What We Do

Citizen's Advisory Committee

Grants

Project and Grants Policies

Accomplished Projects

Project Applications

This JLS responds to the needs of the community through three programs:

1. Emergency Grants
2. Grants
3. Projects
   

LEAGUE PROGRAM EVALUATION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications for League Programs (Emergency Grants, Grants and Projects.)

1. Community Impact of Program: League Programs must make a positive change in the community by making measurable differences in community problems, reaching target groups or achieving specific goals.
   • An Emergency Grant must be used to avoid the interruption of a community service or meet a crisis.
   • A Grant must be used to improve the community.
   • A Project must be a large-scale endeavor that addresses a specific community concern.

2. Compatibility with League Purpose or Position Statements: Proposed programs must be compatible and consistent with the JLS Purpose or Position Statements.

3. Appropriate Use of League Monies: The League will fund programs that make efficient, effective, and appropriate use of League monies.

4. Quality of Volunteer Experience (for Projects only): The League shall approve Projects that provide a quality volunteer experience. A Project must have an adequate number of volunteers to achieve its purpose. Volunteers must be essential to the success of the Project. A Project must provide opportunities for League members to improve or expand their volunteer experience.

5. Quality of the Applicant: Applicants for League Programs (Grants and Projects) must be not-for-profit organizations. The League should approve programs proposed by organizations that the League believes will be prudent in the management of the program.

6. Potential for Community Awareness: The League must maximize community awareness of its programs. When appropriate, the League must allocate resources that allow for opportunities to increase community awareness of League, its purpose, and the impact the organization makes in improving the community.

7. Quality of Proposal: The League expects program applications to be thoroughly and adequately prepared. The application should be concise, clear, well developed and complete.

EMERGENCY GRANTS

An Emergency Grant is a limited financial award given to avoid the interruption of community services or to meet a crisis and is subject to the following guidelines:

1. The purpose for which the grant will be used must be within the purpose of this League or included under a current League Position Statement;

2. The grant must be awarded by the Board of Directors;

3. The grant must be awarded to a tax-exempt organization;

4. Grants may be awarded at any time during the JLS year;

5. Individual grants must not exceed $500;

6. The grants are subject to availability of funds;

7. In order to receive a grant, an application must be filed on forms printable from this site or available at League headquarters;
   

8. An organization may not receive more than one Emergency Grant in a League year; and

9. The total amount of money budgeted for Emergency Grants need not be awarded each year.

GRANTS

A Grant is money awarded to improve the community consistent with JLS' Purpose and Position Statements, subject to the following guidelines:

1. Grants must be awarded annually;

2. Grants must be awarded in a competitive process using defined criteria as stated in the League's Program Evaluation Criteria;

3. Grants must be awarded to tax exempt organizations;

4. No recipients can receive funding for more than two consecutive years for a specific program;

5. Grants must be approved by the Board of Directors following review and consideration by the Projects & Grants Committee and the Finance Committee;

6. The total amount of money budgeted for Grants need not be awarded each year; and

7. The total amount of the recommended Grants cannot exceed the budget line for Grants.

GRANT PROCEDURES

1. Applicants must make application on forms printable from this site or available from this League's headquarters.

2. Applications must be submitted between July 1 and October 31. The Projects & Grants Committee will perform the initial screening for completeness. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

3. After the deadline, the Projects and Grants Committee will obtain clarifying information as needed. The committee shall reject an application if the intended purpose of the grant does not clearly fall within the League Purpose or Position Statements, the application is a for-profit organization, the application received grants for the two previous years, or the application was submitted after the deadline.

4. The Projects & Grants Committee and the Finance Committee will meet jointly to review applications using specific criteria and make joint recommendations to the Board of Directors, at the January Board meeting, as to what applications should be approved for funding.

5. Grants will be awarded in April assuming contracts have been executed in a timely fashion.

6. The Grants will be announced at one time to maximize publicity.
   

7. The Community Vice President or her designee(s) shall notify Grant applications of approval status.

PROJECTS

A Project is a large scale, coordinated volunteer endeavor that addresses a specific community concern. The community concern must be consistent with the current League Purpose or Position Statements. Projects may originate from within or outside this League and usually include a significant financial award by this League. The following guidelines regarding projects:

1. Projects shall be approved annually for implementation in the following League year.

2. Projects must be selected in a competitive process.

3. Projects must be limited to tax-exempt organizations.

4. Projects must be approved by League members following review and consideration by the Projects and Grants committee, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Directors.

5. The sum of money associated with the projects recommended by the Projects & Grants Committee and the Finance Committee shall not exceed the project ceiling by more than 10 percent.

6. The Community Vice President will oversee the League program process (Projects, Grants, and Emergency Grants.)

PROJECT PROCEDURES

1. Applicants must make application on forms available from this web site or at League Headquarters.

2. Applications may be submitted any time between July 1 and October 31. The Projects & Grants Committee will perform the initial screening for completeness. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

3. After the deadline, the Projects & Grants Committee will obtain clarifying information as needed. The committee shall reject an application if the intended purpose of the project does not clearly fall within the League Purpose or Position Statements, the applicant is a for-profit organization, or the application was submitted after the deadline.

4. The Projects & Grants Committee and the Finance Committee will meet jointly to review applications using specific criteria as stated in the League Program Evaluation Criteria. The committees will make joint recommendations to the Board of Directors by the January Board meeting as to what applications should be approved for funding.

5. League members will be educated on proposed Projects at the February general meeting.

6. The Membership Development Committee, with the assistance of the Projects & Grants Committee, will be responsible for recruiting volunteers prior to a membership vote.

7. At the March general meeting, the general membership shall vote on only those Projects for which volunteers have been secured.

8. The Community Vice President will notify project applicants of approval status around the beginning of April.

9. The adoption of Projects will be announced at one time to maximize publicity.