Opportunity for Funding

 Children and Families Success Grant

FY23 Budget Amendment: Adds $250,000.00 in funding to the Office of Community Services for Child Care Assistance

Applications are now closed.

Please submit completed applications by Monday, September 5th, 2022 at 11:59 PM through the application portal.

 If funds are still available after that date, the grant portal will reopen on January 9th, 2023, and begin accepting new applications on a rolling basis until funding runs out.

 If you have any questions please feel free to contact The Office of Community Services at (410) 263-7997 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by email via communityservices@annapolis.gov.

Summary Statement: 

In the summer of 2020, Councilman DaJuan Gay presented an amendment seeking additional funds to support child care services in the City of Annapolis, with the intention of helping youth of our city access enrichment and learning development programs through the Children and Families Success Grant. 

The City of Annapolis’ Office of Community Services’ (OCS) vision is to foster healthier, safer, empowered and thriving communities. In efforts to continue supporting and developing programs that will build community resilience and support systems for families, we are opening a new opportunity for funding for community based organizations to open, expand and/or enhance specialty programs that provide structured activities for youth with adult oversight at a physical location that develop physical, emotional, social, behavioral, and/or intellectual capacities for youth.

Specialty programs can include, but are not limited to: recreation, sports, arts, science and technology programs, youth development, learning & education, enrichment programs, crafts, life skill building, access to new opportunities, wellness projects, etc. Programs must be able to show how they are preventing adverse childhood experiences and providing access and opportunities for youth from the low-income families of Annapolis. Innovative programs and strategies are encouraged, and programs with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion will be prioritized. 

We are seeking community organizations and leaders to develop and expand activities throughout the summer and fall for youth with limited opportunities. We are especially interested in funding projects in low income neighborhoods run by community leaders. Projects that help to address the need for child care services and youth development throughout the summer, or programming offered from 2:00pm-7:00pm as after school programming, are especially encouraged.

Objectives: 

• To provide culturally competent programs that promote children’s development physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially;
• To provide environments for children to feel safe and empowered, learning to tackle challenges, and build self-confidence;
• To provide opportunity for socialization for children that have spent two years connecting virtually, at a distance or not at all, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; 
• To provide access to enrichment activities, and therefore decrease the opportunity gap for low-income children; and
• To provide a safe space for children from working families that cannot afford after-school or summer programming.

Funding amount: 

On June 10th, 2022, the City Council of Annapolis voted and approved an amendment to add $250,000.00 in funding to the Office of Community Services for childcare assistance programs for the 2023 fiscal year through one-time funds. This funding will be used to fund activities for youth in marginalized communities in efforts to increase access to quality programs and support for families with limited access to childcare services. OCS will fund up to $50,000.00 per grant proposal, and a minimum of five organizations with programs dedicated to supporting Annapolis youth. Organizations with successful evidence based programs, that can showcase work done within Annapolis communities, or that can bring in community members to the project proposal are encouraged to apply. 

This funding is not intended to cover organization’s operational expenses beyond what is necessary for the successful implementation of the project proposed and its evaluation.

Funding Period: 

Fiscal Year 2023: July 2022 - June 2023.

Eligibility: 

The Office of Community Services will only fund programs presented by organizations with a 501(c)3 Status and/or businesses that will use awarded funding to provide scholarships to their program or to develop activities that will be provided at no cost to participants. We encourage and welcome applications from organizations working together with youth to develop programs by and for themselves, with the logistical and financial support of the applying organization.

Grantees will be required to submit a mid- program and final report, as well as participate in three meetings with OCS staff.

Application Requirements and Guidelines:

Grants will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis until September 5th at 11:59 p.m. Depending on funding availability after that date, we will reopen the portal January 9th, 2023 until funding runs out within the 2023 Fiscal Year.

Instructions:

Complete all parts and questions in the application portal (Link: https://arcg.is/10eWOT). If the application is left incomplete, it will not be deemed fundable. If your organization is unable to submit through the application portal, please contact Laura Gutierrez, Manager, Office of Community Services, by calling (410) 263-7997 or emailing lgutierrez@annapolis.gov for approval to submit your application in paper at City Hall (160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401) or via email to communityservices@annapolis.gov.

• It is recommended that you copy the complete set of questions for the application here into a separate document and once they are completed, to copy them into the application portal. The questions can be accessed here. 
• Character limits are recommended, but not strictly enforced, but we ask that applicants try not to exceed 50 characters past the advised limit. 
• A budget template can be accessed here as a guiding document, but organizations can submit their own template, so long as all the funds that are requested are itemized and explained in the budget.