Teacher Creativity 2024 Mini-Grant

The Community Services Agency (CSA) Partnership Grant program, initiated by the Board of County Commissioners, addresses human service needs in Seminole County, Florida. This program reflects a strategic priority to collaborate with local non-profit agencies, leveraging their expertise to benefit and improve the quality of life for residents. The core mission alignment is centered on assisting Seminole County residents with specific needs, demonstrating a commitment to community well-being and partnership-driven solutions. The program's theory of change posits that by providing grant funds to qualified non-profit organizations, critical human service gaps can be effectively addressed, leading to an enhanced quality of life for the county's population. The target beneficiaries of the CSA program are the residents of Seminole County who require assistance with specific human service needs. The program's impact goals are to improve the quality of life for these residents by supporting non-profit agencies that deliver direct services. Priorities for funding are given to projects or programs that provide direct services identified as top needs in the 2024 Community Needs Assessment. These top needs include Childcare, Utility Assistance, Mental Health Services, Rental Subsidy/Assistance, Homeless Services, Housing for Homeless Families, Food, and Transitional Housing. The program aims to achieve measurable results by funding initiatives that directly address these identified critical areas within the community. Eligibility criteria for the grant ensure that funds are directed to well-established and responsible non-profit organizations. Agencies must be chartered or authorized to do business in Florida for charitable purposes, possess a 501(c)(3) tax exemption for a minimum of three years, and demonstrate that their services benefit Seminole County residents and address community needs. Priority funding is extended to agencies that align with the Community Needs Assessment. Further requirements include having an uncompensated governing board free of conflicts of interest, established bylaws and policies covering management, audits, fiscal procedures, nepotism, and conflict of interest, and at least one year of experience in providing the requested service. Agencies must also be licensed and accredited. Expected outcomes include a significant improvement in access to essential services for Seminole County residents, particularly in the high-priority areas identified. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of residents served, the types of services provided, and the overall impact on community well-being in the targeted areas. The program strictly defines ineligible activities, such as capital improvement, construction, property or home purchases, and administrative expenses, to ensure that funds are maximized for direct service delivery. Funding limits are also in place, with awards not exceeding twenty-five percent of an agency's prior year's expenditures, based on their IRS 990 form, to promote sustainable and diverse funding for recipient organizations.