The Promise is excited to release its year two Community Challenge focused on record sealing and employment access.
Donor Name: United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
States: Pennsylvania
City: Philadelphia
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $200,000-$400,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Promise, powered by United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, is a city-wide movement dedicated to lifting Philadelphians out of poverty.
Through this year’s Community Challenge, they plan to fund a minimum of 15 clinics and community events from July 2023-June 2024, while also connecting these clinics to high-quality workforce and research partners.
These partnerships will be innovative and large-scale, and they look forward to contributing to the body of research connecting record sealing and clearance to increased employment access and opportunity. They are inviting organizations with legal expertise and/or deep community reach to apply for this funding.
Funding Information
The Promise seeks local organizations for the second phase of the Jobs and Opportunity Community Challenge. Grants will be made in the range of $30,000-$60,000 to up to 15 Community partners and in the range of $200,000-$400,000 to up to 4 Legal Services partners.
Scope of Work
The Promise is seeking proposals from nonprofits that can:
- provide outreach to community members and
- to host record sealing clinics that double as community events. Nonprofits that have a strong track record for effective marketing and facilitation of community-facing events are encouraged to apply. Through this funding, trusted community organizations will leverage local partnerships to maximize legal, financial, and employment opportunities for local residents. Selected organizations will manage record sealing and clearing clinics across the city (each grantee must commit to either one or two clinics/events), facilitating collaborations between legal service providers, community organizations, and additional partners that may provide employment services, workforce development resources, benefits access, basic needs, and/or community referrals.
Eligibility Criteria
Lead applicant must be a non profit or educational institution with IRS code Section 501(c) (3) and 509(a) (1), (2) or (3), or Section 170(c); or a public entity. You will be required to input an EIN number in order to move forward with the application. You are also allowed to utilize a fiscal sponsor if needed; if you choose to utilize a fiscal sponsor you will have to put their EIN into the application and you also will need to attach a letter from them outlining the details of your sponsorship.
United Way is inviting organizations with legal expertise and/or deep community reach to a collaborative process that includes:
- Conducting outreach and engagement to make Philadelphians aware of record sealing opportunities through Clean Slate and follow-up petitioning for expungement or pardons
- Hosting record sealing and clearing clinics at trusted community hubs across the city
- Providing direct services to Philadelphia residents including:
- Running their criminal history checks to make residents aware of their arrest and conviction records and the impacts of Clean Slate laws on sealing some/all of those records;
- Identifying records that may be eligible for sealing or expungement through a petition process or pardon through a pardon application
- Filing petitions and following up with residents to help further seal and/or clear past records
- As available, provide access to other employment and income supports including job search, resume development, interview preparation, benefits access, basic needs, and/or other on-site services.
For more information, visit The Promise Application Challenge.
