USA Today Network: A Community Thrives Challenge

A Community Thrives Challenge will shine a national spotlight on community-changing ideas, connect organizations to the right people, and help organizations raise the funds to make their ideas happen. USA Today, a daily newspaper that operates in 109 markets, will use its resources to drive national exposure and encourage a wider audience to believe in the organization’s project. It will help raise awareness and donations to help make the proposed idea come to life.

Projects must contribute to and/or focus on community building with a preference for impacting under-served individuals and groups. Community building is defined for this program as activities, projects, or events that create or enhance the sense of community amongst individuals or groups in a region (neighborhood, city, or region).

Successful applicants that receive a sponsor are required to set up a fundraising campaign on www.crowdrise.com/ and fundraise through a campaign page set up by their sponsor or CrowdRise on the Challenge website. The sponsors will designate each entrant as either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 entrant (for the incentive grants) in accordance with the following criteria: (i) number of entrants and (ii) each entrant’s current operational budget to achieve an equitable split of entrants in each Tier.

Amount: The following types of grants will be awarded:

• Project grants: Sixteen project grants will be awarded, including three $100,000 awards, seven $50,000 awards, and six $25,000 awards.
• Operating grants: Entrants with community operations in sponsor’s markets and which meet eligibility requirements will be eligible for consideration for operating grants. Minimum operating grant amount is $2,500. The maximum amount of the operating grants awarded will be $1,300,000. The total number of operating grants to be awarded is dependent on the number of eligible entrants and results of the judging by the sponsor.
• Incentive grants: A total of $200,000 will be awarded during the Fundraising phase of the Campaign to those organizations that raise the most funds as follows: $25,000 top fundraiser (one winner in each tier), $15,000 second highest fundraiser (one winner in each tier), and $10,000 third highest fundraiser (one winner in each tier).
• Weekly challenge grants: There will be four weekly challenges during the period of March 18 – April 12, 2019. These awards will range from $2,000-$5,000.

Eligibility: Legal entities (a) incorporated or organized within the 50 United States, Guam, or the District of Columbia, (b) with valid Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and physical mailing addresses, (c) located in the U.S., Guam, or District of Columbia and support domestic projects only, and (d) that have and will maintain tax-exempt status under sections 501(c)(3) throughout the Challenge Period.

Link: https://www.crowdrise.com/ACommunityThrives

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