Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grant FAQ’s

Grant FAQ’s

What is the purpose of this grant? 

This grant program is intended to pay for services, programs and initiatives administered by nonprofit entities that directly assist individuals and families experiencing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Can individuals apply for this grant? 

No. The Community Foundation will not give direct cash assistance to individuals. This grant supports nonprofit entity programs and initiatives which directly assist individuals disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Individuals in need of assistance should contact the nonprofit grant recipients directly, or click the following links to organizations in Summit County that are currently providing direct support: 

Housing 
Jewish Family Service 
Utah Community Action 
Christian Center of Park City, Counseling Office 
Salvation Army 

Food
Christian Center of Park City, Food Pantry 
Community Action Services & Food Pantry, Kamas 

Mental / Physical Health
People’s Health Clinic
Christian Center of Park City, Counseling & Wellness Office
Jewish Family Service 
Peace House 
Connect Summit County

Can for-profit businesses apply for this grant? 

No. Summit County businesses can seek information regarding the following opportunities:

Summit County’s CARES Act Small Business Grant Program 
Park City Municipal CARES Grant Program
Perlman Relief Fund, managed by Jewish Family Service

Who can apply for this grant? 

This grant is meant for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations with programs and initiatives which service one or more Areas of Support noted on the Grant Guidelines page.  

What is the difference between this grant and a Community Response Fund grant? 

We highly encourage organizations to apply to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. However, if your organization has an immediate need which cannot wait until the December 9th award date, please contact diego@parkcitycf.org to discuss a Community Response Fund grant. 

Can an organization submit an application on behalf of a partnership? 

Yes. Two or more nonprofit organizations may apply as a collaborative effort to address an area of support. 

Can an organization submit more than one application? 

Preference is one application per organization. We recognize organizations 1) may be applying for multiple areas of support, and 2) organizations may be partnering. In the case of a partnership, we will consider the applicant’s main point of contact as the lead organization. 

For example, a health provider may have a proposal to increase health care service (proposal A) as well as creating capacity for benefits enrollment assistance (proposal B). Both proposal A and proposal B should be included in one application from the health care provider (with a budget per proposal).  

Can schools apply for this grant? 

Publicly funded schools in Summit County, UT can apply for this grant. Grant agreements will be crafted specifically for these entities with regard to how funds are specifically spent.   

Can houses of worship apply for this grant? 

Houses of worship in Summit County, UT who service one or more Areas of Support listed below can apply for this grant. Grant Agreements will be crafted specifically for these entities with regard to how funds are specifically spent.  

How do I submit a Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grant application? 

All organizations wishing to apply for a Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grant must submit a full application using the online application form by November 10, 2020.  

What are key elements of the grant application? 

Please see the Review Criteria on the grant guidelines to learn what should be included. An organization’s narrative should keep in mind:

  • Word count: 1500 or less.
  • Identify the Area(s) of Support.
  • Demonstration of need, challenge.
  • Description of the proposed project, program, or solution.
  • Demographic description of project / program beneficiaries.
  • Given the uncertainty of the pandemic, a summary of scenario planning from both an organization and program / project specific perspective. For example, if your focus is on education access, what would your program / project look like and require if schools revert to all remote learning.

The details of the application should include items such as the need being met, strategy to meet the need, and desired quantitative and qualitative outcomes. It is also important to mention any partner organizations, amount requested, and data or specific community feedback which drive the organization to want to undertake its proposal. 

How many organizations will receive grant awards?

The total amount of money to be awarded is $1 million. As this is a first time and one-time grant program, we are unable to predict how many organizations will receive funding. The final number of grants awarded is dependent upon an expression of the immediate needs of those disproportionately, negatively impacted by COVID-19. 

How much should I request?

As this is a first time and one-time grant program, we are unable to predict the average grant size. However, we are accepting requests up to $500,000 and will likely make grants between $25,000 – $250,000.  

Considerations to keep in mind when determining the request size might include the scale of the proposed program, the overall budget of the organization, the likelihood of other complementary funding being available, and  the capability of the organization to quickly serve the most immediate of needs of those most disproportionately, negatively impacted by COVID-19.  

Will grant amounts be allocated by areas of interest? 

There is no predetermined allocation of grant funds by areas of interest. 

What is the geographic focus of the Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grant?

The focus of the grant is to enable nonprofit organizations to meet the needs of those disproportionately affected residents and employees of Summit County. 

What elements of a proposal would resonate strongly and make it more appealing? 

Beyond covering the essential elements of the review criteria listed in the grant guidelines, applications are strengthened by strategic thought behind a scenario in which Summit County will experience a repeat, government mandated shelter-in-place. Scenario planning would be helpful to understand. 

A clear description of how the funds will be allocated would be appreciated. If your organization has proposals that cover more than one area of support, it would be helpful to disaggregate proposal A’s budget from program B’s budget. 

Section headings that indicate what criteria are being covered are useful in making applications clearer.   

If the grant proposal is a collaboration with another organization, it is often beneficial to get a letter of support from that organization to demonstrate the partnership. 

Overall, the committee looks for whether all the pieces of the proposal fit together and flow toward the proposed goals and outcomes. 

Could a grant be made to help pay for an intern or staff member?

The key question for the Grants Committee is less about which specific line items are the subject of the request, and more about how those line items (staff or otherwise) are critical to the organization’s ability to accomplish the proposed goals and outcomes. 

Should we apply for a new program or re-apply for the same program we’ve applied for in previous years?

There is no specific preference given toward new or repeat program requests. For a repeat request, some elements that might be helpful to include are evidence of success in achieving outcomes; and what the impact of the program would be for those disproportionately, negatively affected by COVID-19.   

Are multiyear grants available? 

No. Per Summit County’s directive, the entirety of the Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grants funds must be disbursed by the end of 2020 and funds are expected to be spent by grantees by June 15th, 2021. 

Application submission format: What file format is required by the application system? How large can files be?

The only format accepted for document submission on the online grant application form is pdf format. The preferred pdf type for the application narrative is to convert the file directly from Word, Excel, or other software. Scanning application narratives to pdf files is not preferred, as that results in image files that do not allow easy copying-and-pasting of text; if direct conversion to pdf is not available, applicants may submit scanned versions. Scanned pdfs are acceptable for copies of the IRS 990 and similar supporting documents that may not be available in their original text form. File size limits for uploaded documents will be noted on the online application form.

What are the reporting requirements for Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grants?

Given the public nature of the origin of the funds, Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grants will require a written impact report, due June 30th, 2021.  Instructions for the written report will be shared with awardees. The report itself will request measurable impact while taking into account that not all organizations serve the community in the same way. 

As typical for any Park City Community Fund Grant, a six-month site visit will be required. Grantees are encouraged to invite key staff and/or board members to the site visit; participants from Park City Community Foundation may include grants committee members, staff, board members, donors, and other interested community members. A site visit outline is available on the Community Foundation’s Apply for a Grant web page. 

Over what period of time can grant funds be spent?
Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grants are generally expected to be spent by grant recipients within six months of issuance. 

Where does the money come from for Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grants? 

100% of funding for Summit County COVID-19 Relief Grants comes from the Summit County Nonprofit Grant Program.