Creating Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities Fund

Purpose
The Creating Safe, Equitable & Thriving Communities (SET) Fund was established in 2018 through a partnership with the City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, and the Cedar Rapids Community School District to address inter-relational factors that lead to youth violence in Cedar Rapids. Grants from this fund work toward creating a safe, equitable and thriving community. The fund has supported programs that approach systemic causes of economic, racial, and academic disparities and/or aims to avoid, reduce, or stop high risk behaviors that can lead to involvement with the criminal justice system. Since its inception, the fund has granted $408,000 in support of 21 community-based programs and projects.

Focus and Strategy
In 2020, the SET Fund received a grant from an anonymous donor to increase the funding pool for local nonprofits and implement Group Violence Intervention (GVI) in Cedar Rapids. GVI, developed by the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC), is an evidence-based approach that creates a network of care for those most impacted by violence.

The GVI strategy brings community members together with law enforcement and social service providers to focus an antiviolence message on highly active street groups. GVI focuses on the groups at highest risk for violent victimization and offending, with the intention to keep them alive, safe, and out of prison. The GVI partnership, which includes law enforcement, community representatives, and social service providers, communicates directly with group members, conveying a powerful community message about disapproval for violence and in support of community aspirations; concrete opportunities for both immediate and longer-term assistance and support; and clear prior notice of the legal risks associated with continued violence. The partnership then delivers swiftly on these commitments.

Eligibility

• Organization representatives (Board members, employees, volunteers, etc.) should already have strong foundational and actively growing knowledge of GVI obtained through GVI trainings and learning supports offered in 2020 and 2021.
• Priority will be given to organizations who have not only engaged in GVI focused trainings but who are currently engaged in GVI support and outreach work through regular participation in Support & Outreach Workgroup Team Meetings, Custom Notifications, Call-ins, Shooting Reviews, and Support & Outreach Case Management.
• The Community Foundation accepts applications from nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status and governmental organizations.
• Organizations that are not 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations should contact Rachel Rockwell for further discussion at rachel.rockwell@gcrcf.org.
• Collaboration between public and nonprofit organizations is required. Multiple organizations may submit a joint application for a collaborative project.

Ineligible Activities

• Fundraising events and activities
• Religious activities: contact program officer for clarification
• Expenses for projects and programs that have already occurred or will occur during the RFP review process

Duration of Contract 
12 months

Deadline
Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 4:30 PM

Grantmaking Equity Statement
The Community Foundation is committed to ensuring equity in our grantmaking strategy. Review the Grantmaking Equity Statement adopted by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors here.

Application
Coming soon

Questions? Contact
Contact the Grants Team at 319.774.2370 or grants@gcrcf.org.

To learn more about the Creating Safe, Equitable & Thriving Communities Fund, click here.

NOTE: The Community Foundation maintains strict standards to uphold the integrity of the grantmaking process. Our conflict of interest policy applies to grant committees, board and staff requiring recusals in cases of conflict of interest. The Community Foundation review processes are methodical and transparent, with scoring tools for competitive grant applications available in the online applications.