THE MILLENNIUM TRUST
A Fund of The Community Foundation
REQUEST FOR CONCEPT LETTERS
DUE BY 5 p.m. MAY 3, 2002

INTRODUCTION
The Millennium Trust was established as a permanent fund of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County to serve the needs of Boulder County residents into the future. It was created by donations from thousands of Boulder County residents who each gave their last hour of income in 1999. The Millennium Trust was created to help meet the needs of the new millennium in the areas of the arts, environment, civic involvement, education, and/or health and human services.

Each year, Millennium Trust donors are selected at random to serve on the Advisory Committee. This 25 member group determines the Millennium Trust funding priorities for the year and will make grant recommendations to The Community Foundation Board of Trustees.

FUNDING FOCUS FOR 2002
The Millennium Trust Advisory Committee is seeking concept letters for projects that will strengthen our community by reaching across barriers to connect with our future. Examples of the barriers to be crossed include, but are not limited to, socioeconomic status, age, geographic location, ethnicity, philosophy, or occupation. The Committee is particularly seeking to fund efforts that both involve youth and empower them to reach across these barriers. Proposed projects may be county wide in scope, or be focused on a much smaller community. Be bold. Be innovative.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Nonprofit, governmental or other public groups interested in applying for grants from the Millennium Trust are invited to submit a concept letter describing the proposed project. The Millennium Trust Advisory Committee will review the concept letters and choose a number of finalists to submit a full application. Applicants should submit ten copies of the following:

I. A concept letter, which should be no longer than two typed pages and should include:

• Who will be involved in the project;
• What the project will accomplish and how it will be accomplished;
• How the proposal meets the funding focus for 2002;
• Why the project is important for participants and other residents of Boulder County;
• The time frame for accomplishing the project;
• How to keep the project going in the future (if applicable);
• How much money is requested.

II. Organization Summary

III. A separate budget page, listing expenses and brief descriptions of how each expense supports the proposal, should accompany the narrative description.

IV. Proof of your tax-exempt status – only one copy is necessary.

V. A signed copy of The Community Foundation’s Anti-Discrimination Policy saying that your organization is in compliance with the statement, or a copy of your organization’s anti-discrimination policy – only one copy is necessary.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Projects must meet the funding focus for 2002
• Applicants can be any non-profit organization with an IRS 501(c)(3) designation or any governmental or public entity. (Groups or organizations that do not have IRS 501(c)(3) designation may only apply in partnership with one of the nonprofit designations listed above.)
• The group or organization must provide services or conduct the proposed activities within Boulder County for the benefit of Boulder County residents.
• The Millennium Trust does not fund projects that further a particular religious or political doctrine.

FUNDING RANGE
The Millennium Trust will award at least $50,000 in grants in 2002. The Millennium Trust Advisory Committee expects to consider proposals within a range of $500 to $25,000. Grant requests ranging from $500 to $15,000 are preferred. Proposals for multi-year funding may be considered.

EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT WILL BE FAVORABLY CONSIDERED
(Please note that these are only examples, and are not intended to limit your initiative or imagination)

• Projects that place at-risk youth with senior citizens for cross generational learning and development;
• Projects that find an outlet for the many talents teenagers have to offer the community, and/or that encourage our youth to find solutions to community problems;
• Projects that provide opportunities for youth to develop leadership and good citizenship skills;
• Projects that place any at-risk group into an environment of learning new skills and opportunities to succeed;
• Art that celebrates diversity, identifies barriers, and/or involves the resources of several populations;
• Innovative and creative programs to engage our community in volunteerism;
• Empowering projects that focus on transforming differences from barriers into resources.

TIME LINE

Concept letters are due by 5:00 p.m Friday, May 3rd in the office of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. You can mail or hand-deliver ten copies to:

The Community Foundation, 1123 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Sorry, we cannot accept faxed or e-mailed proposals.

For more information, please contact Morgan Rogers or Lindsey Delaplaine at The Community Foundation, 303-442-0436 or email info@commfound.org