Rose Foundation | Grassroots Training

The Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund is launching a new training scholarship program to help grantees expand their organizational and administrative skills. We hope that boosting your group’s “back office” capacity will help you achieve greater success in all your programs.

Any organization that has received a grant from the Grassroots Fund is eligible. The Fund will pay 80% of the registration costs and will provide a modest travel stipend for grantees traveling more than 75 miles round-trip to attend. A grantee can send more than one person to a training, or send a representative to multiple trainings, but the most that will be awarded to any one group is $200 per year, not including travel reimbursements. Being awarded a scholarship does not change your group’s eligibility for regular grants from the Grassroots Fund.

Eligible trainings include, but are not limited to: fundraising, bookkeeping, communications, branding, board development, personnel or volunteer management, computer skills, and forming a nonprofit corporation.

To apply for a scholarship, review the application instructions and fill out the one-page application. Fax, email or mail the application to us at least 14 days before the training that you want to attend. The Grassroots Fund will send a check made out to the grantee organization (or fiscal sponsor) in 2 weeks or less. This check will include any travel reimbursements. You are responsible for enrolling in the training with the training provider directly (don’t send any training registration forms to us).

To help you find a training in your area, we have included a list of possible training providers. You don’t have to go to a training provider on this list to get a scholarship. Check your local area – for example, many high school extension programs and community colleges offer good trainings in computer skills, bookkeeping, etc.

We hope that you will be able to take advantage of the training scholarship program. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. And, give us feedback about how well the program works, or does not work, for you. This is a new program – telling us about your experiences will help us make it better for everyone.

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Program Description
The Grassroots Fund’s Training Scholarship Program provides scholarships to Grassroots Fund grantees to attend trainings that help develop organizational skills such as fundraising, bookkeeping, communications, board development, personnel management, computer skills and IRS 501(c)(3) issues like lobbying. All grantees of the Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund are eligible. Any Grassroots grantee organization will receive up to $200 of training scholarships per year. The scholarships cover 80% of the registration costs, and require a 20% match from the grantee. (For example, if the training cost is $100, the Grassroots Fund would pay $80 and the grantee would pay $20.) Approval of the scholarship request is automatic for all eligible grantees up to the $200 per year cap. Additionally, those traveling more than 75 miles round trip to attend a training will receive a modest travel stipend.

Application Instructions & Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a training scholarship? Download the application. Fill it out, then fax, email or regular mail the completed form back to us. If you don’t have computer access, call (510) 658-0702.

How do I know if my group is eligible? Your group is eligible if you have received a grant from the Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund.

What trainings are available? You can go to any non-profit related training you want. We have a weblist here. Check www.compasspoint.org (Bay Area) and www.nonprofitresourctr.org (Sacramento & Fresno) for extensive listings. Try www.afj.org for on-line workshops on lobbying regulations. Check with local community foundations for trainings. Sessions may also be available at community colleges and adult schools. Some United Way chapters offer free trainings.

Can I use the scholarship to cover registration fees for conferences or workshops about issues like fisheries, forests, sustainable development or environmental justice? No. The purpose of the scholarships is to develop organizational skills that will further your program work. But it does not directly fund program-related activities.

Can I use the scholarship for a holistic health, yoga or similar type of workshop? No. The program is for developing organizational skills, not mental or physical health.

How do I register for a training? Contact Compass Point, Nonprofit Resource Center or other training provider. Fill out their registration form and send it to them with your full payment. IMPORTANT: DO NOT send your training registration form and payment to the Grassroots Fund. Only send us the scholarship application.

Do I need to apply for the scholarship before I register for the training? No. Training Scholarships are automatic for all grantees. But if you cant afford to wait for the 80% scholarship, its OK to get the scholarship first.

How long does it take to get my scholarship request processed? It takes about 2 weeks from the time we get your application form until you have a scholarship check in your mailbox.

May my group send more than one person to a training? Yes, grantees may send multiple people to a training – but the most any group can receive in one year is $200 (plus travel).

How much do trainings cost? It varies a lot depending on whether the training session is a full day or just a couple of hours (range is usually $40 -$150).

What if the training costs less than $200? That’s OK, just apply for 80% of the cost. For example, if the training costs $100, your group receives $80.

What if the training costs more than $200? That’s OK, just apply for 80% of the cost up to a total scholarship of $200. For example, if you want to send two people to a training, and it costs $150 each, send in a request for the $200 annual maximum.

Do you reimburse travel? Yes. Travel reimbursement is provided based on distance and does NOT count against the $200 annual scholarship cap.

If your roundtrip mileage to the training is less than 75 miles, reimbursement is $0.

If your roundtrip mileage is between 76 – 125 miles, reimbursement is $25.

If your roundtrip mileage is between 126 – 175 miles, reimbursement is $50.

If your roundtrip mileage is 176 miles or more, reimbursement is $75.

Does the travel reimbursement count as part of the $200 scholarship cap? No.
How do I apply for travel reimbursement? There is a section on the application form for travel reimbursement. Just fill it out with the rest of the form. Your travel reimbursement will be included with your scholarship check.

I don’t know exactly how far away the training is, so I don’t know if I qualify for travel reimbursement? One way you can find out the round trip mileage is to go to www.mapquest.com and enter your starting point (home or office) and your ending point (the address of the training). You can get driving directions and mileage.

If I don’t go to any trainings this year, can I roll it over into next year and receive $400 in reimbursements next year? No. You have to use it or lose it.

We don’t need a training, we just need more money – can’t we just use the $200 for our programs? No. Go to a training program about how to raise money.

My group is really broke and we can’t afford to pay the 20% share – will the Grassroots Fund pay a 100% scholarship? No. We believe that people take trainings a lot more seriously if they are footing part of the bill.

How far in advance of the training do I have to apply for the scholarship? We must have your completed application form in the office at least 14 days before the training.

What if I just found out about a great training next week? By all means, go to the training if you want, but you will not receive a scholarship.

What happens if I receive a scholarship and then don’t go to the training? If you receive a scholarship and then don’t go to the training you must refund the entire scholarship.

Are scholarship and travel reimbursement checks awarded to the grantee organization or to the individual attending the training? All awards and reimbursements will be paid to the organization, not to individuals.

NONPROFIT TRAINING RESOURCES

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