Important: These guidelines are only applicable to the year stated. Dates and requirements change yearly.
2010 Guidelines
Healthy Children’s Initiative
| DATES | ACTION |
| APRIL 1 | PRE-APPLICATION AND COVER LETTER DUE |
| -A completed pre-application and concise cover letter will begin the process (see Fundraising Tips). -Requests can be for General Operating or Program Specific (see below). -Requests for advocacy or systemic changes are acceptable. -Only One request per organization. -Organizations must be based in the city of Milwaukee ONLY. -Maximum request is $15,000. -If you received a Healthy Children’s Initiative grant from us in 2009 – please wait a year to apply again. -Please refer us to your website if it can be used for any of the information requested in the application process; lists of board or staff members, evidence of tax-exempt status, annual reports, audited reports, your most recent 990, any marketing materials or brochures. -Pre-applications can be emailed to foundation@jacobusenergy.com as an attachment or faxed to 1-414-359-1357 or mailed to the foundation(contact us). -All pre-applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. CST on April 1. |
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| APRIL 30 | FOUNDATION WILL NOTIFY QUALIFING ORGANIZATIONS |
| -Application will be available for organizations asked to continue application process with the foundation. -Site Visit Sign Ups begin – a qualifying organization must have a site visit. |
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| JUNE 9 | FINAL APPLICATIONS DUE |
| -Applications can be emailed to foundation@jacobusenergy.com as an attachment or faxed to 1-414-359-1357 or mailed to the foundation(contact us). -All applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. CST on June 9. |
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| Summer | Site Visits |
| SEPT. 30 | FOUNDATION WILL NOTIFY FINAL GRANTEES |
| Questions? Call or email Missy MacLeod at 414-577-0252 or foundation@jacobusenergy.com. |
Special Program Grant/Milwaukee Healthy Children's Initiative
In 1993 the Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation initiated the Special Program Grant. Its purpose was to award larger grants to programs that are designed to strengthening children living in Southeastern Wisconsin. In 1997, we began calling this program the "Milwaukee Healthy Children's Initiative" to reflect our commitment to our community's children. Beyond keeping our children free from disease and disability, we also strive to offer children the best opportunities to thrive in their family, educational, social and community environments. Recently we have narrowed our giving geographically to the city of Milwaukee.
New Healthy Children's Initiative: Creating self-sufficiency among residents in Milwaukee's neighborhoods
In 2004, we decided to expand the parameters of the Milwaukee's Healthy Children's Initiative to include requests that create self sufficiency amongst the residents in Milwaukee's neighborhoods. Realizing children thrive if the family is self-sufficient and the community is strong, we added this new initiative. Priority will be given to requests that are neighborhood specific; those that create self sufficiency amongst the residents. This program can incorporate one of the Program Types below or it can be independent. Generally, we are looking for programs that harness together people in the neighborhood to bring about change, positive community change. Funding of these requests will help the neighborhood folks learn skills that will lead them on the way to self sufficiency. Self sufficiency can be measured in a number of ways:
-Economic
-Advocating for change, locally, city or statewide
-Housing
-Neighbors convening to develop solutions to neighborhood issues
| Childcare Better education programs Evaluations of community services Identifying components of a strong community, making plans to achieve those goals |
This is a new initiative so please be creative and have fun with it. We are learning too, and look forward to seeing your responses.
Collaborations with other neighborhood groups are encouraged.
Program types the foundation will consider:
What type of programs encourage and support the healthy development of our children? We have identified four program categories that we will fund; Prevention Programs, Positive Youth Activities, Strengthening Families and Research. Each one of the categories is defined below.
All programs should be community based and run, have identifiable outcomes and be program-specific.
General Operating Support
We will also fund general operating support for your organization as long as the mission of your organization fits in with our Healthy Children’s Initiative.
Prevention Programs - prevention should be an integral part of any program submitted to the foundation. An important priority of the foundation is to fund the programs that help children and their families right from the start. We believe this is much more cost effective and caring than intervening later when problems develop. Any program that works with a child and its family from the start will be considered. Research shows that if a baby is properly nurtured from 0 to 5, she will have a much greater chance of excelling in school and developing into a caring and responsible adult. Programs must be sensitive to the challenges a working mother faces. Program examples:
Early childhood education and care programs that are flexible, convenient and of high quality
Home Visiting Programs
Parenting Programs
Positive Youth Activities - since we are investing in prevention programs, we also want to ensure that as children grow older, they are given positive, "exciting and stimulating options". These programs should encourage self-esteem, creative thinking, communication skills, team building and trust. Where ever possible, they should be gender sensitive. They should give outlets for youth after school that not only helps with school learning, but expands a child's option for personal growth and development.
Program examples:
Safe Haven/After School Programs
Mapping - programs that give youth an opportunity to make decisions and see the outcomes of their work.
Cultural Enhancement - programs that provide an opportunity to work with a professional in their community to learn a new skill and to be exposed to an art or sport that their community does not provide.
Strengthening Families - ensuring that the whole family is involved in the program should be a component of all programs to ensure their success. These are programs directed at the entire family rather than the child or the youth. They are based on the positive aspects of the family and work to enhance the strengths of a family by sharing with them resources in the community.
Research - we will consider funding research that accurately evaluates what is happening with Milwaukee's children due to welfare reform, the reform of the child welfare system or the economic downturn. Consideration will also be given to programs that research what resources are available for a family and how they can gain access to them.
We may award from 5 to 10 grants of up to $15,000.
General Operating and Capital Grants
| NOV. 1 | REQUESTS FOR GENERAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL DUE |
-Only organizations that have received funding from us will be considered
-If you received a Healthy Children’s Initiative grant in 2010 we will not consider another request
-Requests must be as concise as possible; a one page cover letter summarizing the request and the amount must be included.
-Any request over $7500 must have a site visit.
-Please no common applications
- City of Milwaukee organizations only
General Restrictions - Please READ
The Foundation will not consider requests for funding to benefit individuals, religious or political organizations, travel, legislative or lobbying activities, tuition or scholarships, or staff seminars. Additionally, the Foundation will not sponsor events, benefits, competitions, parades or camps.
Requests will be considered only if the Foundation receives them in writing, by fax, or by email as an attachment, by the appropriate deadlines:
April 1, 2010 for the pre-application of the Milwaukee Healthy Children's Initiative grant. (If you need a Microsoft Word document please send us an email.)
November 1, 2010 for operating and capital requests.
We will not consider or acknowledge general solicitation letters.