Niagara Prosperity Initiative

Information Session

February 4, 2020

FourPoints by Sheraton

Thorold

Background

The Niagara Prosperity Initiative (NPI) began in 2008, when Niagara Regional Council approved $1.5 million in yearly investments to address poverty reduction initiatives in Niagara

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NPI Evaluation

• Local Poverty Reduction Fund in partnership with Brock University

– Review the scope of poverty in Niagara

– Determine outcomes and impact of NPI funded projects

– Assess NPI as poverty reduction strategy with recommendations and best practices

– https://brocku.ca/npi-evaluation/evaluation/

Niagara Prosperity Initiative

Goals of the Niagara Prosperity Initiative• To guide and direct investments on identified

initiatives to alleviate poverty in neighbourhoods across Niagara

• To advocate for change that will reduce and prevent poverty in the community

• To develop and enhance collaborative relationships between stakeholders

• To engage people living in poverty in meaningful ways to ensure that investments reflect need

Niagara Region Investments in Poverty Reduction

How does NPI work?

NPI

Niagara Region

Community

Mapping Tool

SecretariatReview

Committee

Convener

The Application –Getting Started

Getting Started

• To be eligible for funding, an agency or organization must:

a) Be a non-profit organization under the Income Tax Act

b) Be open to all people

c) Request funding that will not be used to repay a pre-existing debt

d) Not be a municipality

• SAVE your application regularly!!

• Do not exit the application or internet browser before saving the page or all changes will be lost.

• Pay attention to *required

• Character limits on text questions. You cannot enter text beyond the limits.

http://www.niagaraprosperityinitiative.ca/

Logging In

Manage Account

Click on your username in the top right corner to set-up your profile information.

If you already have an account set-up, please review your account information to ensure it is up to date.

Manage Account

• Organization information– Mission, non-profit #

• Contact information

• Signing Authority

• Financial Statements

• Change Password

Application Dashboard

Application Dashboard

Application Questions

Application Tabs

Contact Tab

by Friday, February 21, 2020

Project Tab

Project Tab

1. Provide a brief project summary. This summary will be used publicly should the project be approved. (500 characters) Value 3%

2. Identify which stream your project will

address:

• Housing

• Health

• Employment

Project Tab

• street outreach services, especially for people who need mental health supports and homeless youth populations

• encouraging self-reliance and improving housing stability

• preventing homelessness

• enhancing housing accessibility for people living with disabilities

HOUSING STREAM

• improving accessibility to mental health services through community hubs and outreach programs

• improving collaboration between organizations that provide mental health services to best serve people experiencing poverty

• developing innovative solutions to address addiction

• increasing emotional health and well-being for children experiencing poverty

• improving sustainable access to healthy food

• increasing access to dental health care for people experiencing poverty

HEALTH STREAM

• social enterprise projects, especially those that create non-precarious employment opportunities and increased employability for people experiencing poverty

• working with Niagara’s businesses to create secure jobs that pay a living wage

EMPLOYMENT STREAM

Social Enterprise Projects

Project Tab

2a . Describe the primary outcomes you want to achieve.

An outcome is an effect your project produces on people you serve. It is a change that occurred because of the project.

It is different than an output which will detail the work of the project but does not address the value or impact to participants.

Outcomes define changes that have taken place because of the project, they are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time-bound.

For this question, describe the primary outcomes you expect because of this project. (250 characters) Value 3%

OUTPUTS VS OUTCOMES

Project Tab

2b. Describe the activities of your project.

Include how the project will address the stream identified in question 1 and include details such as the project’s goals, measurable objectives, target population and frequency of programming.

Be specific.

If your project is a social enterprise, include your value proposition. (1500 characters) Value 7%

Project Tab

3. How did you determine there was a need for this particular project? Provide evidence of the need and how it was identified. Where possible, cite relevant local community data and data sources. (500 characters) Value 10%

4. What evidence are you using to develop and implement the project? Evidence-informed practice involves using various types of research when making decisions about policy and practice. Cite sources and specify how it relates to the proposal. (500 characters) Value 10%

Resources• Living in Niagara Report• Niagara Knowledge Exchange• Healthcare First: Improving access to healthcare for the homeless and vulnerably housed in

Niagara• A Legacy of Poverty? Addressing Cycles of Poverty and the Impact on Child Health in Niagara

Region• Building a New Legacy: Increasing Prosperity for Niagara Residents by Improving the Quality for

Neighbourhood Life• Calculating the Cost of Living in Niagara• Calculating a Living Wage in Niagara• Niagara Neighbourhood Mapping Tool• Niagara Story Map• Public Health Ontario Social Determinants of Health Map• Niagara Open Data• Statistics Canada• Are the Consequences of Poverty Holding Niagara Back?• Can Niagara Families Afford Child Care?• Homeless Employment Access• Poverty and Education: A Niagara Perspective• Sofas, Shelters and Strangers: A report on Youth Homelessness in Niagara• Canadian Index of Wellbeing• Canadian Index of Wellbeing – How are Ontarians Really Doing

Project Tab

5. Explain how the program was designed to include input from people who would benefit from this project. How will this project increase opportunities for individuals to fully participate in the community? How will participants be declared eligible to participate? (500 characters) Value 7%

6. Describe your experience in delivering a similar project and explain why your agency is suitable to deliver this particular project. (500 characters) Value 5%

Project Tab

7. How will the project continue to make an impact for participants /

community after the funding has ended? Does the project leverage other funds? Niagara Prosperity Initiative does not require a project to be financially sustainable after funding has ended. For long-term initiatives, however, there is an expectation that agencies are working towards finding sustainability.

Sustainability can be measured by:• the continuation of a project beyond NPI funding or,• the sustainable impact a project has on its participants / community.

If this project has previously received funding from any source, identify the source and how this request will assist in moving the overall project forward (500 characters) Value 5%

Neighbourhoods & Indicators Tab

• Low Income Measure (LIM)• Household Income Under $20,000 After Tax• Working Poverty• Income Inequality• Unemployment• Tenants Paying 30% or more Income on Rent• No Highschool Diploma (Age 25 - 64)• Early Development Instrument (EDI)• Child Care Subsidy Age 0-12

Neighbourhoods & Indicators Tab

• Select the municipality(ies)

• Select the neighbourhood(s)

• List address(es) where project will be delivered

• Select the indicators in need of attention the project will address

• Describe how the indicator(s) will be addressed

Timeline Tab

Projects can be approved for up to two years: May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2022

• Second year is contingent on success of first year• What is evolution in second year?• Demonstrate how you will evaluate, mitigate risk and adjust

for optimal performance• Can reapply for similar project to build on success• Use specific, measureable, achievable and relevant milestones• Include specific activity and details

Outputs Tab

• Number of unique people served by category (children, youth, adults, seniors)– count each individual only once

• Number and description of units of service by category:

• Transportation• Income / Employment• Health / Activities• Shelter• Education• Other

You define the units!

Outputs Tab• Number of jobs where:

o NPI funds the position filled by people experiencing poverty. The position will end once funding ends

o NPI funds helped the agency to source sustainable funding to create a job filled by people experiencing poverty. The position will continue once NPI funding ends

o Participants in the NPI funded program overcame barriers and secured employment. This position will continue once NPI funding ends and does not have to be within your organization

o Projected total revenue generated by project

Partnership Tab

• Reduce duplication• Use existing expertise• Not fee for service

• Name of Partner• Description of partner’s role• Attach Letter of Intent to

Partner

Partnership Form

Additional Tab

Budget Tab

• Project-specific personnel on payroll – rate, # hours, # weeks

• Encourage asking for a Living Wage – $18.12/hour

• Include MERCS in wage (LW + Mercs) or as a separate line

• Benefits

Budget Tab

• Gift Cards, Transportation Vouchers

• Items given directly to clients

• Capital Costs

• Include explanation for capital purchase

• Goods and Services

• Programming supplies, mileage, food, admission

• Professional Fees

• Contract workers, not on payroll

• Administration / Agency Overhead

• 10%

Budget Tab

In-Kind Tab

YES✔ NO❌

• Goods

• Use of services and facilities

• Professional services / expertise in the form of staff time

• Providing equipment and materials

• volunteers

• Items listed in the budget

• Overhead costs already in the budget or part of admin request

• Fees not related to the project

• Costs to complete the application

• Costs exceeding fair market value

• Name• Brief Description• Value

Submitting your Application

• Once all of your information has been entered – make sure to SAVE your submission

Applications are due by 5pm Friday, February 28, 2020.

Process & Guidelines

Process & Guidelines• Attachments other than financial statements and Partnership Agreement

Forms will not be accepted except when applying for Social Enterprise projects.

• Each project requires a separate application and one organization can have many projects.

• Additional information may be requested by the Review Committee during the assessment period.

• It is in the applicant’s best interest to respond to the Review Committee’s questions as quickly as possible.

• Make sure at least one project contacts is available at all times. If you need to change project contact information, contact Natalie@unitedwayniagara.org or call 905-688-5050 ext. 2124

Proposal Checklist✓ PROPOSAL CHECKLIST□ We talked to Natalie (905-688-5050 ext.2124) prior to writing the application.

□We answered all applicable questions in the application and followed the directions provided by the funder.

□My application is concise, uses clear language that can be understood by someone outside of the non-profit sector.

□ The spelling and grammar are correct and we had someone proofread the application.

□The budget is reasonable given the scope of the project and does not include any miscellaneous expenses.

□Administrative expenses such as bookkeeping, utilities and rent are not included in the budget except for the allowable amount up to 10% of your budget.

□ I have researched and received quotes for costs where appropriate.

□ My application provides evidence that supports a need for this project.

□ We provided enough relevant information about the project within the application.

□ We uploaded Partnership Agreement Forms to confirm the partnership listed in the application.

□ We included all acronyms in the acronym section.

□We provided the name of someone who will be available during the application review to answer questions.

Application Review

• All proposals will be reviewed by an independent review committee.

• The review process will take place throughout March / April 2020.

• Decisions announced mid/end of April.

• Funding will commence as soon as contracts are completed.

Agency Compliance Checklist

• Did you meet expected outcomes & outputs?

– If not, was rationale provided?

• Were reports submitted on time?

• Required number of testimonials submitted?

• Site visits satisfactory

• Funding spent as expected

• Upfront with challenges and take corrective action where possible

NPI Reporting

Reports will be required quarterly and will include: Activity Report, Financial Report with supporting documentation and testimonials (Most Significant Change stories).

For one year projects: final reports due 30 days after project end.

For two year projects: first year-end report is due at 10 months to assess if the project is approved to continue into the second year. A final report is then 30 days after project end.

If you have any questions please contact:

Natalie ChaumontProgram Manager, Niagara Prosperity Initiative

United Way Niagara

Natalie@unitedwayniagara.org905-688-5050 ext.2124