** Please review Application Procedures below **
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
The Organization:
The primary objective of McHenry County Government is to efficiently and effectively serve the residents of the County. In April of 2003 a referendum was approved by the citizens of McHenry County to levy a tax rate not to exceed .025% for the provision of providing social services for senior citizens as applicable of State Statutes 55 ILCS 5/5-1034, 5/5-1005 and 5/5-109. It is in the furtherance of that direction by citizens that the McHenry County Board created the Senior Citizens Grant Fund. The Fund is available to provide assistance to not-for-profit organizations that serve the human service needs of senior citizens.
Geographic Emphasis:
Grant awarded from this Fund must be used to benefit senior citizens.
Eligible Activities:
In keeping with State Statute, grant funds can only be used for the following:
- Provide supportive social services designed to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of elderly residents
- Provide for the operation of, and equipment for, senior citizen centers
- Providing social services to senior citizens
- Provide for transportation vehicles or services for senior citizens
Additional Program Qualifications:
- No one program can receive more than 25% of available grant funds in a given fiscal year.
- The not-for-profit charitable agency applying for the funds must have been in operation, with 501(c)(3) status, for at least two years prior to submittal of an application. Applicants not meeting this requirement may be considered for funding if affiliated with, and receiving support from, a nationally recognized parent organization.
- Priority will be given to those agencies and proposals which have an established and favorable track record of providing senior service within .
- It is strongly encouraged that at least 60% of the program funding be directed toward individuals at or below 80% of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Median Family Income (MFI). Additional information regarding median family income guidelines can be obtained at: www.huduser.org/datasets/il/il08/index.html. Refer to: Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, LOW-INCOME for 80% of McHenry County’s median income per household size.
- Agencies can submit two applications as a solo and/or two as an associated application (e.g. when a consortium of agencies is formed to develop and work together in a project).
- The Agency’s current Annual Budget information should include agency’s expenses, program expenses, the agency’s income diversification, and a ratio between program and administrative expenses.
- Priority will be given to agencies that identify steps to collaborate with the County and other similar agencies in the delivery of services.
- The program summary on the “Grant Cover Sheet” should state the amount requested, program goals and objectives and expected outcomes. Please limit your response to the space given.
Grants will not be made to:
- Individuals
- Hospitals (for institutional programs and services)
- Nursing Homes (for institutional programs and services)
- Pass-through organizations
- Purely social organizations
- Political parties or candidates
- For-profit organizations
- Advertising journals, booklets, etc.
- Social events
- Ticket purchases
- Sponsorships
- Construction or capital projects
- Non-direct service agencies
- Start up agencies (defined as agencies that have not provided any services to any member of the public prior to submission of an application to the Senior Services Grant Fund)
2012 Grant Application Procedures:
It is strongly recommended that interested applicants attend a Senior Services Grant information session. There will be two informational sessions. Sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. and on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. Sessions will be held at the McHenry County Administration Building located at 667 Ware Road, Woodstock, IL., 60098 in Conference Room A. If you require any special accommodations, please indicate by calling 815-334-4924.
Requests for grants must be received at the McHenry County Administration Building, Administration Offices, located at 667 Ware Road, Woodstock, IL., 60098 by the end of business (4:30 p.m.) on August 1, 2011. The Senior Services Grant Commission will conduct applicant interviews for all grant applications on Friday, August 19, 2011. Applicants will be contacted directly to schedule the exact time for the interview.
The mailing address for applications is:
McHenry County Administration Building
Attention: John W. Labaj, Deputy County Administrator
2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock IL 60098
Grant applications must be postmarked by August 1, 2011. Applications received after that date and time will not be accepted. Applications sent by facsimile transmission (fax) will not be accepted. All applications received by the deadline are acknowledged. Approximately $1.5 million in Senior Services Grant funding will be made available during this funding round.
Content of the Narrative:
1) Identification of the target population, specifying beneficiaries’ income levels.
2) A statement of the need for the program and evidence of non-duplication of services. Please include comprehensive information on the inventory of services being provided to your target population and on the gap in services that you propose to overcome.
3) Narrative of program elements as a response to the identified need, providing rationale for proposed program effectiveness. This should include the programs’ comparative advantages over other programs already being offered, performance targets and timeline to reach the proposed results.
4) Goals and objectives of the program that are clear, related to the need section and underscore the organization’s mission. A statement of how the grant will be utilized to further the provision of needed social services to senior citizens should be included.
5) A description of the agency’s capacity, including its ability to continue the proposed program implementation in the event of staff vacancies. This should also identify individuals responsible for delivering the product. Include specific resources the organization will contribute towards this program and the agency’s total administrative costs and total cost ratio. Special emphasis will be paid to agencies that have a successful track record operating human service grants.
6) Evidence that the proposed program is a community collaborative effort. Priority will be given to agencies that identify specific steps to collaborate with the County and other agencies servicing the senior citizen population in the delivery of proposed services. Cooperation can be described as agencies sharing a common goal, coming together to share information, solve a common problem or avoid duplication. Written statements and/or agreements among partners are encouraged to develop a formal structure among collaborating agencies. Statement and/or agreements from all mentioned collaborating agencies can be included as attachments.
7) A description of how the program will be evaluated. Program outcomes must be specifically stated, and they must be measurable and attainable; they must measure impact, not just activities. Applicants will also have a timeline for completion, and show a quantifiable achievement level and criteria for measurement.
8) Continuation plan, including financial need and leverage of funding.
9) Provide a 2012 projected income and expense budget for the proposed program on Attachment A. Be sure to include that portion of the budget proposed to be funded under the Senior Service Grant Program.
Provide one copy of the following attachments, however you do not need to submit a list of the Board of Directors, By-Laws or IRS 501(c)(3) status letter if your have done so previously and no changes have occurred since your last submittal.
· A list of the Board of Directors of the agency
· Resolution or copy of the minutes from the Board of Directors authorizing application for funds
· A copy of the Agency’s By-Laws
· The most recent annual financial audit with accompanying Management Letter
· A copy of the IRS determination letter indicating 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
· Statements and/or agreements of cooperation/collaboration from all mentioned collaborating agencies.
Contact:
Questions concerning the Senior Services Grant Fund can be directed to:
John W. Labaj, Deputy County Administrator
Phone: (815) 334-4924 E-mail: JWLabaj@co.mchenry.il.us
Linda McMahon, Administrative Analyst
Phone: (815) 334-4872 E-mail: LPMcmahon@co.mchenry.il.us
Framework for Ranking Proposals:
Grant proposals are reviewed by the McHenry County Senior Services Grant Commission. This 17 member commission is comprised of , and representatives of the McHenry County Council of Governments, McHenry County Highway Association, McHenry County Township Supervisors, McHenry County Housing Authority, not for profit agencies and citizens at large. The Commission makes funding recommendations to the ’s Public Health and Human Services Committee which in turn submits projects to the full for approval. The Commission reviews the following factors in reaching its recommendations:
- Benefit to vulnerable senior citizens (low-income, disabilities)
- Promote independent living for individuals who are at risk of losing their independence
- Proposed program provides a response to an identified gap in services or increases the level of services already available in the community and does not duplicate services.
- Applying agency has proven capacity to achieve proposed goals
- Program goals and objectives are clearly stated, underscore the agency’s mission and related to the gap of services identified.
- Suggested program provides rationale supported by research for program effectiveness.
- Proposed program outcomes are measurable and attainable and outcomes extend to the community. This reinforces applicant’s accountability.
- Proposed program identifies concrete steps to cooperate/collaborate with the County and similar agencies in the delivery of the proposed services.
- The staffing level is adequate to achieve results in the proposed timeframes.
- Proposed project can effectively leverage funds.
- The budget of the proposed program is appropriate to the scope of the program and the ratio of total administrative costs to total cost is reasonable.
- The program meets one of the Senior Service Grant Commission’s strategic planning goals. The 2012 strategic planning goals of the Commission include the following types of projects:
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Continuation funding for existing services
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Transportation
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Home Health Care
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Public information, awareness and access to currently available programs and services