What We're Looking For (applications now closed)

We recognize that improving communities takes ongoing commitment and persistent action from the people who live in them. That's why we will provide funds to individuals, and individuals working with small organizations and groups, who join together to imagine and implement innovative ideas and solutions that lay the groundwork for long-term social change. We want to lift up these efforts to show that they're not happening in isolation, but are part of a growing movement that can, and will, transform our communities.

We want a range of ideas, so we're keeping it broad. But we do have the following guidelines for how we will choose grant recipients. Your application should show that you do the following:

• Address a need or cause your community thinks is important (by community, we mean anything from your neighborhood, city or town, a particular group, or an online network);
  
• Join forces with others in your community to discuss common issues, and form solutions and take action together;
• Encourage people from different backgrounds and viewpoints to get involved;
  
• Plan for the long-term by laying the groundwork for ongoing public spaces in your community;
• Reflect the values of citizen-centered change (visit www.casefoundation.org/citizens to learn more about this concept); and
• Demonstrate that you've thought through your ideas.

One thing to know: We're looking for good ideas, not just good grant writers. In other words, don't fret if you've never written a grant before. We care more about what you have to say than how you say it. So forget the big words and fancy format, and feel free to "get real" with us.

What We're NOT Looking for:

In order to make this grant program work, we knew we needed to set some limits. So here they are. We will not consider the following:

• Solo acts -- We're looking for people who spark ideas, but who aren't running the show on their own. This is all about people and passionate teams coming together as equal partners, sharing leadership in the process.
• Ideas, campaigns, or efforts that are "decided on" by one person or organization, as opposed to a group decision process involving people of many types and backgrounds.
• Ideas that represent a political view or other type of belief that excludes some groups of people.
• Efforts that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, national origin, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.
• Projects that are created and organized by and for professional staff.
• Lobbying or election campaign activities.
  
• Projects that focus solely on training or educating on a predefined issue or agenda.

Grant funds at the $10,000 and $25,000 levels are to be used to implement the idea outlined in the application and full proposal. This is not a prize for good works already done, but fuel to help move a great idea forward. Grant funds will be paid out over the course of one year in a schedule to be determined by the Case Foundation. Grant recipients at this level must also submit reports to the Case Foundation during the project year. Content and timeline for the reports will be decided before grant distribution, and will be required to meet the terms of the Case Foundation Grant Agreement.

• Click here to see an example of a completed application.

Our Core Values

The information below, taken from Citizens at the Center, the paper that inspired this grant program, should help you figure out if your ideas or projects are in line with the type of "citizen-centered" approaches we're looking to fund.