Download a copy of the grant funding description.
Check back for more information on when the next round of grants are available.
Here is a list of of the First Round Awardees!
Purpose:
Senior Solutions’ mandate as an area agency on aging (AAA) under the Older Americans Act (OAA), is to steward resources in an equitable manner throughout our service area. The purpose of this stewardship is to advance the development and implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated system of service to older adults (60 and above). Also, the Older Americans Act (OAA) regulates the AAA’s and requires us to serve older adults with the greatest social need with particular attention to low-income older individuals, low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas. ARPA grants awarded through our agency, can advance the development of such systems which serve our constituents.
This ARPA Grant Funding policy defines the process for evaluating and awarding monetary contributions to community-based service organizations including but not limited to senior centers, community centers, Meals on Wheels programs, congregate meal sites, aging-in-place organizations, etc. Senior Solutions will consider awarding grants to organizations that are either located in, or who directly serve residents of Windsor County, Windham County, Thetford, Readsboro, Searsburg and Winhall. Preference will be given to those organizations that have 501(c)3 status or have an established fiscal agent.
Policy Statement:
The Senior Solutions Grant Funding review team is responsible for determining any level of financial support that Senior Solutions may allocate to community-based service organizations who are advancing services to older adults within our service area. This policy defines the process for evaluating and determining whether Senior Solutions will provide monetary contributions, which includes:
- Monetary grants to support the community-based service agencies we collaborate with, including but not limited to senior centers, community centers, Meals on Wheels programs, congregate meal sites, aging-in-place organizations, etc. in the towns we serve.
- Monetary contribution levels which may be variable and may be provided according to a rolling application process over the course of each fiscal year.
Grant funds may not be re-granted or loaned to third party individuals or entities.
Background:
In keeping with the tenets of the OAA, Senior Solutions may offer financial support to local community service providers, where these organizations are part of the broader aging network and who are advancing a coordinated and comprehensive system of service for older adults meeting the OAA requirements. As noted above, Senior Solutions will consider offering monetary grants to these organizations to support the development of a more comprehensive system of service.
Definitions:
Older Americans Act (OAA): A Federal law that guides all Area Agencies on Aging as to how funding sources ought to be used through the Title Funding Acts for our services.
Procedures:
Grant requests will be received by the Director of Finance who will screen them against the basic eligibility criteria.
The Director of Finance will convene the Review Committee to review each proposal meeting the eligibility criteria.
Decision making to recommend these requests from the collaborating non-profits, considers pre-determined, weighted criteria to support:
- Impact:The project addresses a clear need that brings positive change and demonstrates the ability to overcome barriers, grow and/or sustain the community’s efforts to become more livable for residents, focuses on diversity and inclusion, and addresses disparities.
- Execution: Applicants demonstrate the capacity to deliver the ARPA Grant project on time and within the awarded budget, effectively engage residents and key stakeholders, and leverage volunteers in the execution.
- Innovation: The project demonstrates creativity or unique design or engagement elements that will contribute to its impact on residents.
- Low-income older individuals, low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency,
- Focused development of resources to help build greater capacity, and advance the development/implementation of a comprehensive and coordinated system of service to older adults,
- Operational capacity and proven track records,
- The ability to provide data, quality results/outcomes related to the investment back to Senior Solutions.
The Director of Finance will present a list of grant requests, recommended by the Review Committee, to the Executive Director and to the Board Finance Committee, respectively for approval.
The recipients of these grant funds will report results back to Senior Solutions every six months regarding the impact of the investment based on predetermined and agreed upon quality and financial metrics.
Funding and Approval:
- These funding amounts may vary depending on the overall financial health of the organization, and the amount of available ARPA funding budgeted.
- The Review Committee will evaluate the proposals presented and make their recommendation to the full Board for approval at the next monthly Board meeting.
- Proposals will be funded for one fiscal year. Applicants may reapply in subsequent years.
- Proposals up to $5,000 will be considered. Larger proposals will be considered but if funded, it may impact future awards in subsequent grant years.
- The Executive Director will contact the applicant to notify them of the decision regarding their proposal, within five business days of the monthly Board Meeting.
- The Director of Finance will prepare and send the payment within 30 days of approval.
Monitoring Plan: This policy will be evaluated at a minimum of every three years, or as needed for updates.
Reviewers:
- Key Stakeholders: Executive Director, Director of Finance, Board of Directors
- Committees: Grant review team, Board of Directors Finance Committee, Board of Directors.
- Key Process Owner (KPO): Director of Finance
