Common Ground Fund

Community Foundation for the National Capital Region Invites Proposals
Deadline: August 18, 2006

A program of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, the Common Ground Fund is seeking applications from nonprofit community-based organizations in the greater Washington region for projects that:

1. address social justice issues impacting communities of color; and
2. focus their work within racially diverse communities. Successful applicants will receive a one-year grant of up to $30,000. For 2006, Common Ground has a total of $150,000 available to support grants.

Applicants must be designated nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. The proposed project must be conducted in a geographic community located within the Greater Washington region (Washington, D.C.; Montgomery County; Prince George's County; Arlington County; the City of Alexandria; the County of Fairfax; Fairfax City; the City of Falls Church; and Loudoun County). The proposed project must identify the specific social justice issue it will address. Examples of the social justice issues Common Ground has invested in over the last two years include: gaining access to government services for limited English speaking Asian Americans in the District of Columbia; ensuring fair and equitable hiring practices for newly constructed downtown hotels through community engagement of the hotel staff and management; and ensuring equal access to quality education in the District of Columbia's public schools through youth engagement of school representatives. Projects must utilize at least one of the following three strategies for promoting social justice: advocacy, community organizing, and/or grassroots leadership development.

Interested applicants are invited to attend a community briefing on July 26 to obtain in-depth information and guidance on responses to the 2006 Request for Proposals. Visit the Community Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines and for details on attending for the community briefing.