Request for Proposals
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is requesting proposals to assist with strengthening the infrastructure and capacity of nonprofits to respond during COVID-19 by collaborating to meet community needs. Organizations will serve as backbone entities and assist nonprofits with accessing resources that support utilization of best practice elements to safely recruit, manage, retain, track and recognize volunteers in both rural and urban environments. Grant recipients will assist with launching a Volunteer Technology Suite provided by the MCSC to support volunteers virtually and capture data to make informed decisions. The intent of the project is to support the expansion of Volunteerism including skills-based, virtual, and employee, older adults, and youth. The goals align with MCSC's State Service Plan that was signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on January 15, 2020. The initiative is being funded as part of a Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant received from AmeriCorps, the federal agency.
Initiative Focus
The initiative will focus on making an impact during the COVID-19 response and recovery by implementing three aspects to meet the goals of expanding volunteerism and increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and geographic reach of organizations throughout the state.
- Strengthen the capacity and infrastructure of nonprofits to respond to COVID-19 by identifying resources and collaborating regionally to meet compelling needs and enhance the utilization of best practices in recruiting and managing volunteers safely.
- Increase the number of Michigan volunteers through virtual, corporate, skills-based, youth, and older adults to make meaningful volunteer impact.
- Launch a Volunteer Hub of Technology Suite that supports Michiganders to volunteer virtually and in-person, captures data to make informed decisions, and serves as a catalyst for inspiration and recognition.
Focus: Building community resilience in response to COVID-19 and beyond.
Deadline: January 15, 2021
Amount: Up to $25,000
Application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCRP_2021
Download sample application: http://michigan.gov/documents/leo/Michigan_Community_Resilience_Program_Sample_Application_712066_7.pdf
Download Michigan Community Resilience Program Budget Form
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Technical Assistance Session: Posted at the bottom of this page is the recording of live webinar hosted on Dec. 16.
Intent to Apply: Please email Kristina Coby at cobyk@michigan.gov by December 18, 2020 stating you are considering submitting an application. Indicating intent to apply does not obligate any organization to submit a full application.
Amount of Awards
Reimbursement awards of up to $25,000 will be made to organizations willing to serve as the backbone coordinating organization to support collaborative efforts for part of or an entire region. Larger grants will be provided to organizations that demonstrate strong collaborative models and partnerships that will allow them to serve one of the eight regions of the state. The MCSC is strategically aligning its funding decision to offer awards to one to two organizations in each region defined on the Michigan emergency preparedness region map.
Use of Funds
Funds can be utilized to support personnel, supplies, technology, travel, and equipment to meet program plan. A two to one match, either in-kind or cash, is required to be reported annually.
Eligible Organizations
- Organizations eligible to apply are Higher Education Institutions, Community Foundations, United Ways, Community Action Agencies, Regional Healthcare Coalitions, Volunteer Centers, Capacity Building Centers and Volunteer Management Networks.
- Recipients will be expected to support a region and work in collaboration with partner organizations to meet program goals. Applicants must assist communities to access resources that build their capacity to respond during COVID-19 and beyond, utilize best practices of effective volunteer management, and assist them advance solutions to pressing issues through service. For disaster support, the regional health care coalition must be communicated with as a partner.
- Applicants can select more than one region they are able to support or choose part of a region.
Program Goals
- Strengthen regional collaboration and identify opportunities to share cross-sector resources that address challenging regional and community issues through volunteerism.
- Increase the quantity and quality of volunteerism in Michigan.
- Support community and regional infrastructures that assist organizations to equitably access resources.
- Measure and track the efficiency, effectiveness, and geographic reach of volunteerism.
- Connect organizations to learning opportunities to expand the implementation of volunteer best practices.
Grantee Requirements
Grantees will be required to support the following elements to foster resiliency through volunteerism.
Collaboration
- Participate in cohort meetings with other grant recipients to share knowledge and increase outcomes.
- Support regional collaboration efforts among partners and stakeholders including nonprofits, corporations, foundations, colleges and universities, schools, and healthcare organizations.
- Expand diversity, equity and inclusion efforts through collective action and equitable access to resources
- Work with MCSC to provide support for communities to access resources and develop disaster preparedness plans through MCSC technology tools, training, financial resources and consulting.
- Identify regional partners to create disaster preparedness plan for volunteer and donations management.
- Co-host with the MCSC a regional event to match volunteers with nonprofits through the board and skills-based volunteer platforms. Events will be organized around special topics like social justice, mentoring, board development, education, environmental stewardship, poverty, health and veterans.
Center for Volunteer Excellence Technology Hub (click link to learn more about the Tech Hub)
- Assist nonprofits with being listed in Michigan's Nonprofit Guide.
- Encourage them to provide their stories to support the sustainability of the organization through volunteerism and donations during COVID-19 and beyond.
- Assist nonprofits with utilizing the Board Connect Platform with the goal of bringing broader diversity to decision making.
- Encourage volunteers to serve in the statewide Skills-Based Volunteer Platform.
- Assist schools to utilize the InnerView youth volunteer platform and participate in the Governor's youth award program.
- Support nonprofits that do not have a volunteer managing platform to consider using the Get Connected platform to manage and support volunteers.
Training and Technical Assistance
- Assist the MCSC identify nonprofit and organization needs, use of volunteer management tools and resources
- Assist MCSC track organizations utilizing best practices trainings, tools, and resources that promote and facilitate volunteer engagement
- Encourage organizations to implement best practices in establishing virtual volunteering opportunities
- Encourage organizations to develop and implement policies that ensure volunteers are safe during service and those they are serving are safe
Expand and Recognize Volunteerism (click link to learn more about recognizing volunteers)
- Encouraging participation in MCSC National Days of Service grants
- Encourage Governor's Service Award applicants from region
- Support virtual recognition campaign to highlight those making a difference in their communities
- Support COVID-19 MI Mask Campaign
- Encourage and track older adult volunteerism in region
Management and Reporting
- Track expenditures and request funding through invoice submission
- If applicant opts to sub-grant funding to partners, applicant will manage all sub-granting process in accordance with guidelines
- Provide a 2:1 match through in-kind services or cash
- Complete periodic reporting outlining participation in convened activities, lessons learned, knowledge gained, project stories, and organizations implementing best practices models
- Gather data for volunteer service hours, and responsibilities
MCSC Commitments
- Offer platforms to nonprofits and grantees at no cost: Nonprofit Guide, Board Connect, Skills-based Volunteer, Get Connected, Redi and InnerView
- Provide impact data reports by region and community to track progress
- Provide National Days of Service Grants Program support
- Provide Governor's Service Awards Program support
- Provide disaster services preparedness community grants
- Offer remote volunteer best practice training and technical assistance
- Administer assessments to participants of trainings and report results
- Provide networking opportunities for cohort of Community Resilience Program grantees
- Provide capacity building training and resources related to volunteer management best practices
- Provide virtual volunteering best practice training and opportunities to broaden virtual volunteerism with nonprofits
- Support schools and nonprofits to engage youth in having a voice in developing solutions for their communities and engaging in volunteer activities
- Offer resources to co-host events to match volunteers and nonprofits to support social justice issues and other focus areas
- Assist nonprofits with accessing masks and other personal protective equipment
To apply, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCRP_2021
For any questions, please contact Kristina Coby at cobyk@michigan.gov. Please feel free to share this opportunity with your network.
