Oct 8, OSI RFP Due For State Alliances To Advance Transparency, Equity And Accountability In The Economic Recovery

Request for Proposals:

State Alliances to Advance Transparency, Equity, and Accountability
in the Economic Recovery

August 24, 2009

Round Two: RFP Expanded to Include Three Additional States
Colorado, Florida, Louisiana

Overview

The Open Society Institute requests proposals to support alliances of state-based organizations
working to assure transparency, equity, and accountability in the economic recovery at the state
level. Many decisions that will influence the impact of the economic recovery on communities
of color, women, immigrant groups, LGBTQ individuals, youth, and low-income communities
will take place at the state level. Our goal is to provide support to state-based alliances that will
work to assure that federal and state economic recovery efforts are transparent and accountable;
benefit people most in need; and enhance equity rather than reinforce structures of inequality.
Ideally, state-based alliances will seek comprehensive and timely collection and dissemination of
recovery-related spending data, advocate for equitable spending, promote a strong social safety
net, and assure that the role of decisionmakers in the success or failure of economic recovery
programs and policies is spotlighted.

Goals

Specifically, we seek to support alliances that will:
• Advocate for transparency and public participation in the state decision-making process
regarding allocation of recovery dollars, and ensure transparent and accessible disclosure
of spending data;
• Promote a more equitable distribution of recovery funds, reflecting the particular needs of
low-income people, immigrant communities, women, LGBTQ individuals, youth, and
people of color;
• Include strong representation of people of color, women, immigrants, youth, and lowincome
communities, and bring together expertise in grassroots organizing, policy
research and analysis, use of innovative technologies, and advocacy; and
• Spotlight the role of decisionmakers in the success or failure of economic recovery
programs and policies.

Eligibility

The Fund will accept proposals from states where OSI is currently engaged or where the
foundation may consider funding in the future. States that we are currently considering
proposals from are: Colorado, Florida and Louisiana. (Round One of this RFP with its deadline
of August 28, 2008 included: California, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and
Wisconsin.)

Proposals should:

• Identify the specific opportunities and challenges for transparency and equity
advocacy within your state, including information about the timeline for state
decisions regarding distribution of federal funds;
• State a clear plan of action to advance all or most of the goals outlined above,
identify concrete strategies and a timeline for advancing the goals, and include
guidelines for measuring success;
• Include at least two state-based organizations that have a range of capacities –
including grassroots organizing, policy research and analysis, use of innovative
technologies, and advocacy, among others – needed to achieve the stated goals;
• Specify the role and contribution of each partner, demonstrating a clear allocation
of labor and responsibility within the alliance;
• Specify which, if any, national organizations and coalitions working on
transparency and equity around the recovery that your state-based alliance is
connected to and how. If your alliance is not connected to such efforts but seeks
to be in the future, identify which national organizations or coalitions working on
transparency and equity in the economic recovery you interested in partnering with;
• Briefly describe whether co-applicants have existing organizational relationships
and, if so, what has been the scope and what are examples of past collaborative
efforts. If there is not a history of working together, explain how and why the coapplicants
came together;
• Address how the alliance is led by and/ or accountable to people of color, women,
immigrant, youth, or low-income communities; and
• Include an itemized budget for the full cost of the proposal, and identify other
possible sources of funding.
We are also interested in, but do not require as a condition of funding, proposals that:
• Include organizations that are engaged in advocacy on criminal justice, drug policy, or
immigrant’s rights to ensure that economic stimulus dollars reach communities most
negatively impacted by these policies;
• Build lasting partnerships between equity, transparency, and “good government” groups
in order to strengthen long-term advocacy for a strong social safety net; and
• Build long-term capacity at the state and local level for multi-constituency, multi-issue,
and multi-strategy coalitions to participate in state and federal policymaking processes.
Funded organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities or private foundations or have a fiscal
sponsor that satisfies this requirement. Ideally one organization in an alliance will serve as the
main sponsor for the grant, regranting money to other organizations as laid out in the proposal
and budget.

What is the approximate size of the grants?

OSI will consider grants of up to $500,000 per state to be distributed over two years. The size of
a request must state a clear justification for the amount based upon:
• Population, size, and other demographic and economic indicators of the state;
• Size and needs of the alliance seeking support;
• Actual expenditures needed to advance the goals laid out in the proposal.
OSI will consider multiple proposals from a given state, but will not make more than one grant
per state and strongly encourages proposals that include multiple organizational partners. Should
we receive inquiries from multiple coalitions in a state we reserve the right to connect one
inquiring organization with another in order to encourage collaboration.
Activities not eligible for support:
• Funds may not be used to support provision of direct services;
• While funds may be used to support existing capacity (i.e. staff), staff time funded
through a grant must be dedicated solely to activities related to the grant program;
• Because this is a one-time grant program, OSI cannot commit to provide ongoing support
after the end of the grant term;
• OSI funds cannot support either direct or grassroots lobbying as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code.

Important Dates

Mid Sept OSI will host conference calls for interested organizations
and funders within each state to describe the application
process and field questions about the overall effort
The conference call number: 866-847-6821, access code: 1861238510
September 15 Louisiana 10 am CT/11 EST
September 16 Florida 11 am EST
September 17 Colorado 10 am MT/Noon EST
October 8 Proposals due to OSI electronically by close of business
Mid-December Round Two Grants Announced

Format for submission

Proposals should address the goals identified above in no more than ten pages and should be
submitted with an itemized project budget and timeline for proposed activities.

Contact for more information
Helena Huang, Consultant to OSI
helenahuang [at] mac [dot] com
Please initiate all contact by email; no phone calls please.

Background information about OSI and its mission
The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments
are accountable to their citizens. OSI’s U.S. Programs supports people and organizations that
advance a more open society in the United States. We envision a vibrant open society that
invites all people to participate fully in civic, economic, and cultural life, encourages diverse
opinions and critical debate, and protects fundamental human rights, dignity, and the rule of law.
Our work grows out of a strong commitment to supporting the efforts of people and communities
to press for change on their own behalf. We are dedicated to addressing the most pressing
threats to open society, and we seek bold, integrated solutions that address root causes and
advance systemic change.

U.S. Programs supports grantmaking, programming, and policy initiatives that:
• Build an inclusive society that increases opportunity for all while addressing the unique
struggles faced by women, people of color, immigrants, poor people, and lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender Americans.
• Promote civic participation and develop new leaders, especially among communities that
have been historically underrepresented.
• Ensure fair criminal justice, immigration, and national security policies, and reduce the
over-reliance on incarceration and harsh punishment.
• Increase the transparency, integrity, and accountability of institutions vital to open
society.

U.S. Programs recently received a one-time gift to allow rapid-response grantmaking to help
organizations tackle the problems created by the economic crisis and seize the current moment to advance open society in the United States. The current request for proposals will be funded out of this special one-time fund.