City of Tallahassee Bridge Program in Florida

The City established the Bridge program to support local organizations proposing to implement innovative solutions to community needs.

Donor Name: City of Tallahassee

State: Florida

County: Leon County (FL)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 07/31/2022

Size of the Grant: $10,000

Grant Duration: two years

Details:

The City currently administers the Community Human Service Partnership in collaboration with the County to provide an efficient and effective method for allocating human services grant funds. The CHSP process is robust and has received a Best Practice award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. CHSP has several minimum requirements and operates on a two- year funding cycle. The Bridge program is an annual funding opportunity with less stringent requirements and enables nonprofit agencies that do not meet the minimum CHSP standards to strengthen its capacity while receiving funding up to a maximum of two years. Agencies are then required to apply to CHSP for funding. Agencies that have previously received or are currently receiving CHSP funding are not eligible for the Bridge program.

Funding Information

The total budget for the Bridge program is $50,000 per year, and an agency can receive up to $10,000 in a fiscal year.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply to the Bridge program the agency must meet the following requirements:

The agency is registered as a 501(c)(3) with the United States Department of Treasury.
The agency can demonstrate a record of providing or intent to provide direct human services to residents of Leon County.
The agency has not received a CHSP funding award.

CHSP Eligibility Requirements

One of the primary goals of the Bridge program is to support promising nonprofits to build its capacity, which includes obtaining the necessary qualifications to become eligible to apply to CHSP, and the ability to achieve one of the six Common Goals, Subgoals, and Measures, as referenced in the chart below. For your information, the CHSP eligibility criteria are provided below:

An agency must attend one of the mandatory workshops in order to apply for funding in the two-year grant cycle. The agency’s official representative in attendance must be an employee or board member.
The agency must be a non-profit corporation, incorporated in Florida or authorized by the Florida Department of State to transact business in Florida, pursuant to Chapter 617, Florida Statutes.
The agency must have obtained a 501(c) (3) status from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The agency must be authorized by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to solicit funds, pursuant to Chapter 496, Florida Statutes.
The agency must have obtained a sales tax exemption registration from the Florida Department of Revenue, pursuant to Chapter 212, Florida Statutes.
The agency must have a local board of directors and/or a local advisory board.
The agency must have by-laws adopted by the board of directors.
The agency must have a comprehensive Fiscal Management Policy that includes appropriate internal controls to protect the fiscal integrity of the agency.
The agency must have a Check Signing Policy that requires two or more signatures based on certain fiscal thresholds approved by the agency’s board of directors. This policy must specify that no agency staff, including the executive director, can sign a check written to themselves or written for cash. The policy must also include specifications and internal safeguards (direct board oversight) regarding making withdrawals from the agency’s account(s).
The agency must demonstrate that it has adequate internal fiscal controls in place to clearly document how grant funds are spent and it has the appropriate personnel (including volunteers) capacity to carry out the stated program goals and objectives.
If required by federal or state law, the agency must have its books and records audited annually by an independent certified public accountant who has no affiliation with the agency and whose examination is made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The audit report must be no more than two years old. The audit report must include a management letter and financial statements showing the following: all the agency’s income, disbursements, assets, liabilities, endowments, and other funds, as well as the agency’s reserves and surpluses during the period under study, and be consolidated with the statements of any affiliated foundations or trusts.
If the audit contains a schedule of findings, a corrective action plan must be included with the audit.
The agency must show proof of filing an IRS Form 990, 990EZ, Postcard or extension within the last fiscal year.
The agency must have an administrative cost of 25% or less as evidenced by the IRS Form 990 and/or audit.
The agency must have a Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy.
The agency must have proof of general liability insurance coverage.
The agency must have a Records Retention Policy.
The agency must have a Conflict of Interest Policy.
The executive director and board president (or vice president) must sign the application.