuesday November 13: Mini-Grants Networking Event: Join Vibrant Pittsburgh to learn more about the
Mini-Grants funding opportunity and meet Mini-Grants Cycle 1 recipients, Employee Resource Groups
and Affinity Groups representing diverse communities in the region.
o When: Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
o Where: AVA Lounge:
 5972 Baum Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 http://www.shadowlounge.net/category/avalounge
o RSVP to adrianad@vibrantpittsburgh.org
 For additional questions and feedback requests complete the Questions and Feedback Request Form
at http://bit.ly/minigrants_questions
December 14, 2012: Mini-Grant requests due by 5pm EST.
Submit applications to minigrants@vibrantpittsburgh.org
January - February 2013: All proposals received in response to the Mini-Grants RFP will be reviewed by MiniGrant Panel(s) of trained reviewers and community members. Affinity Groups with promising proposals may be
asked to briefly describe their project in front of a live Review Panel. The Mini-Grant Review Panel(s) will then
formulate recommendations to the VP Board of Directors for final approval.
March 15, 2013: VP will announce the Mini-Grant funding recipients.
We look forward to hearing your innovative solutions to encourage diverse talent to relocate and
remain in our region.
The proposed solutions should reflect the strengths, talents and creativity of your organization and of the
partner agencies involved in the project (if applicable).
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How to Apply:
All completed applications and related attachments should be submitted via email to
minigrants@vibrantpittsburgh.org Applications must be received by 5pm EST on Friday, December 14, 2012.
All applications should contain:
 Cover Sheet:
o
Mini-Grants Cover Sheet (see page 5): complete the cover sheet with organization contact
information and project summary.
 Narrative (3 pages maximum, single-spaced)
o
Problem Statement: Briefly describe the challenge your project seeks to address and
whether you will work on welcoming, attracting, retaining or all of the above.
o
Background: Briefly, describe your organization, talents and resources that position you for
success in implementing your proposed project.
o
Attraction, Welcome, Retention Strategy: Describe your project goals and objectives,
articulate your implementation strategy, schedule of activities (timeline), and expected
outcomes. List communities and an estimate of the number of people you expect to
impact.
o
Potential Partnerships (if applicable): if your project is a collaborative effort, please
describe the project partners and the talents and resources they bring to the project.
o
Measures of Success: please define success and how you will know when you have
achieved it.
 Attachments:
o
Project Budget (see page 6). Indicate with (*) items that will be supported by funding from
Vibrant Pittsburgh and include any additional sources of funding, if applicable (including
government or foundation grants, membership dues, fundraising events, fees for service
etc.)
o
Current Organizational Budget (see page 7)
o
Proof of non-profit status (for collaborative projects, only the sponsoring organization is
required to have non-profit status)
o
List of organization’s Staff (if applicable)
o
List of current Board of Directors
o
For collaborative projects, include a letter signed by all collaborating partners (if applicable)
briefly describing the nature of the collaboration fiscal sponsorship, program-based
partnership, role of each partner, including the identity of the leading organization and
others that you think are relevant to your application.
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MINI-GRANTS APPLICATION COVER SHEET
Name of Organization__________________________________________________Date____________________
Mailing Address_______________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________________________State____________________Zip_____________________
Phone_______________________________________ _Fax____________________________________________
Website______________________________________________________________________________________
Primary Point of Contact ________________________Title____________________________________________
Primary Point of Contact Phone___________________Email___________________________________________
MINI-GRANTS APPLICATION SUMMARY
Project Title __________________________________________________________________________________
Project Budget________________________________________________________________________________
Amount Requested
□ $250
□ $500
□$1,000
□ $2,500
□$5,000
□ $7,500
Organizational Budget (current year) ______________________________________________________________
Project Goal:
□ Attract new diverse talent
Type of activity:
□ New Resource
□ Welcome diverse newcomers □ Retain diverse newcomers
□ Event/Event Series
□ Program
□ Service
□ Other
Brief project summary __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Where will the project be implemented? ___________________________________________________________
Target Population ______________________________________________________________________________
Number of people impacted (estimate)_____________________________________________________________
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PROJECT BUDGET TEMPLATE
NOTE: Please complete the Project Budget template below, indicating expected income and expenses related
to your proposed Mini-Grant project. Indicate with (*) items that will be supported by funding from Vibrant
Pittsburgh and include any additional sources of funding, if applicable (including government or foundation
grants, membership dues, fundraising events, fees for service etc.).
Name of Organization___________________________________________________________________________
Project Title___________________________________________________________________________________
INCOME
Vibrant Pittsburgh
Request
Other Funding Sources
(specify)
$
$
$
$
TOTAL Revenue
$
EXPENSES
Salary and Wages
$
Payroll Taxes/Fringe
Benefits
$
Travel
$
Supplies
$
Printing/Copying
Telephone/Technology
$
Publicity/Ads
$
Other Expenses (specify)
$
$
TOTAL Expenses
$
6
ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET TEMPLATE
NOTE: Please use the Organizational Budget template below to show your organization’s income and expenses for
the current Fiscal Year.
Name of Organization___________________________________________________________________________
Project Title____________________________________________________________________________________
INCOME
TOTAL Revenue
$
$
$
$
$
EXPENSES
Salary and Wages
$
Payroll Taxes/Fringe
Benefits
Travel
Supplies
Printing/Copying
Telephone/Technology
Publicity/Ads
Other Expenses
(specify)
TOTAL Expenses
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
7