The Richard King Mellon Foundation seeks bold ideas and innovative approaches that aim to strengthen the wide range of opportunities for adult residents in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties to succeed in the new economy.
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: $200,000-$500,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
Proposals should focus on propelling individuals’ equitable opportunities for employment, gaining income and wealth, and movement toward economic independence for those who are transitioning back to employment or who engage in independent, gig work.
Ideas and approaches could be products, services, or technologies that, for example:
- support the re-entry of women or vulnerable populations who have left the labor force or who are underemployed;
- match disconnected, underemployed, independent, and gig economy workers to flexible education, training, upskilling, and ultimately employment opportunities that best fit their life goals and needs;
- help individuals to find and retain meaningful and fulfilling careers in the gig economy (rather than in piecemeal jobs);
- relieve stressors of gig economy workers by supporting connections to the social safety net, improving financial literacy, lessening social isolation, or cultivating resilience in the face of constant change and uncertainty;
- enhance adaptations that are needed as we move toward remote work in the COVID economy or toward ways to “work” that have not yet been invented, as a way to support an increasingly flexible workforce.
Types of Support
The Foundation expects to provide three types of support for nonprofit or public sector organizations 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 initial project.
- Implementation grants are for more developed concepts and services that are currently being conducted and need further infusion of funds to support reaching populations more deeply or with further intentionality. Recipients of this funding often have demonstrated past successes and have capacity to engage in iteration and evaluation.
- Scalability grants are focused on projects and ideas that have been tested within one population group or in one geographic area with promising success; they need an infusion of funds to expand the reach of the program to other population groups or geographic areas. This funding supports extending the reach of a promising model or project.
Grant funds awarded through this RFP may be used for a variety of expenses such as program and service delivery, consultant fees, evaluation, or “overhead” or administrative expenses.
For all types of grants awarded to nonprofit and public sector organizations through the RFP, the Foundation expects to fund projects in the range of $200,000-$500,000, depending on the complexity of the proposed project, the number of collaborators, and the stage (Planning and Innovation, Implementation, or Scalability).
Eligibility Criteria
For the purposes of this RFP, the Foundation welcomes proposals from nonprofit, public sector, and entrepreneurs or for-profit companies that have a social mission.
- Nonprofit and public sector organizations are invited to submit for a grant within the Economic Development program.
- Entrepreneurs and for-profit companies with a social-mission are invited to submit for a program-related investment (PRI) within the Social-Impact Investment program
For more information, visit Richard King Mellon Foundation.
