Community Partner Application

Introduction

Dear Community Organization:

The Junior League of Minneapolis (JLM) is pleased to provide information about our Community Partnership Program. JLM is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training; a mission we have been fulfilling for more than 100 years.

Our success in creating, launching, and strengthening programs is based on positive collaborations with our community partners. JLM provides committed trained volunteers and potential funds to help a program move forward successfully, while offering JLM members the opportunity to impact the community and develop as civic leaders.

Since 2011, JLM has focused on efforts to improve and close the Opportunity Gap within the Twin Cities. We believe JLM can effectively address this critical need in partnership with other local community agencies. JLM has - and will continue - to commit resources to this focus. We are committed to selecting and funding at least one partnership each year.

We encourage you to submit a program application. Together, our organizations can make great strides to address unmet community needs and reduce the opportunity gap facing the Twin Cities!

This packet includes:

  • Section A: JLM Focused Impact description
  • Section B: Community Program Guidelines
  • Section C: Community Program Application Process Timeline
  • Section D: Community Program Application

The deadline for the completed application submission is November 30, 2024. During this application and award cycle, JLM will grant up to $2,500.

Please contact the Junior League of Minneapolis Community and Impact Director at impact@jlminneapolis.org with any questions.

JLM Contacts

Betsy Walstrom, Community and Impact Director

Melissa McAlpine, President
Section A: JLM Focused Impact description

Today, The Junior League of Minneapolis focuses its volunteer efforts on the opportunity gap. The Junior League of Minneapolis’ projects and services are aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the opportunity gap that hinder the learning process for students.

In 2011, JLM determined the best avenue for JLM to make a long-lasting impact was to focus our volunteer and advocacy efforts on reducing the opportunity gap.  The opportunity gap is the disparity of opportunities, experiences, and resources across various socioeconomic statuses as well as the inequality between the different races and ethnicities1. The opportunity gap in the Twin Cities is one of the worst in the nation2. JLM’s projects and services are aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the opportunity gap that hinder the learning process for students.

Established in 1923 by a small group of women, the Junior League of Minneapolis is a volunteer organization committed to the philosophy of community service. In our 100 years of service, our history has remained rich and our impact in the community is meaningful. The Junior League of Minneapolis has committed to mend this gap within our own community, specifically to underserved children and their families. The Junior League of Minneapolis believes each child deserves the right to quality public education, as this serves as their foundation and is critical for their future endeavors as adults. We partner with and support community projects to provide resources and interaction with children who are not receiving this experienced in their current educational programs. By joining together with the community, JLM supports closing the opportunity gap one step at a time.

For more about the JLM’s history, including past and current programs, please visit https://www.jlminneapolis.org/who-we-are/our-history/.

1. Definition from https://www.edglossary.org/opportunity-gap/
2. Information from MPR https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/10/14/mn-among-worst-achievementgap-states
Section B: Community Program Guidelines

For the Junior League of Minneapolis to consider the application, the following criteria must be met:

  • The program must be administered by a Minnesota tax-exempt organization benefiting the residents of the Twin Cities Area.
  • Verification of tax-exempt status must be provided with the application.
  • The Junior League of Minneapolis is striving to bring specific capabilities and services to the community that make a focused impact. Eighty percent or more of our community resources are dedicated to improving the Opportunity Gap. Please see Section A for more information. If your proposal is outside our priority area, consideration will still be given.
  • Volunteer opportunities should be available for a committee of JLM members (to include coordination and planning, etc.) and for our general members with a minimum of two (2) hours and a maximum of four (4) hours per shift. Multiple shifts can occur on a single day. Shift should be primarily weekday evenings and weekend volunteer hours to assist in accommodating the schedule of the JLM members. Currently, most of our volunteer opportunities are held between September 1 – May 31.
  • Volunteer opportunities should not involve fundraising for your organization.
  • The requested funding must be used for a purpose related to the volunteer component. JLM does not support administrative or operation cost of agencies.

Other Considerations

Current program partnerships have priority in the selection process.

Accountability

Organizations chosen to receive JLM support must:

  • Complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding participation in the program with JLM and outlining the requirements for participation (example: number of volunteer shifts, number of volunteers, time frames, status updates, etc. )
  • Submit progress reports (format provided) and meet mutually agreed-to-milestones as stated in the MOU.
  • Should your organization apply for a multi-year program, JLM requires a program evaluation take place prior to commencement of subsequent years to ensure that the program is meeting its goals and objectives for both parties.
  • Purchase and maintain in force, for the duration of the JLM support, an umbrella liability insurance policy.
Section C: Community Program Application Process Timeline
  • Applications Open: Monday, September 23, 2024
  • Applications Close: Friday, November 29, 2024
  • Applicants Notified and MOUs drafted and signed: by Friday, January 31, 2025
  • Partnership Announced: February 2025
Section D: Community Program Application

Please complete the following information, as it pertains to your organization. 

Please attach one document (PDF or Microsoft Word) with the following information (please note the word count limit for each item):

  • Request Summary: summarize your request (100 words).

  • About Your Organization: share the most important information about your organization (250 words). Relevant information could include some of the following:
    • Your organization's mission statement
    • Brief organizational history
    • Current programs and recent accomplishments or achievements
    • Recent major changes to financial and/or organizational circumstances
    • Current goals, including any goals around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • About Your Community: share the information about the community and/or individuals you serve (250 words). Relevant information could include some of the following:
    • The community opportunity, challenge, issue or need that your organization works to address.
    • Information about the people you serve such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and language.
    • Details about how you work with other organizations, coalitions, or networks.
    • Details about how you listen to/involve constituents, community members, and/or volunteers.

  • About Your Impact: Share the most important information about your impact. Please explain what success looks like and how you track your impact (500 words).

  • About Your Program / Project: Share the most important information about your program/project (500 words). It is not necessary to restate information answered above. Relevant information could include some of the following:
    • Please list or describe the program’s measurable goals and objectives
    • What you plan to do (activities) and the timeframe
    • Why you plan to do it (opportunity, challenge, issue or need)
    • Who will be impacted (target population, including age, gender, ethnicity, other relevant characteristics)
    • Include a timeline that describes the anticipated dates of operation of this program/project. Include start and completion dates and major milestone dates throughout the program/project.
    • Describe any promotional activities, event, materials, etc. regarding the JLM’s support that will take place in conjunction with this program.
    • Provide descriptions of the volunteer work for the volunteers requested, the number and/or total hours of volunteers needed, how JLM volunteers will make this a successful program, and any training that will be provided and/or required. Please describe other volunteer requirements, such as background checks, fingerprinting, etc.
    • Include the amount of funding requested and describe how those funds will be used. Please note JLM funds cannot be used for administrative costs.
    • Describe how your organization will continue the program after the JLM commitment is completed.

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