What is ACP looking for?
The new ACP grant cycle applications are now open, with a deadline of May 15th and we hope to hear from many different people about how they want to challenge the stigma that surrounds abortion. At a recent board meeting, we discussed what kinds of things we look for in a grant application. Our answers are varied, and frankly, sometimes subjective, but we want to share them with people who want to apply.
One feature ACP offers is a connection with our Grant Partners to provide whatever expertise, encouragement, or resources we can. Thus, we also want to evaluate our own interests, skills, and capacity to offer useful assistance to a project. For example, one of our board members has experience with community murals and we know we can help others who want to paint murals.
Having funded 73 projects so far, we are also interested in what strategies will generate conversations that will lead to changing attitudes about abortion. Does the proposed approach suit us? In other words, does it promote conversation, preferably on a one-to-one basis in a community setting? Do the proposals offer a new innovative approach to getting people to speak up? Or is the proposal to take a proven approach to a new audience? An example from a recent project is the establishment of a book club reaching out to a rural state. There is ample evidence that in discussing books, people can shift their opinions as others share their experiences.
ACP Board members also look at more common things:
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Is the budget realistic? Is the amount ACP can offer only a small part of the entire budget? If so, how can you get the rest or, how can the ACP association help you achieve their goal?
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Will the project survive? Do we think it can be done on time, with the people involved and on budget?
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Are there barriers to success due to technology? Does the project use current state-of-the-art technology to reach an audience?
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Do we think the organization has the ability to follow through on the project and provide us with the necessary documentation and financial receipts? Do we have a way to easily reimburse via check or PayPal?
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How do you determine project success? ACP encourages both innovative and traditional methods of evaluating a project. We find that considering this question in your initial planning makes evaluating your project straightforward. More information, including a webinar here.
