Evaluation Criteria
These criteria are intended to guide consideration of proposals, but are not considered to be "absolutes." In some cases, individual proposals might be worthy of funding even if they do not fully meet all of the criteria. A round of grants, or more holistically, several rounds of grants, collectively represent an overall mosaic. The goal of the Fund is that its mosaic of grantees and projects represents the diversity of Northern California's environmental issues, strategies and communities.
- Does the proposal address the goals of the Fund?
- How important is the overall issue addressed by the proposal?
- Is the work plan clear and reasonable?
- What is the strategic value of the applicant's work?
- Is the issue or workplan urgent?
- Is the budget realistic? Can the work be done for the amount requested? Is there a viable plan to raise any additional needed funds?
- Does the organization have the capacity and leadership to complete the workplan?
- Does the project impact underserved communities? Are those communities reflected in the group's board and staff?
- Does the project help build a broad environmental constituency?
- Does the project have an effective outreach strategy?
- Is the project likely to produce clearly defined results?
