The United Way E-Newsletter

Call for Proposals Timelines

The deadline for submitting a proposal was October 17, 2011.  Thank you to all the agencies who submitted a proposal. 

Call for Proposals Timelines
September 1, 2011	CFP Published; information and training workshops begin
October 17, 2011	Proposals Due
November – December 2011	General eligibility assessments & financial assessment completed ; proposal evaluation begins
December  2011	Notification – Agencies that have not satisfied general eligibility and/or financial assessment
January – February 2012	Proposal evaluation completed
March 2012	Approval of funding recommendations by Investment Committee, Community Services Cabinet and Board of Directors
April 2012	Notification to applicants
April 2012 - March 31, 2013	New funding cycle begins for successful proposals

 

Call for Proposals Investment Priorities

Call for Proposals:

• Growing Up Great
• Belonging to Community
• Turning Lives Around
• Agency Capacity Building

 

Focus Areas: Growing Up Great, Belonging to Community and Turning Lives Around

The Call for Proposals for 2012 funding for Growing Up Great [PDF], Belonging to Community [PDF] and Turning Lives Around [PDF] is designed to solicit proposals from eligible service delivery partners which support the achievement  of Priority Goals in each of these three Focus Areas.  These Priority Goals were identified by United Way Ottawa through extensive consultations with community volunteers and stakeholders. In the proposal, applicants will be asked to indicate the Priority Goal addressed by their program/project.

 

Growing Up Great [PDF]
Improve conditions for children and youth to reach their full potential

Focus Area: GROWING UP GREAT
Priority Goals	Decrease the proportion of children not ready for school
	Increase opportunities for children and youth to be engaged outside of school hours

 

Belonging to Community [PDF]
Improve opportunities for vulnerable people, including seniors, immigrants and people with disabilities, to contribute fully to their communities

Focus Area: BELONGING TO COMMUNITY
Priority Goals	Enable vulnerable seniors to remain living in their own homes and engaged in their community
	Decrease the unemployment and underemployment rates for immigrants and new Canadians
	Increase opportunities for meaningful employment for people with disabilities
	Increase the number of residents in priority neighbourhoods leading their own community development initiatives

 

Turning Lives Around [PDF]
Improve conditions for those experiencing crisis, are homeless, youth facing addictions, and for people dealing with mental health issues

Focus Area: TURNING LIVES AROUND
Priority Goals	Increased access to crisis supports
	Decrease homelessness through housing supports
	Increase access to community-based mental health and substance abuse supports

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Call for Proposals:  Agency Capacity Building

The Call for Proposals for 2012 funding for Agency Capacity Building is designed to solicit proposals from eligible service delivery partners whose core mission is the capacity building of service providers in the non-profit social services sector. 

 

Agency Capacity Building [PDF]
Increase the capacity of service delivery partners in the social services sector

Focus Area: AGENCY CAPACITY BUILDING
Priority Goals	Increase the capacity of service delivery partners in the social services sector

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Proposal Forms

New this year is a user-friendly agency portal.  It is within this portal that agencies will create and submit proposals. 

On September 1, agencies funded during the 2011-12 funding cycle will automatically receive an email containing their username and password.  Agencies not funded in 2011-12 will have to first register through the portal in order to obtain a username and password. 

The agency portal is accessed at https://uwco.smartsimple.ca.
Instructions on how to register can be found here [PDF].
Instructions on how to Navigate United Way Agency Portal Manual can be found here [PDF].

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Call for Proposals Training and Information Sessions

United Way Ottawa offers a number of services designed to help organizations prepare for our open Call for Proposal (CFP) in all three of United Way Ottawa’s Focus Areas:  Turning Lives Around, Growing Up Great and Belonging to Community plus the Priority Goal of Agency Capacity Building. 

We invite all interested non-profit organizations to participate in these upcoming opportunities:

Proposal Writing Workshops
Proposal writing is an essential skill for any non-profit organization seeking the support of funders.  Although this workshop will be geared specifically to United Way’s proposal requirements, you will learn tips and techniques for writing effective proposals in general, enabling your organization to explore other funding opportunities as well.   

The workshops will include:

• A brief overview of United Way’s Focus Areas and Priority Goals;
• An outline of  standard proposal content;
• Hands-on proposal writing practice.

Proposal Writing Workshops offered in English:

• Thursday, September 15, 2011 4:30pm-7:30pm, Telus Boardrooms
• Monday, September 26, 2011 1pm-4pm, Telus Boardrooms
• Wednesday, September 28, 2011 9am-12pm, Telus Boardrooms

Proposal Writing Workshops offered in French:

• Monday, September 12, 2011 3:30pm-6:30pm , Telus Boardrooms
• Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 1pm-4pm, Telus Boardrooms

 

Priority Goal Information Plus Agency Portal Training Sessions
Hosted by United Way Ottawa staff, each session will help you to understand the program requirements of a specific Priority Goal within one of the Focus Areas.  In addition to a detailed presentation on the Priority Goal, you will learn about our new, more user-friendly agency portal and the CFP process in general.

Information sessions offered in English:

Abbreviated Priority Goal*	Priority Goal	Download Presentation	Date	Time	Room
Strong Neighbourhoods	Increase the number of residents in priority neighbourhoods leading their own community development initiatives	MASTER CFP Deck SN EN	Tuesday, September 13, 2011	4pm-7pm	Telus Boardrooms
Community-based Mental Health and Substance Abuse	Increase access to community-based mental health and substance abuse supports	MASTER CFP Deck Mental Health EN	Thursday, September 15, 2011	9am-12pm	Telus Boardrooms
People with Disabilities	Increase opportunities for meaningful employment for people with disabilities	MASTER CFP Deck PWD EN	Thursday, September 15, 2011	1pm-4pm	Telus Boardrooms
Successful Aging	Enable vulnerable seniors to remain living in their own homes and engaged in their community	MASTER CFP Deck Seniors EN	Friday, September 16, 2011	9am-12pm	Telus Boardrooms
Decrease Homelessness through Housing Supports	Decrease homelessness through housing supports	MASTER CFP Deck Homelessness EN	Tuesday, September 20, 2011	9am-12pm	Telus Boardrooms
Early Years	Decrease the proportion of children not ready for school	MASTER CFP Deck Early Years EN	Tuesday, September 20, 2011	1pm-4pm	Telus Boardrooms
Agency Capacity	Increase the capacity of service delivery partners in the social services sector	MASTER CFP Deck Agency Capacity EN	Tuesday, September 20, 2011	4pm-7pm	Telus Boardrooms
Access to Crisis Supports	Increased access to crisis supports	MASTER CFP Deck Crisis EN	Thursday, September 22, 2011	9am-12pm	Telus Boardrooms
Critical Hours	Increase opportunities for children and youth to be engaged outside of school hours	MASTER CFP Deck Critical Hours EN	Thursday, September 22, 2011	1pm-4pm	Telus Boardrooms
Immigrants and New Canadians	Decrease the unemployment and underemployment rates for immigrants and new Canadians	MASTER CFP Deck INC EN	Friday, September 23, 2011	9am-12pm	Telus Boardrooms

* The Abbreviated Priority Goal is used in place of the longer Priority Goal in the registration for Priority Goal Information Plus Agency Portal Training Sessions.

Information sessions offered in French:

Abbreviated Priority Goal*	Priority Goal	Download Presentation	Date	Time	Room
Successful Aging	Enable vulnerable seniors to remain living in their own homes and engaged in their community	MASTER CFP Deck Seniors FR	Monday, September 12, 2011	9am-12pm	Convergys
Access to Crisis Supports	Increased access to crisis supports	MASTER CFP Deck Crisis FR	Wednesday, September 14, 2011	9am-12pm	Telus A
Strong Neighbourhoods	Increase the number of residents in priority neighbourhoods leading their own community development initiatives	MASTER CFP Deck SN FR	Wednesday, September 14, 2011	13h-16h	Telus A
People with Disabilities	Increase opportunities for meaningful employment for people with disabilities	MASTER CFP Deck PWD FR	Friday, September 16, 2011	9am-12pm	Convergys
Community-based Mental Health and Substance Abuse	Increase access to community-based mental health and substance abuse supports	MASTER CFP Deck Mental Health FR	Friday, September 16, 2011	13h-16h	Telus A
Critical Hours	Increase opportunities for children and youth to be engaged outside of school hours	MASTER CFP Deck Critical Hours FR	Tuesday, September 20, 2011	9am-12pm	Convergys
Decrease Homelessness through Housing Supports	Decrease homelessness through housing supports	MASTER CFP Deck Homelessness FR	Tuesday, September 20, 2011	13h-16h	Convergys
Early Years	Decrease the proportion of children not ready for school	MASTER CFP Deck Early Years FR	Wednesday, September 21, 2011	9am-12pm	Telus Boardrooms
Immigrants and New Canadians	Decrease the unemployment and underemployment rates for immigrants and new Canadians	MASTER CFP Deck INC FR	Thursday, September 22 2011	13h-16h	Convergys
Agency Capacity	Increase the capacity of service delivery partners in the social services sector	MASTER CFP Deck Agency Capacity FR	Friday, September 23, 2011	9am-12pm	Convergys

* The Abbreviated Priority Goal is used in place of the longer Priority Goal in the registration for Priority Goal Information Plus Agency Portal Training Sessions.

 

Agency Portal Training
To better assist agencies, United Way has introduced a new, more user-friendly agency portal with this Call for Proposals.  We recognize that some agencies may not be able to participate in the Priority Goal Information Plus Agency Portal Training Sessions on the scheduled dates and some agencies may want to understand how to use this new software before participating in their Information Sessions. These training sessions, focused solely on the new Portal, are for these agencies.

Agency Portal Training:

• French:  Friday, September 9, 9am-10:30am, Telus Boardrooms
• English:  Friday, September 9, 1pm-2:30pm, Telus Boardrooms

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General Information

Current funding opportunities include the Call for Proposals for the funding cycle beginning April 1, 2012. 

The Call for Proposals will be launched on September 1, 2011 with submissions due October 17, 2011. 

Proposals must be submitted:

•  Electronically (through the agency portal) by the end of day October 17, 2011

AND

2) All required signatures AND any attachments that are not available electronically must be delivered or mailed in hard copy to United Way Ottawa at 363 Coventry Road, Ottawa ON K1K 2C5 by 5 p.m. on October 17, 2011.  If mailed, the envelope must be postmarked no later than October 17, 2011.

Funding Cycle

The funding cycle is from April 1^st to March 31^st.  Requests for multi-year funding will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with a maximum period of three (3) years.

General Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicant must be a registered charity (with its own RR number).
• Applicant must maintain a volunteer board that meets regularly.
• Applicant must host an Annual General Meeting.
• Applicant must have audited financials prepared by a licensed public accountant.

If any of the above criteria are not met, applicants must enter into a formal sponsorship agreement with a registered charity (with its own RR number) that meets all of the above criteria.

Other Criteria

• The activities proposed by the applicant must benefit residents in the City of Ottawa boundaries.
• The applicant’s primary focus and mandate must be within the social services sector.
• The proposal submitted by the applicant must clearly support stated Priority Goal(s).
• The applicant (or sponsor, in the case of sponsored applicants) must be financially solvent.
• The applicant must carry sufficient liability insurance to cover the program/project seeking United Way funding.
• Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Funding is provided on a “funding for results” basis.   This means that the funding can be used for the costs of the program/project as the organization deems appropriate, other than for costs ineligible for funding as identified below.

Costs Ineligible for Funding

• Retirement of debts or budget deficits.
• Costs for capital equipment or expenses related to construction, or the development of facilities.

Applicants Ineligible for Funding

• Registered charitable organizations sponsoring for-profit organizations or for-profit ventures, with the exception of social enterprise or non-profit community economic development activities.
• Hospitals or medical treatment programs.
• Educational institutions and organizations, including school boards, schools, universities, colleges and parent-teacher associations.
• Faith-based organizations that require an adherence to or promotion of a religious faith as a condition of receiving supports or services.
• Political parties.
• Fundraising events or organizations, service clubs and foundations that act primarily to raise funds for distribution to other organizations, with the exception of foundations that are raising funds for directly related organization.
• Organizations whose policies or practices contravene the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Evaluation Process and Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated under the direction of the Community Investment Committee, (comprised of community volunteers and stakeholders), with representatives from volunteer/stakeholder groups involved with each of the Priority Goal areas and with support of United Way staff .

All proposals that meet the eligibility and funding criteria will be weighted according to the degree to which they meet the Evaluation Criteria (below) and the degree to which the program/project will assist in realizing the Priority Goal(s). The total funding available will be determined by the dollars raised in the annual campaign through the Community Fund.  Proposals will be either approved for the full or a reduced grant amount or the proposal will be declined.

Evaluation Criteria
Totals	Category	Criteria
40	Alignment to Priority Goal	Strength of alignment against Priority Goal Program/project supports vulnerable populations Detailed activities are reasonable and appropriate to the realization of stated results Impacts other Priority Goals (if applicable)
20	Evidence-based Approach and Evaluation	Activities and results relationship is backed by evidence-based research Evaluation plan is clear, realistic, supports tracking of stated results and indicates how data will be used to adjust the program accordingly Results are reasonable and appropriate Results are expressed as outcomes
20	Collaboration & Partnership	Program/project is in partnership (formal or informal) with other partners Program/project has diverse funding sources (financial and in-kind) Program/project demonstrates awareness of and is connected to similar program/projects in the community.
20	Organizational Capacity	Expenses are comprehensive and realistic Track record in successfully delivering programs/services and ability/capacity to deliver proposed program/project Strength of financial stability of the organization Program/project aligns with core mission of organization
100	Total

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Frequently Asked Questions [PDF]

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General Inquiries

Questions and requests for support can be sent to cfp_questions@unitedwayottawa.ca. To better help you, please include a brief summary of your question in your request for support so that appropriate resources can be made available.  United Way staff will respond your question within two business days.