The Richard King Mellon Foundation is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) that aims to serve young adults ages 14 to 24 years old who are from low-income households in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties as they navigate enrollment, persistence, and completion of postsecondary education.
Donor Name: Richard King Mellon Foundation
State: Pennsylvania
County: Westmoreland County (PA) and Allegheny County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/20/2022
Size of the Grant: $400,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
Purposes
Postsecondary education includes any type of education, occupational training, or skills development that occurs after a young adult obtains a high school diploma or GED and that results in a certification, diploma, or degree. The Foundation will consider all submitted proposals that:
- expand the number of these young adults who enroll in and complete postsecondary education within six years of enrollment
- assist students with maximizing the potential economic and personal benefits that they might gain from their postsecondary education
The Foundation also strongly encourages collaborative proposals that engage multiple partners in the proposed activities, including sharing missions and goals, co-creating and sharing programs and services, and partnering in systems change.
Types of Support
The Foundation expects to provide two types of support through this RFP.
- Planning and Innovation grants:
- focus on experimentation and the development of new ideas. Recipients might describe activities such as piloting services or completing a feasibility study. Any evaluation activities should focus on understanding successes, challenges, and future possibilities resulting from the grant.
- will provide up to $250,000 and funded activities should be completed within 12 to 18 months after the grant award
- Scalability grants:
- sustain and expand promising, evidence-informed initiatives. Recipients might describe activities, projects, and ideas that have been tested within one population group or in one geographic area with promising success and require an infusion of funds to expand the reach of the program to other population groups or geographic areas
- will provide up to $400,000 and funded activities should be completed within 18 to 24 months after the grant award
Eligibility Criteria
For the purposes of this RFP, the Foundation offers additional guidance about proposals from public sector and nonprofit organizations.
- Public sector organizations:
- may serve as the lead agency submitting a proposal for Planning and Innovation grants
- may participate as collaborating partners on both Planning and Innovation and Scalability grants submitted by nonprofit organizations serving as the lead agency
- include entities such as school districts, courts, or departments of health or human services
- Nonprofit organizations:
- may serve as the lead agency submitting a proposal for Planning and Innovation grants or for Scalability grants
- may participate as collaborating partners on both Planning and Innovation or Scalability grants
For more information, visit Postsecondary Educational Attainment.
