The California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) under the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) marks a significant evolution in its mission, expanding its focus to encompass a broader range of worker protections outlined in California’s labor code and workplace health and safety regulations.
Donor Name: California Department of Industrial Relations
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/23/2024
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP), DIR, represents an evolution of the initiative’s mission, shifting its focus towards broader education regarding California’s worker protections under California’s labor code, and workplace health and safety regulations beyond its original focus on COVID-19 when it was established in 2020. This strategic pivot aims to foster improved access to worker protections, including information on how to take action if workers’ rights are violated, and to improve workplace safety and health across the state. Leveraging the foundation built by previous phases, this iteration of CWOP combines two years of funding to ensure continuity. It empowers community-based organizations (CBOs).
Strategic Components of CWOP 5.0/6.0:
- Comprehensive Education on Workplace Protections: Expanding the scope to include a wide array of workplace protections to improve workplace safety and health conditions for workers in the state, combat wage theft and protection from retaliation, and provide workers information on their rights to benefits and medical care for work-related illnesses and injuries.
- Language and Accessibility: Continuing the commitment to diversity, outreach materials will be accessible in multiple languages, addressing the needs of California’s diverse workforce.
- Engagement and Outreach: Utilizing interactive activities to engage workers and employers in meaningful discussions about safety practices, rights, and resources regardless of immigration status. This includes workshops, seminars, and direct outreach efforts.
- Partnership and Collaboration: Strengthening ties with CBOs, labor and occupational health centers, and agricultural associations to enhance the reach and impact of the program.
- Rural Strategic Engagement: Targeted outreach and legal resources to support access to in-person services in under-resourced, rural areas for especially vulnerable workers.
The primary objective of this expanded iteration of CWOP is to build upon the lessons learned and successes achieved in previous iterations, with a renewed focus on fostering an informed, safe, and healthy workplace culture across California. This initiative aims to not only educate but also to inspire action and change in workplace rights and safety practices, ensuring that every worker has the knowledge and tools needed to protect themselves and their colleagues.
Funding Information
- Activator: $200,000
- Activator Plus: $350,000
- Regional Lead; $700,000 (10 max)
- Rural Strategic Engagement Clinic Host: $250,000 ($500,000 if applying with legal provider).
Grant Period
The grant performance period will be from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026.
Eligible Activities
CWOP grants provide funds that may be used for a wide variety of operational and program functions, including but not limited to:
- Staff salaries
- Payments to contracted technical or administrative professionals
- Telephone, shipping, and postage costs
- Space rental and occupancy costs (maintenance, security, insurance, utilities, etc.)
- Printing, advertising, and marketing costs
- Evaluation services and documentation (photo, video, audio, collection of statistical information, etc.)
- Travel and conference expenses for staff and volunteers to attend DIR-sponsored or approved workshops, community convenings, collective impact table events, etc.
- Production costs
- Materials and supplies.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for this application:
- The Applicant, or its Fiscal Sponsor, must have an active and approved tax-exempt 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(5) status or be classified as a public charity by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the Internal Revenue Code.
- The Applicant, or Fiscal Sponsor, must submit an IRS Form 990. The IRS Form 990 must be for the 2022 or 2023 tax year and show a gross revenue of over $50,000. IRS 990 Postcards or Form 990-N will not be accepted.
- The Applicants, except Activators, must be able to demonstrate at least twelve (12) months of experience successfully managing grant(s) or contract(s) similar to that required of the role(s):
- Activator Plus
- Regional Lead
- Rural Strategic Engagement Clinics.
For more information, visit DIR.
