Partnership for Resilient Communities Request for Proposals (Funding Opportunity)
The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) is seeking to support community-based organizations (CBOs) through a combination of technical, strategic and financial assistance to implement projects that will advance
local resilience.
ISC is requesting proposals from organizations that are working within the following cities with a goal of building healthier, stronger, more equitable and resilient communities:
- Baltimore, MD
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- Fresno, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Houston, TX
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Lexington-Fayette, KY
- Memphis, TN
- Omaha, NE
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Providence, RI
- Sacramento, CA
- St. Louis, MO
- St. Paul, MN
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Wichita, KS
ISC will make grants of up to $250,000 to 2-3 CBOs that are working on the ground in the above cities.
Funding will support innovative, community-driven projects in one of the following areas:
- Projects that seek to increase energy efficiency and/or the deployment of renewable energy solutions
in low-income communities. This includes efforts to improve the affordability and accessibility of
renewable energy sources, community-shared renewable energy projects, solar with storage for
community resilience, energy efficiency and weatherization initiatives that will benefit those most in
need. - Projects that address stormwater management, urban flooding and vulnerability in low-income
neighborhoods through the use of green infrastructure and the enhancement of parks and open
space.
Proposed projects must result in tangible outcomes and improved community resilience and greater social equity. The project period is expected to be Oct 2016–Mar 2019 (30 months). Matching funds are not required, however it is anticipated that CBOs may need to secure additional funding from other sources in order to complete their proposed projects.
Across the country, a range of economic and environmental disruptions, from more frequent and intense weather events to job losses and housing foreclosures, are wreaking havoc on infrastructure, economies and people. Efforts to build community resilience to climate related disturbances – to implement projects and strategies that enable communities to “bounce forward” to improved environmental, social and economic health and wellbeing – are emerging across the country.
ISC believes that CBOs have a critical role to play in planning and implementing such projects, ensuring that they rooted in a community definition of resilience and that they meet the needs of residents, especially the most vulnerable members of our communities. Through this project, ISC seeks to support and strengthen the participating CBOs in shaping and leading community resilience-building initiatives through environmental projects.
ISC will select 2-3 CBOs and support them to influence and lead local resilience initiatives so that they are “shaped and shared by all” within the community. We will place particular emphasis on CBOs that represent and/or serve low-income or historically vulnerable and under-invested populations and communities.
Our broader intention is to demonstrate how CBO leadership and genuine community engagement can transform the conventional approach to resilience-building in cities across the country. The selected CBOs will complete their climate resilience projects and, at the same time, build their organizational capacity to work on community resilience.
Through this program, CBOs will participate in a baseline capacity assessment, receive customized technical assistance, access local and national expertise, and get valuable opportunities to learn from and share with peers working in other communities.
Applications are due by 5pm ET Friday, July 29, 2016.
ISC anticipates that selection will be completed by August 31, 2016.
See Partnership for Resilient Communities website & photo credit.