All about eligibility...

Is this initiative open only to U.S. residents?

The Case Foundation will accept applications only from individuals who reside in one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and who are 14 years of age or older. More information about who can apply can be found here.

At this time, we are only able to satisfactorily meet expenditure responsibility obligations for those individuals who reside in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Can anyone who meets the above criteria apply?

Any individual over the age of 14 with an innovative idea that utilizes a citizen-centered approach is invited to submit an application. We hope to attract a very diverse applicant pool, and therefore we are encouraging people from all backgrounds to apply. More information about who can apply may be found here.

Will grants be awarded only to individuals?

Grants will be awarded to individual recipients; however, the individual may be affiliated with an organization or part of a team. The citizen-centered approach is one that values collaborative problem solving, and therefore we expect that all applicants will work with teams or groups of others within their community.

How to get started...

What does the application process entail?

Individuals will submit a brief application (approximately two pages) online. Applications may also be submitted for or on behalf of an individual. In the first round, applications will be reviewed by a diverse group of external reviewers. One-hundred individuals (semifinalists) will be selected to submit a more detailed full proposal. These applications will then be reviewed by a smaller panel composed of local and national practitioners as well as Case Foundation staff. Twenty individuals will be selected as finalists. The online community will vote for four top grant recipients.

Can I see a sample application?

Yes! Click here.

What if I don't have an e-mail address?

While we understand that some applicants may not currently have an e-mail address, we do require one so that we may communicate with you electronically. Many e-mail providers allow you to set up free accounts, including AOL, Gmail, and Yahoo!

Started but stumped...

What do I do if I have problems submitting my application online?

Applicants should click here to submit technical questions. We will respond to your question within one business day.

What counts as a character when answering application questions?

All letters, numbers, punctuation, symbols, and spaces.

Can I submit more than one application for funding?

No. We will not accept more than one application per individual.

What is the deadline for submitting applications?

August 8, 2007, 11:59pm EDT

Can I submit my application via U.S. mail or fax?

No. The Case Foundation will accept only applications that are submitted through our online grant system. Applications sent to the foundation will be returned, and will not be reviewed or scored.

I submitted, now what...

Can I edit my application after I have submitted?

We regret that we are unable to re-open applications once they have been submitted. Applications are assigned for review immediately upon submission to a set of reviewers whose scores are averaged. Pulling applications after submission would result in a scoring discrepancy that could be detrimental to our process.

How will applicants be judged and what criteria will be used?

Criteria used to judge the applicants may be found in the What We're Looking For section of our Web site.

What is the timeline for the program? When will I know if my project will be funded?

Applications were accepted online June 26-August 8. We originally planned to announce the Top 100 semifinalists in mid-September. However, due to the remarkable level of interest and the high volume of applications submitted, we needed to extend the evaluation process to ensure that each application receives a thorough and thoughtful review. The Top 100 will now be announced on October 25.

The Top 20 finalists will be announced and voting will begin on March 25, 2008, and the Final Four will be announced in May 2008. Everyone who applied will be notified individually of our decision via e-mail, and we will also make a public announcement on our website, www.casefoundation.org.

Will I receive written feedback?

No. We will not provide written feedback on proposals submitted. However, at the end of the process, we will provide collective feedback that highlights strengths, weaknesses, and other trends we saw across applications.

About the process...

What is the new timeline?

We will announce the Top 100 on October 25, 2007. Everyone who applied will be notified individually of our decision via e-mail, and we also will make a public announcement on our website.

We originally planned to announce the Top 100 semifinalists in mid-September. Due to the remarkable level of interest and the high volume of applications submitted, we needed to extend the evaluation process to ensure each application receives a thorough, thoughtful review.

How many applications did you guys get?

4,641 applications were submitted for the Make It Your Own Awards^TM.

Who reviewed the applications?

Each proposal was reviewed and scored at least twice by a group of external community reviewers from across the nation. Reviewers were as diverse as our applicants in terms of geographic location, ethnicity, age and profession. From ministers to students to citizen-centered practitioners, reviewers brought their personal expertise and passion to help select the Top 100.

Will I get individual feedback on my initial application?

We are unable to provide individual feedback on applications. We hope, however, that everyone who applied will use this as a learning opportunity. Please check out Cindy Gibson's new article on our website, which provides a summary of common strengths and weaknesses in applications.

My project was disqualified -- why?

All submitted applications had to meet basic eligibility requirements in the program guidelines to be considered for funding. Some of the main reasons applications were disqualified include:

• Applicant does not reside in one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico
• Program does not take place in the United States
• Application was not written in English
• Applicant was under 14 years of age at the time of submission
• Application was incomplete, inappropriate, or offensive
  
• Application was intended to fund a campaign or election activity
  

How do I change my e-mail on my proposal or account?

You must e-mail the Case Foundation with your old and new e-mail addresses at contactus@casefoundation.org.

How were the Top 100 projects determined?

We gathered a group of people from diverse backgrounds and communities to review and score applications, each of which was evaluated by a minimum of two reviewers. Reviewers chose the best ideas that matched the Make It Your Own Awards guidelines (read What We're Looking For) and identified 100 semifinalists to submit more detailed proposals.

How will the Top 20 projects be determined?

The 100 full proposals will be read and scored by a minimum of two reviewers from a smaller panel of judges that includes Case Foundation staff. They will select the Top 20 finalists, each of whom will receive grants of $10,000 to help turn their ideas into action.

How else can I participate?

Even if you didn't submit a proposal, there are many ways to get involved. You can read more about the top 100 projects here, and in March, you'll be able to vote for your favorite. Please visit the How to Take Action Page to learn more ways to get involved.

Will the Case Foundation run this program again?

While this is the pilot year for the Make It Your Own program, the foundation is excited about applying this citizen-centered approach to philanthropy in the future. You can sign up here to stay informed about upcoming grant opportunities.

Outside of this program, how can I submit a grant proposal?

The foundation continues its standard grant policy of not accepting unsolicited grant proposals. More information about our grant policy and resources or other opportunities for funding may be found here.

Widget wisdom...

What is a widget? And what can I do with it?

A widget is a customizable online tool that functions like a personal advertising banner. It can be used to display the details of your project, such as your monetary goal, how much money has been raised to date, and when your project ends. The widget can be placed on any Web page and many popular social media Web sites, including MySpace and Facebook.

Who is ChipIn?

ChipIn is a Web-based service that simplifies the process of collecting money from groups of people. Its mission is to help users organize group payments and fundraisers quickly and securely. ChipIn, a vendor of the Case Foundation, customized the Make It Your Own widgets for this grants program.

I'm having difficulty viewing a photo/video or posting comments. What can I do?

If you are experiencing technical difficulties you may want to try some basic troubleshooting techniques, such as refreshing your browser, or logging out and then logging back in. If you are still having problems, you can send us an e-mail at contactus@casefoundation.org.

I've found copyrighted material or objectionable content on a widget. What can I do about it?

If you believe you've identified material or content on a widget that is in violation of either copyright or the Case Foundation's Terms of Use, please click on the "report a concern" button at the bottom of the page in question and send us a message.

I'd like to donate to a project. Where does my money go?

In many, if not most cases, funds contributed will be directed to individuals working on the project, not to a charitable organization. The foundation makes no representations as to the tax-deductibility of any such contribution. Contributions are made through the secure online payment processing site, PayPal.com.

How do I comment on the Top 100 proposals?

To post a comment, click on the Project Diary tab, select "add new comment," type in the required information, and click "post comment." Please note that you can only post comments after one of the Top 100 applicants has posted an initial diary entry.

How long can I keep my widget? What happens when the widget expires?

Widgets for applicants not advanced to the Top 100 are hosted by our partner, ChipIn. Your widget initially has one "event," a fundraiser for your Make It Your Own Awards project with a goal of $1,000. This event ends April 30, 2008. After that you can create new events as you wish. Check out the details at  chipin.com.

Widgets and Web pages for applicants in the Top 100 are hosted on the Case Foundation website. Your event will also have a goal of $1,000 and end on April 30, 2008. After that time, if you want to add new events, you'll need to set up your own widget on chipin.com.

Can I make my application private? What if I don't want comments?

When you applied, you agreed to make your application public and accept comments. It's all part of the exciting process of sharing inspired projects with the public by allowing them to read and remark on powerful citizen-centered projects that will help transform communities.

I thought I was supposed to receive a widget. What happened?

Everyone who submitted an application should have received an e-mail with information about their application status on October 18. If you did not receive this e-mail but did submit an application, several things could have happened. For example, you may have incorrectly typed your e-mail address or the message could have been blocked by your spam filter. If you still have questions, please send us a message here and don't forget to include your name, project title, and city/state.

I'm in the Top 100 -- what now...

What is the deadline for my full proposal?

Proposals must be submitted by Thursday, November 12, 2007, at 3 p.m. Eastern. Two signed partner letters of support must be submitted by this deadline as well.

Can I change my proposal after I submit?

No. Applicants have three weeks to answer and edit proposal questions. Once proposals are submitted, we are unable to accept changes.

When will I receive my grant funding, and how long do I have to spend the money?

Grant payments will be made in installments to be determined on an individual basis. The Top 20 $10,000 grant recipients must complete their project by May 2009 unless there is a pressing reason otherwise. The Final Four applicants will be allowed to extend their project up to three years and will also have the option to divide their grant payments over a maximum of three years.

What is required of me if the Case Foundation gives me a grant?

When a private foundation makes grants to anyone other than a public charity, the Internal Revenue Service requires that the foundation exercises "expenditure responsibility." We (this includes you) have to keep track of the grant money and ensure that it is used for charitable purposes. If you fail to do so, we are not fulfilling the charitable mission of the Foundation.

"Expenditure responsibility" requires us to use all reasonable efforts and establish adequate procedures to see that the grant is spent only for the purpose for which it is made; obtain full and complete reports from you on how the funds are spent; and make full and detailed reports on the expenditures to the IRS.

To meet expenditure responsibility requirements, each grant must be subject to a written commitment signed by you. You must agree to repay any amount not used for the purposes of the grant; submit full and complete annual reports to us about how you spent the funds and the progress you made in accomplishing the purposes of the grant; keep records of receipts and expenditures; make your books and records available to us at reasonable times; and not use any of the money to influence legislation or elections, to hold voter registration drives, or to make grants.

What is required of the Case Foundation in giving grants to individuals?

Record-keeping requirements, which apply to all charities that make grants to individuals, oblige us to keep on file in our main office your name and address; the amount distributed to you; the purpose for which aid was given to you; the manner in which you were selected; and the relationship, if any, between you and anyone at the Case Foundation.

We are also required to identify your name on our tax returns. We must make available to the IRS at our main office a signed copy of the grant agreement; a copy of each report received during the tax year from you about your grant; and a copy of each report made by our personnel or independent auditors of audits or other investigations during the tax year concerning your grant.

If I'm awarded a grant, how long do I have to spend the money?

Individuals awarded $10,000 grants will be required to spend funds by the end of 2008. Individuals awarded grants of $35,000 will be able to divide grant payments over the course of three years.

Questions our lawyer thought you should know...

If I am selected as a grant recipient, will I be taxed?

Because the grant is being given to you as an individual, yes, you will be taxed. However, Case Foundation staff will work with you to determine what part of the grant award, if any, will be used as reportable income, and what part will be used for charitable activity (see question below). All grant recipients will receive a Form 1099 from the Case Foundation that reflects the grant, and if appropriate, you will be required to report such funds as income on your federal and state personal income tax returns. Because individual situations vary, you should seek advice from your own tax advisor based on your individual tax circumstances.

What about grant money that I spend on charitable activity?

We purposely designed this program so that you as the grant recipient would have flexibility in determining how to spend your grant. Some recipients will be selected to conduct direct charitable activity on behalf of the Case Foundation, and Foundation staff will work with those individuals to develop budgets and identify expenses that are approved as such. Monies reimbursed will not be considered reportable grant income, but rather as direct charitable expenditures, expended under the direction and supervision of the Foundation. These grant funds may not be taxable to the individual.

What if I receive $100 from the Case Foundation to help jumpstart my idea -- is that taxed?

We recognize that there are more good ideas out there than we are able to fund, so we have developed a tool to help you take fundraising into your own hands. The top 100 semi-finalists will receive $100 preloaded onto a widget as an exchange for the intellectual property license that you grant the Case Foundation (see question below for more details about what this means). The Case Foundation is not required to report amounts paid under $600 to the IRS, although you may be expected to report such funds as income on your federal and state personal income tax returns, consistent with your personal tax circumstances. Because individual situations vary, you should seek advice from your own tax advisor based on your individual tax needs.

If I’m selected in the Top 100, do I have to give the Case Foundation my idea?

A key element of the Make It Your Own Awards is the creation of a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas to allow applicants to have more chances to connect with one another (including those they might disagree with) and figure out how to work together to ignite civic engagement. In order to achieve its mission, the Case Foundation must have a non-exclusive license to legally distribute applicants' materials to a wider audience.

The Case Foundation does not want to "own" your idea (U.S. intellectual property law does not recognize ownership rights in original "ideas" or concepts.) Rather, we want to share your idea to benefit the common good, and we want you to nurture and develop your idea in the form you envision.

Applicants are expected to give the Case Foundation a non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, make derivative works, display, publish, and perform any copyrights or copyrighted material submitted for grant consideration. A non-exclusive license does not transfer copyright ownership, but rather it gives the Case Foundation the right to exercise one or more of the copyright owner's rights on a non-exclusive basis. For example, this license allows the Foundation to post the applicant's proposal on its website or publish related material in print. This does not prevent the owner from giving others permission to exercise the same right at the same time. More simply, a non-exclusive license does not give the Foundation ownership of the materials, but rather it is a legal form of sharing materials with the owner.

Getting started...

When does voting begin and end?

You can begin voting for your favorite four Make It Your Own Awards^TM finalists on March 25, 2008. Voting ends on April 22, 2008. You will then have until 3:00 p.m. EDT on April 23, 2008, to confirm your vote.

How do I vote for the Final Four?

To cast a voting ballot, you must select four of the Top 20 Make It Your Own Awards finalists. A ballot that identifies fewer than four finalists will not be counted.

To select your Final Four, simply scroll over the project name where it appears on the ballot, and click "vote for me" on the informational pop-up window for that project.

Each project you select should appear on the ballot on the right side of the page. Once you have identified four projects, click "submit your vote" at the bottom of the ballot form.

After submitting your vote, you will be redirected to a voting verification and security screen. Here you will have the opportunity to review your ballot, and reset your selections if so desired. If you are satisfied with your selections, you will need to provide a valid e-mail address and then confirm that address. Only one ballot is permitted per e-mail address and per person.

On this same page, you will be asked to type some "fuzzy" words into a CAPTCHA field. This ensures that only real people, not computers, are submitting ballots. You will also need to agree to the Make It Your Own Awards Online Voting Rules for your ballot to be accepted. Additionally, you will have the option to join the Case Foundation's mailing list to receive periodic updates about our activities and programs.

After completing the information on this page, simply click "submit vote." A new page will appear with a very important message reminding you to check your e-mail inbox to officially confirm your vote. Shortly after submitting your vote, a message will be sent to the e-mail address you provided containing a link to confirm your votes. ALL VOTES MUST BE CONFIRMED NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. EDT ON APRIL 23. PLEASE NOTE: YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT UNLESS OR UNTIL YOU RESPOND TO OUR CONFIRMATION E-MAIL.

How can I get $2,500 for my favorite charity?

By voting you are taking an active role in helping people bring ideas for their communities to life. And because we want to spread the spirit of giving and reward the people that take the time to support these great community projects, we’re giving a $2,500 Good Card to the first 10 people to correctly pick the Final Four grantees. The money can be used to make donations to any U.S-based charity.

Please note that only charities featured on the Network for Good website are eligible as potential recipients. You may wish to review the site's criteria for including such charities.

Why did the Case Foundation choose to employ online voting?

We see online voting as a great way to get the entire community involved in the philanthropic process. These projects are all about bringing people together to identify shared concerns and develop solutions. And by letting real people -- not organizations or judges -- decide which projects should receive grants, everyone has the opportunity to play an active role in helping make our communities better places to live, work, and play.

Rules and regulations...

Why must I select four projects?

After observing a number of online voting initiatives, the Case Foundation determined that having to choose multiple finalists rather than just one will help to ensure the integrity of the Make It Your Own Awards program.

We do not want this process to simply be a popularity contest. We encourage each and every voter to review the projects submitted by all 20 finalists, and make an informed decision about which four they believe are the most deserving of $25,000 to help their dreams become a reality. THIS IS WHY YOUR VOTES WILL NOT BE COUNTED UNLESS YOU SELECT FOUR INDIVIDUAL FINALISTS.

Are my ballot selections ranked?

No. Each of your four selections has equal weighting.

Can I vote more than once?

No. The spirit of the Make It Your Own Awards is "one person, one vote." This helps ensure a fairer, more equitable outcome.

Can I submit more than one vote from the same IP address?

While we are only allowing one vote per e-mail address and individual, we do understand that more than one person may be associated with the same IP address. However, we reserve the right to review multiple submissions from the same IP address in an effort to prevent fraud and intentional "gaming" of the system.

Can I submit my vote in any other way?

No. You can only vote for the Final Four via the online ballot. Any other attempts at submitting a ballot -- e.g., by standard mail, e-mail, or text message -- will not be counted. If you don't have a computer of your own, you might consider using a friend's computer or a computer at a public library, community center, school, or place of worship.

Is there a minimum age requirement for voting?

Yes. You must be 13 years of age or older to vote. For additional information, please refer to the Case Foundation's Privacy Policy.

How can I change my vote?

There are two ways to change your vote:

• To remove a singular selection in your Final Four picks on the right-hand side of the ballot, click on the "x" to the right of the selected organization's image. To remove all of your selections, on the right-hand side of the ballot submission page there is a button at the bottom that gives you the option to "reset your selections." By clicking on this button, you will return to the voting ballot page, where you can reselect your Final Four.
• After clicking on "submit your vote" as described above, you will be redirected to a voting verification and security page. There are two ways to change your vote from this page. Underneath the snapshot of your selections, you can click on "reset your selection" to return to the voting ballot page, where you can reselect your Final Four. Alternatively, underneath the "submit vote" button on the right-hand side, you can click on "Back to Ballot" to return to the voting ballot page and update your selections.

Once you enter your e-mail address, fill out the CAPTCHA field, agree to the Make It Your Own Awards Online Voting Rules, and click "submit vote," you will no longer be able to change your selections.

What will the Case Foundation do in the event of a tie?

In the event that there is a tie, such that more than four finalists have received the same highest number of votes, the grants shall be awarded to the four finalists that are the first to receive the highest number of votes, based on the date and time these votes are confirmed.

After I've voted...

How are the votes counted?

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. EDT on April 23, the Case Foundation will review all of the confirmed voting ballots, and count the number of votes that each finalist receives. On or about May 1, the Case Foundation will announce on its website which finalists received the highest number of votes.

Please note that the Case Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any ballot that it determines was submitted in violation of the Make It Your Own Awards Online Voting Rules.

Is there a way to know who's leading the vote?

No. In an effort to maintain fairness and the spirit of philanthropy, we will not provide any indication of the finalists' standings during the voting process. We believe that doing so would also jeopardize the fairness of our pledge to award $2,500 to the charities that will be chosen by the first 10 voters whose ballot selections match the final four finalists. Learn more.

When will the Final Four be announced?

The top four finalists will be publicly announced on or about May 1.

When will the Final Four be notified?

The top four finalists will be notified in advance of the public announcement that will be made on or about May 1.

Are there ways besides voting in which I can support my favorite projects?

Absolutely. You can encourage others to vote for your favorite projects and visit the individual projects' Web pages to learn how to donate and help spread the word.

Technical and legal concerns...

I'm experiencing technical difficulties when trying to vote. Do you have any advice?

If you are having difficulty when voting with our Flash ballot, we recommend you use our HTML voting ballot  instead. Using this simpler form should help resolve many technical issues. If you continue to have problems, please send us a detailed explanation here.

I have not received an e-mail confirming my vote. Is something wrong?

The online voting system is designed to deliver a confirmation e-mail to those who have successfully completed all of the steps in voting for their Final Four.

If you do not receive this e-mail from us, please first make sure that you have selected four projects, submitted your vote, verified your vote, and provided a valid e-mail address.

Then, check your junk folder for our message, since it might have been captured by your e-mail provider's spam filter. It might also help to add the following e-mail addresses to your "safe senders" list: miyo@election-america.com and the_case_foundation@mail.vresp.com.

Please note we will be sending a series of confirmation e-mails to unconfirmed voters. So if you voted successfully, but did not receive an initial confirmation message, you should receive another soon.

If you continue to have problems, please send us a detailed explanation here.

Will my personal information be shared with any third parties?

The Case Foundation is mindful of the concerns you might have about personal information that you provide as a voter for the Make It Your Own Awards. At all times, the Case Foundation's collection and use of any personal information you provide is governed by the terms of its Privacy Policy.

What can I do if I still have questions?

If you can't find the answer to a question you have regarding the voting process, please e-mail contactus@casefoundation.org. Someone will respond to your query within 48 hours.