Frequently Asked Questions.

1) What kinds of projects will CCSF support?
CCSF supports a surprisingly wide array of projects. Prospective applicants wanting to know whether their projects might qualify for CCSF funding are strongly urged to consult CCSF's mission statement: Supporting Community Education in Camden and Philadelphia. Further information may be found on the Grant Applications page.

If you are not sure whether your idea falls in line with our mission feel free to contact us. We love hearing from applicants and discussing their individual funding issues. Looking through the who we are & what we do and grant history sections of the site will provide examples of projects we have supported in the past.
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2) When are applications due?
Traditional Grant Requests follow two funding cycles. The TGR First Cycle is due
September 30th, while the TGR Second Cycle is due January 30th. Your TGR will be
reviewed in the cycle which follows CCSF's receipt of the application. Consideration
should be taken when considering which cycle to apply in. In particular, applicants
should consider when the funds are most needed. If successful, First Cycle funds will
be distributed in March, and Second Cycle funds in June.
 
Swift Grant Requests will be accepted at any time of year. All applicants can expect a
decision from CCSF within 30 days of CCSF.s receipt of the application.
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3) Why apply for a Traditional Grant Request when I can receive a quicker response by applying for a Swift Grant Request and hear back quicker?
Each application was designed to meet a unique need among community educators.
TGR applicants tend to need funding for large-scale projects, or pilot programs that
require funds unimagined by their budget. SGR applicants tend to need funding for
unexpected expenses, or, perhaps more importantly, unanticipated opportunities.
Careful thought should be taken when considering whether to apply for a TGR or SGR.
While there is no explicit rule dictating that applicants cannot apply for both in a given
year, it is important for an applicant to consider his/her needs and timetable when
making the decision. Feel free to contact us with questions regarding your choice.
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4) How should my application be sent to CCSF?
CCSF tries to promote a “green” workplace, and we prefer and encourage applications
e-mailed as Word documents, or faxed, which reduces paper waste and transportation
impact. However, should you have extra materials that simply cannot be electronically
sent to us, we will gladly accept them via mail sent to our PO Box. We do not accept
grant applications that are sent by mail to our PO Box.
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5) Can I include additional materials such as pictures, movies, and/or other informational media with my application?
Absolutely! We would love to see anything you think might help us make an informed decision. If it cannot be e-mailed simply send us a package with your application.
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6) How soon will I know whether or not I will receive a grant?
All successful TGR applicants will be notified according to the cycle they have chosen to
apply in.
 
TGR First Cycle applicants will be notified in November to indicate whether their
application has made it past the first round of review. If so, applicants can expect to be
further notified in March as to whether or not their application was approved.
 
TGR Second Cycle applicants will be notified in March to indicate whether their
application has made it past the first round of review. If so, applicants can expect to be
further notified in June as to whether or not their application was approved.


7) Who decides whether my grant application will be approved and what is the process?
If you are applying for a TGR, the process is as follows:
 
TGR First Cycle: September 30th, all applications are received. In October, the Board
of Directors meets for the initial review of all TGR First Cycle applications. Applicants
will be notified of their status (approved for site visit, or declined) in November. Site
visits with approved applicants take place during the months of October, November, and
December. In February, the Board of Directors meets again and renders a decision. All
applicants will be notified in March.
 
TGR Second Cycle: January 30th, all applications are received. In February the Board
of Directors meets for the initial review of all TGR Second Cycle applications.
Applicants will be notified of their status (approved for site visit, or declined) in March.
Site visits with approved applicants take place during the months of March and April. In
May, the Board of Directors meets again and renders a decision. All applicants will be
notified in June.
 
If you are applying for an Swift Grant Request, the process works like this:
- First, you send us your application.
 
-  A sub-committee of the Board of Directors meets once each month to discuss all SGRs, deciding which applications fall without our mission and guidelines.
- In most cases, a meeting is arranged with the executive director.
- The executive director presents his findings to the sub-committee, and a decision is rendered.
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8) What kind of relationship will CCSF have with me after I receive my grant funds?
At a minimum, successful grantees should expect some follow-up during and after the program. Some projects, such as those that require funding in stages or on an as-needed basis, will necessitate a closer relationship with the executive director. In most cases we will simply be checking in from time to time to see how things are going.
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9) Who do I contact with questions not listed here?
For questions of any kind just click on the contact information link to email or call Executive Director Jonathan Holmes, 1(877) 260-4176.
 
 
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