​Supporting Collaborative Change: Our LAUNCH Grants and GROWTH Grants

We have identified 2 key inflection points in which we find that it is key for collaborations to obtain funding and capacity building support.  We have now structured our grant-making to support two different grant tracks; LAUNCH and GROWTH as depicted in the diagram below:
  • ​LAUNCH Grants will support early stage collaborations to launch new strategies by pilot testing a promising solution or set of solutions. Collaborations that are a good fit for our LAUNCH Grant are those currently in Phase II of the five phases of collaboration.
  • GROWTH Grants will invest in proven collaborations to grow momentum and support to begin to scale solutions and influence systems change. Collaborations that are a good fit for our GROWTH Grant are those currently in Phases III and IV of the five phases of collaboration.

LAUNCH Grants

GROWTH Grants
​Overview
​The Hellman Collaborative Change Initiative LAUNCH Grants are intended to support early-stage collaborations in Alameda County to:
  • Pilot new solutions and service models that have the potential to be scaled for broad impact
  • Build the internal strength of the collaboration to effectively carry out their work and to generate stakeholder support
Please note LAUNCH Grants are only available to cross-sector collaborations in Alameda County (e.g. Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, etc.).

Size and Structure of LAUNCH Grants
The Hellman Foundation made one LAUNCH Grant award in 2017.
 
Funding Amount: Collaborations invited by the Foundation to submit a full Request for Proposal (RFP) may request up to $100,000 per year for up to three years of support; the grant period starts January 1, 2020.

Use of Funds: LAUNCH Grants are a flexible funding source that are intended to meet the dynamic needs of collaborations. Grant funds may be used to:
  • Support core operations of the collaboration, including staffing, consultants, data collection, meeting and other backbone costs
  • Cover costs related to the proposed pilot, including staffing, program and evaluation costs
  • Support activities that build the strength of and the support for the collaboration
 
Additional Capacity Building Support: Collaborations that receive LAUNCH awards will also participate in capacity building activities supported by the Initiative. These activities will be based on each collaboration’s self-identified priorities and may include training or coaching in areas such as collaborative governance, metric development, fundraising or strategic communications.
Overview
Hellman Collaborative Change Initiative GROWTH Grants are intended to support mid-stage collaborations in Alameda County and/or San Francisco to:
  • Begin scaling proven solutions or service models that have the potential for broad impact
  • Assess and strengthen their collaborations, building capacity for scale and / or systems change
  • Build stakeholder support needed to reach ambitious goals


Size and Structure of Grants of GROWTH Grants
The Hellman Foundation made three GROWTH Grant awards in 2017.
 
Funding Amount: Collaborations can request up to $750,000 total over a five-year grant period; the grant period starts January 1, 2020.

Use of Funds: GROWTH Grants are a flexible funding source that are intended to meet the dynamic needs of collaboration. Grant funds may be used to:
  • Fund core operations of the collaboration, including staffing, consultants, meetings, data collection, evaluation and other backbone costs
  • Cover costs of direct services provided by the collaboration, including staffing and program costs
  • Support activities to build the strength and effectiveness of the collaboration
  • Build support for the collaboration including financial, political, and public support
 
Additional Capacity Building Support: Collaborations that receive GROWTH awards will complete a capacity diagnostic assessment, develop a capacity building plan, and receive customized support. This customized support could include training sessions or coaching in areas such as collaborative governance, metric development, fund development or communications. 

Eligibility Requirements

LAUNCH Grants

LAUNCH Collaborations should:
  • Be an existing and active cross-sector collaboration in Alameda County that includes a total of at least 4 partner institutions and at least 8 members. The Foundation is seeking collaborations that are led by its members and not a single organization.   
    • Applicants for LAUNCH funding must have a proven track record of working together that pre-dates this proposal.
  • Include lead partners from the non-profit sector and the public sector (e.g., local/state government, public school districts, public hospitals and universities); the strongest candidates for this Initiative will also include partners from business or other relevant sectors.
  • Intentionally engage community members who are active in the collaboration and engaged in the community.
  • Have in-kind commitments and / or financial resources to support the collaboration’s effort
  • Effectively manage core collaborative functions, such as guiding strategy and vision, facilitating meetings, coordinating activities or workplan, and monitoring progress
    • Hellman funding can be utilized for staffing to support these functions
  • Be willing and able to participate in a grant initiative that prioritizes accountability, transparency, capacity building, and learning
  • Be in Phase II of the Five Phases of Collaboration (illustrated above)
 
Please Note: Based on past experience, we anticipate a high volume of responses to this RFI, as there are so many excellent collaborative efforts in the Bay Area. Please carefully review criteria to confirm fit and eligibility before submitting your information to the Hellman Foundation.

GROWTH Grants

GROWTH Collaborations should:
  • Be an existing cross-sector collaboration that includes a total of at least 5 partner institutions and at least 10 members. The Foundation is seeking collaborations that are led by its members and not a single organization.
    • Applicants for GROWTH funding must have a proven track record of working together that pre-dates this proposal.
  • Include lead partners from the non-profit and the public sectors (e.g., local/state government, public school districts, public hospitals and universities); the strongest candidates for this Initiative will represent a broad diversity of organizations from many sectors including business, academic or others.
  • Intentionally engage community members who are active in the collaboration’s table and engaged in the community.
  • Have a track record of working together as a cross-sector collaboration that includes creating a shared vision and strategy, piloting solutions, providing direct services, and learning from experience
  • Effectively manage core collaborative functions, such as facilitating meetings, coordinating activities or workplan, maintaining communication and monitoring progress
    • Have or plan to utilize Hellman funding to support at least a .5FTE to staff the collaboration
  • Be active in implementing solutions with the potential for citywide or countywide scale in San Francisco, a city in Alameda County, or across Alameda County.
  • Have committed in-kind resources and financial support for the collaboration
  • Be willing and able to participate in a grant initiative that prioritizes accountability, transparency, capacity building, and learning
Please Note: Based on past experience, we anticipate a high volume of responses to this RFI, as there are so many excellent collaborative efforts in the Bay Area. Please carefully review criteria to confirm fit and eligibility before submitting your information to the Hellman Foundation