> Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > From: Doug Henwood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [PEN-L:9594] civil society > . . . > market. Since so much of the "third sector" is ruled by big-money > foundations, it seems to me that present usage is unconsciously > acknowledging the term's origins, while still professing to offer balance > to the "market." I hate to encourage foundation-bashing. Obviously I think the work of those so funded is frequently more useful than some believe, since EPI, among others, would not exist without foundation dough. But I thought you would be interested in the following: Date sent: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 23:38:25 -0400 Send reply to: welfare reform research <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: Jackie Chu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Welfare resources To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: welfarem-l participants From: Jackie Chu, IWPR A couple of announcements: 1) DHHS has a new resource they're posted this month (April 1997) entitled "Welfare Reform Implementation Package." It has a variety of welfare related web links and other resources. Web address follows: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/news/welfare/wrpack.htm 2) A little while back, someone had asked about welfare reform and privatization. The Welfare Information Network has a a newsletter devoted to this issue. The web address is www.welfareinfo.org/hot.htm. 3) For those of you who may not have seen the following announcement, your organization may be able to apply for funding through a new grants program for Groups Working on State Welfare Redesign. Please read the info. below to see if your organization is eligible: Three national nonprofit organizations concerned about the impact of "welfare reform" on low-income people have obtained foundation funding with which to provide grant support to a limited number of nonprofit organizations providing policy analysis and/or a base for grassroots action on state decisions on redesigning welfare programs. To be eligible, policy analysis groups generally must be working at the state level; grassroots organizations and coalitions can be working in a smaller geographic area, but should be willing and able to work in a larger statewide effort or be preparing to play a leadership role in organizing low-income involvement in such an effort. SECOND DEADLINE FOR STATE WELFARE REDESIGN GRANTS is approaching. The grants committee awarded $800,000 in the first round of funding. The next deadline for proposals is May 15, 1997. Applications should be postmarked no later than May 15 to be considered. Decisions will be announced no later than July 15. The grants committee continues to strongly encourage applications that involve collaboration between policy analysis groups at the state level and grassroots organizations and coalitions. To receive an RFP and additional information about the first round of grant awards, please dial Fax on Demand at 703/716-7349 and request document # 1233. The RFP is also available on HandsNet in the Resources/What's Available Folder. You may also contact CCC at 202/342-0567, x 363. STATE WELFARE REDESIGN GRANTS POOL OVERVIEW The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (HN0026), the Center for Law and Social Policy (HN3067) and the Center for Community Change (HN0688) have sought and secured foundation funding for a project to fund state organizations. The project will fund nonprofit organizations and coalitions in a number of states to conduct policy analysis, to educate and inform low-income constituencies and their allies about the recently enacted federal welfare law and to engage them directly in the state policy debates and decisions concerning the implementation of the new law. Policy and direction for the project is set by the three sponsoring organizations. The project will be administered by the Center for Community Change. Under the new welfare law, states will be responsible for making virtually all decisions that will determine the nature and scope of income support programs for poor families in their jurisdictions. For example, states will decide: - whether to provide cash assistance, and if so, to whom and at what levels; - whether parents will be allowed to enroll in job training and education programs or whether mandated work activities will be limited to job search and work placements; - whether work programs are waged-based or are workfare programs in which recipients work off their grants' for minimum wage or less; - whether child care assistance will be provided to many of the parents who must comply with work requirements; - whether low-wage earners will be eligible for any kind of income supplement either through the welfare system, a state earned income credit, or other program; - whether to retain welfare and Medicaid eligibility for poor legal immigrants who entered the United States before the enactment of the new welfare law and whether to provide state-funded assistance to poor legal immigrants, particularly children and elderly and disabled people, who will lose eligibility for various forms of federal assistance; - whether to redesign food stamp rules to comport with new state cash assistance rules and, if so, whether poor families that receive no housing assistance and pay more than half of their income for rent will continue to receive additional food stamp assistance; - whether to establish rainy-day funds or other state budget mechanisms so states have revenues if funding shortfalls develop in the future, as in recessions. As states proceed to make decisions regarding their low-income assistance programs, the perspectives, concerns and voices of the low-income populations that will be most affected by the changes, and their allies need to be brought into the debate, and the impact of various program options under consideration need to be examined in light of those perspectives and concerns. The State Welfare Redesign Grants Pool is intended to assist state level nonprofit policy analysis groups, low-income grassroots groups and other advocacy organizations and coalitions to participate more effectively as states decide how to address the needs of low-income residents in the implementation of the new federal welfare law. The project seeks proposals from such groups to address issues arising directly out of the recently enacted federal welfare law. Typically, the project will look to support both a policy analysis group and a grassroots organization or coalition in any state. A policy group or groups and a grassroots group or groups may apply jointly for a grant. Also, a single organization may apply to do both policy analysis work and grassroots advocacy. In some cases grants may be awarded to more than one or two organizations in a state. A major objective of the State Welfare Redesign Grants Pool, beyond the immediate concerns related to the implementation of the new federal welfare law, is to enhance the capacity and power of state policy and grassroots groups and coalitions for the long term and increase the collaboration between them. Funding decisions will be made by a grant committee consisting of representatives of the three sponsoring organizations, individuals from the Children's Defense Fund, the National Council of La Raza and the Applied Research Center, and three persons with experience in public policy analysis and/or grassroots organizing at the state and local level. In general, no single grant award will exceed $50,000 and many may be smaller, except, possibly, in cases when policy groups and grassroots groups and coalitions apply jointly. The number of states in which grants will be made will be limited. The project currently has approximately $900,000 to grant this year, More funds are being sought but there is no guarantee that additional funds will be obtained this year or that any second year grants will be made. In any case, please note that these are one year grants and, if funds are available for a second year, a reapplication process will be required. The first deadline for proposals is March 1, 1997. That is not the final deadline. The grant committee has adopted a rolling' application process. Some funds from the amount currently on hand will be reserved for proposals received after March 1, 1997. For proposals received by March 1, 1997, the grant committee hopes to make funding decisions within 45 days. Proposals will be accepted before the March 1, 1997 deadline. In exceptional circumstances, an applicant may make the case for an expedited decision. Organizations planning to submit proposals after May 1, 1997 should contact the Center for Community Change after April 15 for an update on deadlines and procedures. ELIGIBILITY A group must have its own tax-exempt status [501(c)(3)] or be a nonprofit organization and have another [501(c)(3)] organization agree to be a fiscal agent. An organization using a fiscal agent should include with its proposal a letter from the fiscal agent confirming this arrangement, and a copy of the fiscal agent's IRS determination letter. Policy analysis groups generally must be working at the state level to be eligible. Grassroots coalitions and organizations can be working in a smaller geographical area, but should be willing and able to work in a larger statewide effort or be preparing to play a leadership role in organizing low-income involvement in such an effort. SELECTION CRITERIA The grant committee will consider the following criteria in judging proposals: Policy Environment The extent to which there are opportunities during the grant period to focus on state low-income assistance policies related to the implementation of the new law, to help create positive innovative approaches to such issues as income support or employment and/or to help fend off approaches which are likely to result in harm to low-income households. b) The extent to which the policy development climate in a state makes it possible that the work of policy groups, grassroots groups and their allies and/or a coordinated effort can make a difference, within a reasonably short time frame, in the shaping of policies affecting low-income people. How the Grant Would Make a Difference The extent to which the level of funding contemplated under this grant would enable policy work, grassroots activity and a coordinated effort between the two to occur or significantly improve the way in which that work is undertaken. Track Record of Applicant In the case of existing organizations applying to do policy analysis work, a reputation for the credibility and timeliness of policy analysis and a track record of providing such analyses in ways which are accessible to policymakers, the media, and a wide range of advocacy organizations. In the case of newly forming organizations, the reputations of the individuals involved from their previous work. In either case, evidence of effective outreach and collaboration, particularly with respect to low-income constituencies and grassroots organizations. For grassroots organizations or coalitions applying to engage the participation of low- income individuals, or community groups representing low-income constituencies, that are affected by the changes in the law, a proven record of engaging large numbers of low-income and/or minority people in policy debates. Organizations should have evidence of the impact their prior activities have had on policies and examples of winning strategies. Links to Other Groups/Allies Organization(s) should have a track record or a specific plan and willingness to build bridges between policy analysis work and grassroots activities in their states. Consideration will be given to organizations that also seek to build support for positive changes within broader constituencies, including linking non-traditional allies with low-income constituencies. Replication Consideration will be given to the extent to which decisions in a particular state are likely to influence or become a model for decisions by other states. Consideration will also be given to proposals involving innovative policy and grassroots strategies that might provide positive models for organizations in other states or which involve innovative approaches to reduce poverty. Numbers Affected The number of poor people to be affected by the proposed work and the extent of the impact of the proposed work on the lives of low-income people will be taken into account. Diversity of Staff and Board The diversity of organizations' staffs and boards will be considered, both with respect to race and gender and to connections to low-income constituencies through their boards or other means. =================================================== Max B. Sawicky Economic Policy Institute [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1660 L Street, NW 202-775-8810 (voice) Ste. 1200 202-775-0819 (fax) Washington, DC 20036 Opinions above do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone associated with the Economic Policy Institute. ===================================================
