Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï

Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï (Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï) is excited to announce that the Massachusetts Community Violence Intervention Capacity Building Initiative (MCVI-CBI) is now accepting full grant proposals due July 11^th, 2024 at 5pm.Ìý

Please note that organizations are welcome to submit a full proposal even if they did not submit a letter of intent, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria below.

This page will be updated with new resources, recordings of webinars, and FAQs throughout the RFP process (last updated 7-11-24 with new FAQ and updated budget template)

Program Overview

The MCVI-CBI Grants Program has two primary goals:

1. To support organizations building or strengthening their ability to offer the full spectrum of services of violence prevention and intervention.
2. To build organizational capacity, deepen and expand reach, and support infrastructure that strengthens organizational operations and broader field sustainability.

The Grant Program will provide grantees up to $250,000 over the course of 24 months to address capacity needs. Grantee organizations will participate in training and other activities as a cohort including leadership and professional development; practitioner and supervisor trainings; communities of practice; capacity assessments and subsequent supports for backend functions including fundraising, financial management, human resources, and other topics; regional and national convenings, and other activities.

Small, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) doing Community Violence Intervention and Prevention (CVI) work who possess deep roots in the community and make a powerful impact can lack the infrastructure or support to take in large federal or statewide grants.Ìý In key informant interviews conducted by Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï in the field in 2023, CVI leadership shared an urgent need for funding directed toward administrative support, noting that often the organizations led by people with lived experience areÌý influential within their communities but lack the resources to measure impact or manage large streams of funding. Capacity building is essential to build the leadership of the field and ensure that those organizations have the resources they need to thrive and sustain funding.

Amount:

$250,000 total

ÌýDuration:

September 2024 (date TBA) – September 30^th, 2026

Five total awards will be granted.

Eligibility

Massachusetts-based nonprofit organizations or groups with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor, that work in communities where there is a disproportionate impact of gun violence. Eligible communities include: Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester. Some organizations may not need to have 501(c)3 status to be eligible.

Organizations must either:

• Currently conduct direct interventions that engages proven-risk individuals most likely to be directly impacted by gun violence

OR

• Plan to use these funds to deepen their engagement of proven-risk priority populations to reduce gun violence through direct intervention

Ineligible activities include:

• Capital expenditures
• Proposals by organizations that do not currently work in the violence prevention space
• Proposals focused on populations other than proven-risk individuals
• Proposals that solely outline existing activities with no programmatic or operational capacity-building element
• Proposals that focus on criminal justice-based or carceral approaches to gun violence
• Hospital-based intervention programs

Assessment Criteria: Proposals will be assessed on project alignment and feasibility, organizational competency (including staff competency), and potential project impact.

Important Dates

Proposal due

Thursday, July 11th, 5pm

Bidder’s conference

Monday, June 17^th 12pm-1pm

Office hours

Capacity Building Webinars

Please join us for two capacity building webinars around nonprofit financial development. Anyone who is interested in this grant is welcome.

Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï Lisa Thirer: As a consultant and nonprofit strategist, Lisa leads technical assistance services to nonprofit organizations, foundations and local government. Her work focuses on building financial capacity for organizations who are continuously adapting and navigating a changing landscape. She brings a comprehensive perspective to her work that encompasses vantage points as a consultant, service provider, advocate, funder and educator.

ÌýSystems & Operations: preparing your organization for federal grants

Thursday, June 27^th 11am-12pm

Link to Recording:

• • Considerations for compliance, internal controls, and reporting requirements
  • Operational structures and systems that your organization might need to have in place if you receive an award
  • Assessing your organizations alignment with this funding opportunity

Developing your Budget

Tuesday, July 2^nd 11am-12pm

Link to Recording:

• How budgets are used as a strategic communication tool
• Considerations when developing a budget for federal funding
• Ongoing financial management after your project is funded

Funding Statement

This grants program, Massachusetts Community Violence Intervention Capacity Building Initiative (15PBJA-23-GK-05187-CVIP), is supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice as part of a financial assistance award totaling $4,000,000 with 100 percent funded by BJA/DOJ.