REQUEST for PROPOSALS: An Explanation

***SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PART II: THE PRINT SUPPLEMENT***

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) charities with budgets of $3 million or below, and location in the Washington region, may be eligible to apply. There is no cost of any kind associated with applying to or being featured in the Catalogue. Because the Catalogue is designed to appeal to large numbers of donors, we do not encourage applications from membership organizations, professional associations, grantmaking foundations, fundraising arms of other organizations, clubs, societies, or specialized research institutes that are unlikely to have broad appeal. Smaller programs situated within larger organizations -- like an asthma program at a major hospital -- are not eligible unless they have their own, independent 501(c)(3) status. The Catalogue's focus is local, so we do not encourage applications from national organizations unless they have significant local programs. We do accept applications from international organizations focused on global issues but located in Greater Washington.

Organizations featured in the '03-'04 through '06-'07 Catalogues that have not already been re-featured MUST now reapply in order to remain part of the Catalogue family. A fresh review by the evaluation committee and a new financial review will be necessary every four years. If you were previously featured and your budget is now above $3mm, you may still reapply. If selected, your page will bear a special insignia indicating that you were once small but have now ... grown!

For the purposes of establishing eligibility, we use the Washington Council of Government’s list of cities and counties. We regret that we cannot include organizations that are located outside of these areas, even if they have programs within them. Applicants must be located in:

District of Columbia

Maryland: Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Frederick County

Virginia: Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, City of Alexandria, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church

Previously featured charities are eligible to reapply if they were last featured in '06-07 or earlier. Our website remains cumulative and includes all current and prior years' organizations that remain in good standing with the Catalogue.

Our Goal: Our goal is to raise the visibility of effective nonprofits in metropolitan Washington, and to introduce new donors to new charities.

THE APPLICATION

PART I: ONLINE SUBMISSION

NEW DUE DATE: Applications have been extended to MARCH 1 at midnight. The print supplement must be postmarked March 8th or earlier. Because the online application must be completed in a single sitting, we recommend that your 2500-3000 word statement (covering 14 individual questions) and 150-word summary (see below) be complete and ready to be pasted in to the application form before you begin. Our online application DOES NOT HAVE a save-as-you-go function, and extremely long sessions may time themselves out. So be ready to enter all of your information before you begin the process. After you have read this document, please print it and consult it as you are preparing your application.

First we ask for basic contact information and for information about your eligibility. We also ask you to identify your philanthropic field and subfield to the best of your ability--though please note that, for space reasons, fields must sometimes be changed in the print catalogue. The choices are available in a pull-down menu (for example: NATURE or HUMAN SERVICES: Girls and Women). If you are uncertain, or if nothing fits, there is a place for you to send us a message. If you want to list a second field, ad it in the comments box. MAKE SURE TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS AND MAKE A SELECTION ON ALL PULL-DOWN MENUS. You will not be able to submit your application until you have done so.

Next, we ask you to tell us in a phrase (10 words maximum) who you are/what you do. Here are some good examples: "environmental group seeking cleaner environment through projects for urban teens," or "dance presenter with dance programs for at-risk youth," or ‘community health center in professional shortage area," or "restaurant providing job training for chronically underemployed and homeless adults." PLEASE do not repeat your name here, and please DO NOT simply say, "We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization."

The 2500-3000 Word Main Section

In the main part of the application we ask you to write a 2500-3000 word statement, which is divided into a set of 14 questions. We recommend that you write this in a separate document and paste it into the appropriate boxes when you are ready. Some applicants tell us that they cannot write a statement of this length without padding the application. Final decisions about length are up to you, but please understand that our reviewers are looking for a thorough, complete, and detailed response. A skimpy application only hurts the applicant. For those who are not writing in their first language, please remember that, while it is a pleasure to read a well written application, we do not make our selections based on the elegance of the written application.

1. Who you are? In a nutshell, explain what your organization's identity and mission really are.

2. How did you begin? Provide a brief history, being sure to explain how and why the organization came into being.

3. Your staffing. Be specific about the composition of your organization--note executive staff (including development staff, if any), program staff; include information on full and part time; identify the person (and his/her position) who would communicate with Catalogue staff if you were selected

4. Your board: who are they? (a list of names); what is the nature of their engagement with your organization? what is your board's policy on board financial support for your organization? whether and to what degree are board members financial contributors? (You do not need to tell us each board member's individual contribution. Do tell us what the range is -- $100 to $10,000, for example -- the percent of your board that contributes, and what percent of total individual contributions comes from the board.)

5. Your purpose/the need you address: be specific about the need(s) you fill and explain how you differentiate yourself from others in your field. Which three organizations are closest to you in their programs, and how are you different from them?

6. What you do: your programs, services, activities. Provide a detailed description. Where applicable include target population(s) and number of people served. For many reviewers this section and the next one are the most important parts of your application. Be specific.

7. Evaluation: what impact do you have? Explain what you measure, how you measure, and how you define success. If an outside evaluation has been performed, please include a copy in your print supplement (below). We understand that "impact" has different meanings for different applicants.

8. Your goals: identify the short- and long-term goals of your organization; detail your strategies for achieving these goals and progress made toward them.

9. Your struggles and accomplishments: explain any challenges/struggles/failures that you have experienced in the last year; detail your accomplishments--both concrete accomplishments in relation to the goals you set, and less tangible accomplishments that we should know about.

10. Evidence of excellence: list any awards, citations, honors, etc; also include any other evidence of excellence you wish to describe.

11. Evidence of cost-effectiveness: include costs for administration, fundraising, and program; percent of the total for administration/fundraising; if special circumstances apply (eg one-time expenses for computer upgrades or other capital costs) please note these. Are you listed on any watchdog sites?

12. Sources of funding: give the total amount you raise, and the percent of funds you receive from different sources: government, individuals, foundations, corporations, United Way, CFC, special events, earned income, etc. How would you describe your capacity to raise money from individual donors and to steward those donors once you have acquired them?

13. Any special project or activity for which you may be seeking funds (not required).

14. Explanation of what is special about your story that illuminates for donors the values of philanthropy at its best.

Wish List

Please complete a Wish List that will help Catalogue readers understand in concrete terms what a donation to your organization will mean to you. Please consider four categories: $100; $500; $1000; OTHER (your choice) IN THIS ORDER. Here are some examples:

WISH LIST: $100: gasoline for 2 weeks of deliveries to elderly shut-ins; $500: half the art supplies for our summer program; $1000: counseling for 10 survivors of domestic abuse for 1 month; $15,000: scholarship for 1 student for an entire year

PLEASE NOTE THAT WISH LIST ITEMS ARE VERY BRIEF; DO NOT SEND PARAGRAPH-LENGTH ITEMS! THINK SHORT!

Key Programs Summary

A single paragraph (approximately 150 words) in which you highlight your organization's KEY programs. We realize this repeats what you have said above. What we're looking for is a short version of what you consider absolutely central to the work you do. Please understand that, should you be selected, a write-up of your organization can't include everything, so tell us here what the key elements are of who you are/what you do--those that, in your view, could not be left out of a 170-word description (which, were you to be accepted, we would write) without misrepresenting your organization.

PART II: PRINT SUBMISSION

Part II includes a hard copy of all of Part I (above) as well as a set of supplements. Here is the complete list:

1. A copy of Part I (above). Please print the entire application, right from our site, instead of printing the prose portion on your desktop. The online application includes "yes/no" answers and information from pull-down menus that we need to see.

2. Copy of IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. If you are accepted for inclusion in the Catalogue and you have an "advance ruling" letter, you will need to send us the formal 501c3 letter when the advance ruling expires.

3. Copy of your most recent 990 (or 990EZ if that is what you filed). Please note on the top of the 990 your FYE (Fiscal Year End). If there is a reason why you are not able to provide a recent 990, please explain.

4. Copy of recent audited financials (if possible) or annual report (if possible). If audit report does not include your most recent fiscal year end information, please also provide unaudited financial statements. We would like to see financial information through 12/31/09, or as close to it as possible.

5. Current operating/organizational budget. "Salaries" line should clearly detail number of paid employees, both full time and part time, and their positions.

6. A list of MAJOR sources of 2009 funding and expected sources for 2010. (If your fiscal year is not a calendar year, you may give us sources of funding for the most recently completed fiscal year, and then for the coming fiscal year). Please give names and amounts of foundation/corporate sponsors; individual donors do not need to be listed by name: X dollars from Y number of individual donors will be adequate).

7. A copy of an outside evaluation of your organization, IF such an evaluation exists.

Part II should be postmarked no later than March 8th. We do NOT accept hand-delivered applications. And please use the regular mail. Overnight and other forms of "fast" mail are expensive and not necessary. Please send to: Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, PO Box 955, Poolesville, MD 20837-0955

Kindly Note:

If you are selected to be featured in the Catalogue you will need to:

Send us in May a minimum of 5 digital photos. We will explain further when the time arrives

Attend our annual launch in November, sending three key persons (examples: executive director, board member, development director/contact person); at this event we will distribute copies of the new Catalogue and explain how you can make the most of your Catalogue experience. Attendance at this meeting is not optional.

Be faithful reporters of Catalogue-inspired donations in the year of your selection and beyond.

Place a copy of the Catalogue's "Best of" stamp on your homepage (click here to see a sample stamp); include a Catalogue tagline in your email signature for one year; print the catalogue "Best of" stamp on your stationery for one year. Details will follow should you be selected.

Complete information we request that will keep your page on the Catalogue website populated with current information

Establish an account with PayPal to receive online donations made at our site.

There is no financial obligation of any kind associated with applying to or being featured in the Catalogue for Philanthropy. Leading institutions and generous individuals in the Washington region support the Catalogue Initiative as a service to the community.

Funding: Sponsoring grantmakers and individual donors cover all production costs for the Catalogue and its website. Online donations are processed by PayPal where a 2.2% plus 35 cent transaction fee covers credit card/administrative charges. These fees are charged and received by PayPal, not the Catalogue, and are among the lowest in the industry. The Catalogue itself charges no fee for donations sent directly to the charities or for any donations we distribute through our website, our Giving Form, or in any other way.

Distribution: The Catalogue is a beautiful, 64-page book distributed in November to over 20,000 high net worth individuals in the Washington region and to small foundations, philanthropic advisors, giving circles, and other groups who wish to use it with their members. The Catalogue website is cumulative, featuring organizations that appeared in 2003 and subsequent years. Visitors access the site at http://www.cfp-dc.org/

Non-Discrimination: The Catalogue for Philanthropy does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, creed, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Questions: Before you email or call, please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If you don't find the answers you are looking for, call us at 202 549 6369 or 781 449 1911, or email us at info@catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org

Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.