District 6080

The Springfield Southeast Rotary Club’s Community Grants Committee awarded $1,000 grants to five organizations in the fall of 2020.  This is the first of two grant cycles in this Rotary year.

Community Partnership of the Ozarks thanked the club on Nov. 5 for its grant for its mentoring/youth development program called Mentor SFG.   Mentor SFG is a broad program that positively impacts students in grades K-12, with an emphasis on students of color and those that face an opportunity gap.   It facilitates these opportunities through after-school clubs with an emphasis on college and career readiness, and more.

The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools received its grant on Nov. 12.  The funds are for its Back to School program, which helps meet classroom education needs.  These funds will support literacy projects requested by educators.

Club member Jason Hynson, executive director of Springfield Victory Mission, told the club on Nov. 19 (photo at right) that its grant will cover part of the cost of a bed bug prevention heating unit.  He also talked about Victory Mission’s extra costs during the pandemic from doing more laundry of bed clothes in its living units.

A representative of CoxHealth Foundation was at the meeting on Dec. 5 to accept its grant, which will buy tools for Amanda Belle’s Farm, a new farm being created at Cox South Hospital that will increase access to healthy food. The farm will grow a variety of seasonal produce to benefit patients with dietary needs.

OATS Transit was awarded the fifth grant, which will help fund senior transportation services.  That agency specializes in transportation for seniors, individuals with disabilities, low income individuals, veterans, and the rural general public.

Community Grants in the second cycle of this Rotary year will be awarded in the spring.  The funds come from club members’ dues.  Steve Brooks chairs the committee this year.

The community grants committee of the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast is charged with the responsibility of recommending to the board of directors those charitable contributions made in the club’s name for the Rotary year. (Rotary years begin July 1 and end June 30.) The funds for the year are generated from the service fund assessment.

Organizations are welcome to apply for a community grant; however, all applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:

CHARITABLE. Grants must be used for a charitable purpose by a 501(c)3 organization.

LOCAL. Grants must used within southwest Missouri.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT. Proposals must specify a community benefit. Requests for funds for general operating expenses are discouraged.

RECOGNITION. Proposals must specify how the contribution will be acknowledged in a way that promotes community awareness of the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast.

Springfield Southeast wishes to utilize community grants to achieve the greatest possible impact across a broad range of projects each year. To do this, we award grants ranging from $500 to $1,000+.

Every year, Springfield Southeast determines its scope of grant interest based on Rotary International’s goals and club goals. Usually, grants are focused on literacy, hunger, and health; however, occasionally, other areas are considered.

Applications for grants are reviewed by our community grants committee. Requests for funds come from Southeast member suggestions, mail solicitations, personal solicitations from community organizations, and ideas generated by committee members.

There are two grant cycles every Rotary year, and organizations are encouraged to submit their proposals any time throughout the year to be considered for the next review cycle on the calendar.

The grant process includes two steps:
1) A review of the proposal by the committee
2) An in-person presentation (approximately 10 minutes) by the applying organization to the committee.

After presentations, the committee reviews the proposals and makes a recommendation to the board of directors. After the board of directors approves the grants, the committee notifies applicants.

SUBMISSIONS
Submit your proposal by email as an attachment, as well as proof of your 501(c)3 status, to info@springfieldsoutheastrotary.org.